Dover, Del. – On Monday, SkillSphere Foundation officials joined the Delaware Department of Education Secretary for tour at the Dover Middle School to donate school supplies.
SkillSphere Foundation, established last year, is a student-led nonprofit founded by Delaware students to tackle unequal access to business, technology and leadership opportunities. Founders Devkrishna Manappattu and Ridhun Gujja say they founded SkillSphere to tackle unequal access to business, technology and leadership opportunities among students statewide and are even expanding into Pennsylvania.
“So we decided that we wanted to create sort of a business and tech related organization because like in this first, we started out with marketing and financial literacy, and we and we realized that like nowadays in these type of careers, technology is always needed in those careers,” he said.
Gujja, a rising sophomore at Wilmington Charter School, said they realized the gap through their own access to business and leadership opportunities. Through their efforts, they say have directly impacted over 100 students and hosted six educational workshops though community partners.
“We had the financial support to be able to get these opportunities and join clubs such as the Business Professionals of America, the Technology Student Association and other great opportunities and pathways in our schools,” Gujja said. “But we realized that, you know, other schools, especially ones that are, you know, south of New Castle County, didn’t have these type of opportunities.”
He also said they realized many students had difficulty accessing transportation and school supplies to their workshops and so they partnered with the Delaware Department of Education and local community partners Delaware Community Center to bring more supplies and opportunities to students.
“We realized that what the students can come to us and why not go to the students?” Gujja said.
Gujja and Manappattu, a rising senior at Appoquinimink High School, said they are also expanding their initiative to bring more school supplies “even further” with state and local community partners as well as with seven title one schools to bring supplies to schools in all three of Delaware’s counties.
SkillSphere has raised over $1,500 for community initiatives and school supply drives through fundraising, donations and sponsorships.
Gujja and Manappattu say they are also planning to expand operations into Pennsylvania.
