CAMBRIDGE, MA—The Cambridge chapter of North South Foundation, a 27-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities and furthering the skills of children both in the United States and in India, has opened registration for its regional contests for the year 2016.
In 2015, about 400 kids participated in the regional competition, said Shitanshu Shekhar, regional coordinator for the event who has been involved with the North-South Foundation since 2002.
“We are estimating this number to be 500 this year,” Shekhar told INDIA New England News.
For more information and registration for the contest, visit: www.northsouth.org. Once there, you can register for the Cambridge, MA chapter contests and download practice materials for various competitions by April 17. The regional contests for the Cambridge chapter will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at Tufts University.
“The number and type of contests have developed significantly since I was last a Regional Coordinator eight years ago,” Shekhar said. “This year’s calendar includes Junior and Senior Spelling Bees, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Science Contests, and three levels of Math Bees.”
All profits from regional and national contests, as well as any funds from donations, workshops, and fundraising drives, go directly toward scholarships for brilliant, yet needy, students in India. The organization has 20 chapters and gave 749 new scholarships in 2015.
“We firmly believe that NSF contests offer the best platform to develop your child’s skills and deliver educational opportunities to talented students in India,” Shekhar said.
He said that here is no minimum age for the contests but generally kids starting 4 years to 14 years old participates in these contests. In 2015, Cambridge chapter held contests in spelling, vocabulary and math.
“At our chapter, we are offering Junior and Senior Spelling Bees, three levels of Math Bees, and Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Science contests. The competitions are available for all students from the 1st to 8th grades, and the specific cutoff points for various levels can be accessed here,” Shekhar said, adding that the deadline for applying for the regional contest is April 17, “but we encourage registration as early as possible.”
