In the bustling streets of Kurla, where the aroma of freshly prepared snacks fills the air, a small but heartfelt challenge unfolded. A pani puri vendor, tirelessly serving his customers, struggled daily with the logistics of his business. From carrying heavy ingredients to setting up his stall and efficiently serving his customers, every day was a test of endurance. The vendor, who happened to be the parent of a classmate, inspired a group of young minds from Anandnagar MPS School to take action. With curiosity, empathy, and an eagerness to solve real-world problems, they set out to transform his daily struggles into an opportunity for efficiency and ease.
The team of Alfiya Shaikh, Aksha Khan, Faiza Noor Ansari, and Sejal Prajapati envisioned a more user-friendly, efficient, and well-structured pani puri stall. Their goal was clear—to design a cart that not only made the vendor's job easier but also enhanced the experience for customers, ultimately increasing sales. They began by observing the vendor at work, noting how he balanced multiple tasks: replenishing ingredients, managing waste, and serving eager customers, all in a confined space. The children realised that a well-designed stall could make all the difference.
After much brainstorming and trial and error, they developed a cart on wheels with two innovative pull-out sections. One side extended into a table, providing a designated space for customers to stand and enjoy their favourite snack. At the centre of this table, they introduced a colour-coded “Lazy Susan”—a rotating tray that allowed the vendor to serve pani puris with greater ease, ensuring that each customer received their share swiftly and hygienically. The other side of the cart unfolded into a deep storage drawer, a simple yet effective solution that allowed the vendor to neatly organise his ingredients and supplies while also incorporating a waste disposal system to maintain cleanliness.
The young innovators went through three different prototypes before finalising their masterpiece. They experimented with a folding table, adjusted the aesthetics to make the stall visually appealing, and fine-tuned the Lazy Susan to rotate smoothly. Understanding the intricacies of food vending on the roadside required careful thought—the cart needed to be functional, lightweight, and able to withstand Mumbai’s pothole-ridden roads. The final version, crafted in wood after multiple cardboard iterations, stood as a testament to their perseverance and ingenuity.
Proud of their creation, the young designers presented their pani puri cart to their families, friends, and guests at a special showcase. They demonstrated each feature, explaining how their innovations would make the vendor’s job easier while improving the customer experience. The stall was not just a structure; it was a symbol of compassion, problem-solving, and real-world impact.
Through this project, the children learned invaluable lessons—not just in design and engineering but in empathy and resilience. They proved that age is no barrier to innovation and that even the smallest changes can have a profound impact on someone’s livelihood. Their pani puri stall was more than a cart; it was a bridge between struggle and success, built by young minds determined to make a difference.
With their invaluable support and guidance, MuSo and Standard Chartered were instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
