‘Emotions Lab’, India’s first immersive exhibition focused on emotional literacy and social-emotional development, opens with Reliance Foundation’s ESA Day for children from under-resourced communities

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

MUMBAI, JULY 16, 2026

Over 100 children from non-governmental organisations supported by Reliance Foundation experienced a unique journey into emotional learning at the special opening of ‘Emotions Lab’ this month.

Isha Ambani joined the children as they explored immersive and interactive exhibits designed to help them recognise, understand and express their emotions in a safe, playful and engaging environment.

Brought to Mumbai by the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) and Reliance Foundation, in collaboration with Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, Emotions Lab has been launched as part of NMACC's annual Bachpan festival. The exhibition invites children aged 5 to 11 years and their families to explore emotional literacy and social-emotional development through immersive, play-based experiences. It encourages young visitors to recognise, understand, express and regulate their emotions.

The exhibition opened with dedicated Education and Sports for All (ESA) days, offering children from under-resourced communities the inaugural experience of this first-of-its-kind initiative in India.

Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Foundation, who interacted with the children during the event, said, “We believe learning should be an adventure driven by playfulness and curiosity. We are thrilled to build on our partnership with Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar to bring Emotions Lab to young minds in India. It is vital for children to learn emotional literacy and intelligence early in life, both inside and outside the classroom. The exhibition with a dedicated day for children under our Education and Sports For All (ESA) initiative, is in line with our commitment to ensure educational experiences are accessible to all children.”

The exhibition is centred on the Mood Meter, developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence as a signature tool of the RULER approach to cultivating emotional intelligence in schools. Through a simplified adaptation of the Mood Meter, Emotions Lab helps children build five core emotional intelligence skills — recognising, understanding, labelling, expressing and regulating emotions — through interactive experiences and practical tools.

As part of Reliance Foundation's ESA programme, children participated in guided explorations of Emotions Lab, engaging in activities that encouraged them to identify emotions through facial expressions and body language, understand how everyday experiences influence feelings, and explore the role emotions play in communication and relationships. These hands-on experiences helped children interpret emotional cues, express themselves with confidence, and develop practical tools for emotional awareness and resilience.

The children also participated in an NMACC Art Walk, which encouraged observation, creativity and self-expression through meaningful engagement with art.

Guided by Reliance Foundation's 'We Care' philosophy, the ESA initiative seeks to inspire and empower children to dream big and realise their potential by expanding access to education, sports and experiential learning opportunities for children from all backgrounds.

Developed by NMACC, Reliance Foundation and Dadu, Children's Museum of Qatar, in collaboration with education experts from India and around the world, Emotions Lab transforms conventional spaces into immersive learning environments through play. Adapted for the Indian context, the exhibition offers engaging and accessible social-emotional learning experiences that help children better understand and navigate their emotions.

Emotions Lab is the second exhibition in the Museum in Residence series, building on the collaboration established through Light Atelier in 2025, which engaged more than 13,000 children through playful exploration of light, shadow and colour. Following its run at NMACC, Emotions Lab will be adapted for schools and Anganwadis across India, with a special focus on reaching children in underserved communities.

By bringing together play, creativity and emotional learning, Emotions Lab encourages children to build confidence, empathy and resilience while nurturing curiosity and imagination — skills that are essential for lifelong learning and holistic development.

The exhibition is open to the public at NMACC until August 2, 2026, with dedicated school outreach programmes and special packages for local schools, enabling a wide range of children and families to experience this immersive learning journey.