Sumeeta Gupta
Kumon
"Sometimes, it’s just a matter of taking a leap of faith, and only then do we realise that it wasn’t as difficult as we had imagined.
As a Kumon instructor for 13 years, I have always been passionate about supporting children in both maths and English. Equally important to me is guiding their families on how they can continue to support their children at home—especially as children grow older and may become more independent or hesitant to involve their parents in homework.
At this stage, parents can often feel unsure or even helpless, unsure how to continue supporting their child’s learning. My role has been to provide practical strategies and encouragement so that families can stay involved, maintain open communication, and help their children succeed academically and confidently.
I have always wanted to do something for parents and children in this area, particularly.
That's when I had the idea of a Maths Fest.
Organising an event such as the NI Maths Fest 2025 on this scale—with nearly 950 pupils from 16 schools in Derry and beyond over a period of two days—was something I had always envisioned. However, I wasn’t initially sure what form it would take or how large the event would ultimately be.
With the support of the Go Succeed mentorship programme and the grant that gave me the confidence to take that first step, I was able to bring this vision to life. Their guidance and encouragement played a crucial role in helping me transform an idea into a meaningful event that brought schools and communities together through the love of maths.
Maths Fest is not just about primary schools and children but also their families, maths enthusiasts like professors from Ulster University, organisations and businesses sharing the same vision to come together and help develop a strong and sustainable future for our children.
The event has now given me confidence to do it again in 2026, and I know for sure it will now be an annual event for NI and also the Republic."