Delhi consistently ranks among the cities with the worst air quality in the world, with pollution levels far exceeding the World Health Organisation’s safe limits. This toxic environment doesn’t just affect the lungs; it disrupts lives. In recent years, hazardous smog has forced public schools to close, robbing children of days, sometimes weeks, of their education and daily routines. For many, the simple act of stepping outside becomes a health risk.
Room to Breathe Room to Learn
Our journey began not in a lab, but in conversations: with peers, teachers, and change makers across Delhi. One conversation, in particular, stuck with us. It was with Mahendra, a curious fourteen year old from a government school in Okhla Camp. When we asked him what he missed most about winter, he said, “Recess. Because that’s when we could breathe, run, and just be kids… before the air got too bad.” That was the moment we realized that FiltAir wasn’t just about filters and fans it was about freedom. Freedom to learn, to play, and to breathe. So we built a “starter kit” to reclaim that freedom. It starts with low-cost indoor plants that naturally filter pollutants. Then come the DIY Corsi-Rosenthal boxes assembled from local materials, easy to maintain, and proven to cut PM2.5 levels nearly in half. Finally, we seal doors and windows to keep pollution out, all while keeping classrooms livable in Delhi’s extreme weather. FiltAir is affordable, flexible, and deeply rooted in the communities it serves. Our design isn't one size fits all it’s "what do you need, and how can we help you build it?" Because when schools breathe easier, students do too. We’re not experts. We’re students. But we’ve seen the problem up close, and we’re ready to do something about it one school, one classroom, one child at a time.
All About Our Story
About Us
Meet Our Team
FiltAir was born from a deep urgency to respond to this crisis. The air purifier we developed uses a dual-filtration system: a pre-filter that captures dust and larger particles, protecting the more delicate HEPA filter, which traps finer pollutants like PM2.5, one of the most dangerous airborne particles for human health. An integrated exhaust fan draws polluted air through these filters, offering a small pocket of clean air in an otherwise unbreathable environment.
We design simple, low-cost air filters and work with local groups to help people breathe cleaner air. We believe that anyone, no matter their age, can help create change, and we’re doing our best to make the air a little better for everyone.
Founder & Chief Outreach Officer
Aarkin Soni
Aarkin keeps us organized and connected. He helps run projects and builds partnerships in the community.
Prototyping & Innovation Strategist
Kenichi Sasaki
Kenichi designs and tests our filters. He’s always finding smarter, simpler ways to make clean air more accessible.
Head of Marketing & Branding
Yuriko Tano
Yuriko has just started as an intern in our marketing and design department.
Our Vision for the Future
We dream of a day when every child in Delhi walks into a classroom and breathes clean, safe air, no matter their zip code. At FiltAir, we believe that learning should never come at the cost of health. That’s why we’re combining simple, affordable tools, like DIY air purifiers and basic insulation fixes, to help schools become healthier, happier places.
This isn’t just about cleaner air. It’s about giving every student the chance to focus, to thrive, and to just be kids, without pollution standing in the way. Our hope? That one day, clean air won’t be a privilege in Delhi’s schools it’ll be a given.
