RECO Spark

Gain Fundamental Skills and Create a Personal Project.

Students in Grades 8 and 9 tackle case studies to build research, analysis, and writing skills. Kickstart profile-building and prepare for the future.

2 months | 10+ live hours | Peer Learning | 1-on-1 mentoring

Overview and Purpose

In Grades 8 and 9, students need to develop strong foundations in research, writing, and social awareness.

With us, students build these skills by tackling real-world case studies through guided peer-based sessions and individual project-making.

Here’s how RECO Spark prepares students with strong foundations to kickstart profile-building with purpose and confidence.

Work with peers and mentors to research any social problem you choose, such as poverty, discrimination, or climate change. Walk away with 1000-word research note and make a presentation.

Your 2-Month RECO Journey

Learn more at one of our upcoming Zoom info sessions!

Upcoming Course

Research for Problem-Solving | Sept 19 - Nov 14, 2025

In our world of growing complexity and information overload, problem-solving is more challenging than ever. In this course, students learn how to model problems, gather credible information, cross-analyze diverse sources, and develop original insights for problem-solving. Each student crafts an individual research note and presentation.

  • Gain exposure and learn interdisciplinary problem-solving by tackling real-world case studies (health, sustainability, technology and education) through weekly interactive group sessions led by the course instructor.

    Additionally, meet your personal mentor 1-on-1 to start ideating on your individual research project.

  • Work 1-on-1 with your personal mentor to narrow your project idea, plan your research process, and start problem-solving.

  • Present your progress and provide feedback to your peers in a small group of 3 students. Work 1-on-1 with your mentor to implement the feedback.

  • Work 1-on-1 with your mentor to finalize your 1000-word research note and draft slides for your research presentation.

  • Gear up for the Virtual Student Showcase by conducting a mock presentation in a small group of 3. Receive and provide feedback. Work 1-on-1 with your mentor to finalize your presentation.

  • Present your research. Take questions. Earn a recording. This is your red carpet moment.

  • What next? Meet the founder with your parent and counselor to discuss how you can take your work forward on your own, or through RECO’s Spark Plus programme, which includes extended individual mentorship and possible collaborations with our partner NGOs.

Meet Your Instructor

Anirudh V. Raghavan is pursuing his PhD in Sociology and Anthropology at Ashoka University. His work draws from diverse fields including economics, finance, and public health.

Published in The Economic and Political Weekly and The Wire Science, Anirudh also writes haikus and poems, which have appeared in various literary magazines. He is deeply passionate about teaching.

What’s included?

Spark courses are offered once per quarter. Each course has a different theme and project. Yet, all Spark courses include the following:

What’s the project?

You will write a formal 1000-word research note on any social problem you are interested in. We’ll help you narrow down an idea that excites you, explore it, and write your piece.

Here’s what RECO students are currently researching.

    • Girls’ Education in India — Economics, sociology, philosophy, and literature.

    • The Funding of Science Research — Policy, business, science, and technology.

    • Undernourishment and Poverty — Sociology, public health, and environmental studies.

    • India and Development — Economics, policy, and history.

    • Irrigation and Sustainability — Environmental studies and policy.

    • Bioacoustics and Marine Conservation — Product design, zoology, and environmental studies

    • Undernourishment and Poverty — Sociology, public health, and environmental studies.

    • Sustainable Fashion — Business, economics, and environmental studies.

    • Girls’ Education in India — Economics, sociology, philosophy, and literature.

    • Gender Discrimination and Rights — Literature, media, and ethics.

    • Sustainable Fashion — Business, economics, and environmental studies.

    • How Digital Twin Technology Developed — History, sociology, biology, and computer science.

    • The Funding of Science Research — Policy, business, science, and technology.

    • Bioacoustics and Marine Conservation — Product design, zoology, and environmental studies

If you could research anything, what would you choose?

How To Join

  • Step 1 (Optional): Book a free consultation to understand the course

  • Step 2: Fill out our short application form

  • Step 3: Be yourself in our friendly interview

  • Step 4: Start RECO-ing!

Future Spark Courses (2026)

Assessing Opinions

Jan-March 2026

  • In an age of the internet and AI, everyone claims to be an expert.

    In this course, you will learn how to separate fact from fiction by checking opinions against and write a critical essay showing your critical thinking skills.

    • Close reading

    • Putting texts in conversation

    • Secondary Research

    • Analytical Writing

  • 1000+ word essay critically assess viewpoints against data and evidence.

