Introduction: A Programme Designed by Masters of Their Craft
The Yaksha is more than just a summer workshop—it’s a creator’s lab powered by passionate mentors from across creative, scientific, and technological fields. The Yaksha is an immersive creation space, not a structured academic bootcamp. It’s designed as a co-creation lab where each participant is an inventor, an artist, a coder, and a storyteller. The experience prioritizes imagination, voice, and originality—making it a truly transformative programme for children who want to build something meaningful, and not just consume content. The mentors bring years of expertise to help children build, tell, and experience stories rooted in environmental consciousness and immersive design.
Mohd Hammad Farooqui – Story Mentor: Narrative Building
Mohd Hammad Farooqui is an experienced educator, director, and literary critic with over 30 years of experience teaching literature and theatre at The Doon School and currently heads the Critical Thinking and Writing Centre there. Having directed more than 195 plays, he has been honoured with accolades such as Best Director in Uttar Pradesh and Best Hindi Teacher by the Government of Uttarakhand. He has mentored numerous students who have gone on to become well-known in their fields, having taught them the art of theatre and storytelling with unmatched passion.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, he as mentor will be guiding students in the process of narrative development by helping children build their own worlds, develop story arcs, and understand symbolism in environmental storytelling.
Ansh Kumar – Lead Artist: Installation & Light Design
Ansh Kumar is an award-winning contemporary artist, educator, and creative force who blends space, media, and emerging technologies like augmented reality to craft immersive, thought-provoking experiences. As a creative technologist and experiential designer, his work sits at the crossroads of art, technology, and social connection. He is also the co-founder of Tiny Farm Lab in Rishikesh, a hand-sculpted mud house created with the help of 100 volunteers from over 18 countries, that looks straight out of a fairytale. Ansh has showcased his work at Miami Art Basel, Ars Electronica, and the India Art Fair, and has collaborated with leading global platforms like Adobe, Meta, and Snapchat.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, he as mentor will be helping children conceptualize, understand visual effects, and build interactive room installations using projection mapping and responsive design.
Pratiksha Chauhan – Experience Curator: Design & Brand Story
Pratiksha is a visual artist and Creative Director focused on sensory storytelling and visual branding. A NIFT graduate, she has over 11 years of experience working with brands like Myntra, Culture Machine, and VICE Media, where she has conceptualised and created IPs in music, culture, and lifestyle. She has collaborated with international brands such as Vice News, Budweiser, Adidas, and Johnny Walker which showcase her global design appeal and innovative approach to design communication.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, she as mentor will be leading moodboarding, setting the aesthetics and tone, suggesting costumes, and working on branding details with the kids.
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Yash Nath Jha – Music Mentor: Soundscapes & River Songs
Yash Nath Jha’s musical journey garners global recognition and prestigious collaborations. A top 5 nominee in the Recording Academy’s Music Cares competition, he’s performed with Grammy-winning conductor Kevin Fox. Yash received acclaim, including a certificate from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music for his piano recital at the Delhi School of Music. As the creative force behind ‘When I’m Human,’ he blends cinematic richness with industrial sounds, showcased through collaborations with labels like Qilla Records and artists like Maestro Balázs Fülei.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, he as mentor will be helping kids compose original sonic elements using digital tools and natural recordings. He will also be designing the ambient and narrative sound journey of the entire experience.
Prashant Nawani – Creative Facilitator: Lyrical Expression
A writer, poet, and musician from Dehradun, Prashant Nawani’s work spans philosophical fiction and experimental music. His debut novel—a reflective exploration of his studies in German literature and philosophy at JNU and the University of Konstanz—is currently being edited. As lyricist and vocalist for the rock trio Rivermind and the alt-electronic duo ‘She Makes Perfumes’, he fuses poetic lyricism with dynamic soundscapes. His creative pursuits also include a classical fusion guitar solo act and a collection of abstract nature photography.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, he as mentor will be facilitating lyrical writing sessions, helping kids reflect emotions during the programme and will be supporting music-led storytelling and poetic exploration.
Sai Krishna Mulpuru – Tech Mentor: Coding & IoT Integration
Sai K. Mulpuru is a multidisciplinary innovator, educator, and designer with a rich background in interaction design, user experience design (UED), IoT, robotics, augmented reality, application development, and educational consulting. He has facilitated several workshops at top colleges and art fairs. During his time with Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, Sai was part of the project titled Think Tank, which featured brain-controlled rain installations. He is dedicated to making STEM engaging, humane, and deeply impactful. He is currently teaching innovative design at UPES and has previously taught at institutions like Srishti Design School and Ashoka University.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, Sai serves as an overall guide/mentor to the project.
Naved Farooqui – Media Mentor: Audio Storytelling & Podcast Creation
Naved Farooqui is a media strategist, educator, and business expert with over 13 years of experience in media, storytelling, and youth engagement. He has worked extensively in digital publishing, communication, and content innovation, and has led creative campaigns and projects that bridge culture, community, and education.
In The Yaksha, EarthLab Club’s Young Creators Summer Programme, he as mentor will be guiding children in podcast creation, story mapping, and understanding how sound can shape narrative and mood..
What Makes These Mentors Different?
The masterminds behind the curation of The Yaksha are not barely mentors or instructors, rather co-creators, who are deeply committed and happy to guide children through the unknown, open up new challenges for thinking and creating differently, providing a safe environment that inspires risk-taking. They walk beside the children, not ahead of them—guiding, questioning, listening, and pushing boundaries.
What sets them apart is not just their expertise, but the joy they find in nurturing young minds as they tinker, build, and boldly imagine. They offer more than skills—they offer a safe space to explore, take risks, and build with intention.
In this shared creative lab, children learn that making something new means being brave enough to ask “what if?”—and having someone there who believes in their answer.
Join the Story!
The Yaksha isn’t a normal school camp—it’s a living, breathing world that children help design and bring to life. With real-world mentors by their side, young creators will build, play, imagine, and uncover the power of story, nature, and creative tech. This summer, come shape a world where curiosity leads the way.
