Imphal: In a ray of hope amid the persistent conflicts in Manipur, Aira Thoudam, an outstanding class XI student from Imphal West district, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a scholarship for the esteemed AFS Global STEM Academy in Egypt.
Currently studying at Assam Valley School, Tezpur, Aira Thoudam, the daughter of renowned Manipuri filmmaker Meena Longjam, has emerged as one of the top 150 scholars globally. This recognition stems from a rigorous selection process involving 6000 applicants from 15 nations for the esteemed “AFS Global STEM 2024 Academy.”
Expressing her elation, Aira Thoudam shared, “I am extremely excited to be selected for AFS Global STEM Academies 2024. This was my first attempt at such a coveted scholarship, and I received the delightful news via email yesterday.” She expressed gratitude to her school’s mentor, Raya Mukhopadhyay, for invaluable guidance.
“I have been preparing for months for this, though I was a bit nervous during the interview. I would like to thank my school’s ma’am Raya Mukhopadhyay without whose guidance this wouldn’t have been possible. And I am very proud of my mom who is always very supportive and my inspiration,” she added.
During the program, scholars will actively participate in community service initiatives, explore innovative sustainability operations, and apply STEM skills to address industry and societal challenges. Successful participants will be awarded the advanced certificate in global competence for social impact, jointly conferred by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania Centre for Social Impact Strategy.
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Aira Thoudam’s achievement adds to her family’s success, following her mother Meena’s acclaimed film ‘Andro Dreams,’ which opened the non-feature section at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on November 20, 2023.
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