    Examples

    • Freud v/s Jung on How the Mind Works

    • Raghuram Rajan v/s Swapan Dasgupta on Tackling Debt

    • Dawkins v/s Berkeley on The Existence of God

Writing
Critically

April-June 2026

  • Despite advancements in ethics, policy, and technology, humans still perpetuate climate change, discrimination, and more.

    In this course, you will write an essay critiquing a cultural belief or policy of your choice.

    • Primary and Secondary Research

    • Systems Thinking

    • Critical Writing

  • 1000+ word essay critiquing a cultural belief, law, policy, or institution of your choice and raising ethical questions.

    Examples

    • The Marriage Equality Act and the Failure of India’s Supreme Court

    • Why The Western Canon Needs to be Dismantled

    • Vaccine Distribution is not as Fair as it Seems

Designing For Social Good

June-August 2026

  • Developing truly impactful, long-term solutions to social problems is not straightforward.

    In this course, you will work with our credible NGO partners to analyse real-world issues and design solutions.

    • Primary Research

    • Design Thinking

    • Multimedia Project-Making

    • Pitching and Presentation

  • Multimedia personal project for NGOs (e.g. reports, media campaigns and service activity). Details TBD.

Testimonials

  • “Most students go to college without purpose. RECO is doing important work in helping students make the most of their time in college."

    Anuja Kohli Mariwala, Education Consultant

  • “The approachability and friendliness of the team made my experience extremely enjoyable. I’ve connected with my mentors even post the program.”

    Aarush Kamdar, Grade 11, Don Bosco International School, Mumbai

  • “I appreciated how flexible they were, prioritizing each student and their specific needs and not burdening them with additional work.”

    Fuad Agha, Grade 12, Reva Independent PU, Bangalore

FAQs

  • If your child misses a group session, they will get access to the session recording and have the chance to discuss the same with their mentor during a 1-on-1 session. If your child would like to reschedule a 1-on-1 mentoring session, we request you let us know 48 hours in advance. After this, while the mentor will be available over email, a make-up 1-on-1 mentoring session cannot be guaranteed.

  • Cohort sessions in Weeks 1-4 will be held on Saturdays at 11 AM IST, skipping the week of Dusshera. Please see the curriculum on the website for precise dates. Small group sessions in Weeks 6 and 8 will be fixed based on mutual availability of peers and the instructor. Individual mentoring sessions will be fixed based on mutual availability of the student and their mentor. All sessions will be held on Zoom.

  • Spark focuses on foundational skills like research, analysis, and structured thinking, taught through real-world case studies. Not only will your child be guided in a cohort of just twelve students (with opportunities for even more intimate learning through groups of four and 1-on-1 mentoring), they will also also learn from peers across different schools and geographies, expanding their perspectives. Further, their instructor is a published PhD student at Ashoka University.

  • Students build skills that support a wide range of school tasks, from essays and presentations to research assignments like the IB Extended Essay and MYP Personal Project. The course will also build reading and writing skills that can support performance in the SAT/ACT.

  • Given how busy students’ calendars are, small groups will be formed primarily based on availability. We hope students will have peers in their small groups who are tackling social problems that are different from their own, so they gain the broad exposure they need at this critical age.

  • Yes. The course is designed to introduce research in a structured, beginner-friendly way. No prior experience is required.

  • Students need to start at the beginning. The course is sequential, and each week builds on the last.

  • A full refund will be issued up to one week before the start of the course only if another waitlisted student makes a payment to take their spot. After 5PM on September 13th, no refund will be issued.

  • After the course, students have a call with the founder to discuss how to extend or apply their project,  including in school, personal work, or other RECO programs. If the student has a career counselor, they are encouraged to be present during this call.

  • We look for curiosity and humility. These are both important to improve the quality of class discussions, peer learning, and interactions with individual mentors. We are not looking for prior research experience. Please click here to apply. Applications close on 31st August, 2025.

  • Small groups and structured formats help students participate at their own pace. Mentors ensure everyone gets the chance to contribute.

  • We don’t offer trial sessions, but you can attend an info session on Thursday, August 7 or Wednesday, August 13. You may also book an individual consultation call to understand the course in more detail.

  • Yes. Weekly assignments usually take around 2 hours and are related to the student’s individual project. Students may do this at any time based on their availability.

  • Students need to start at the beginning. The course is sequential, and each week builds on the last.