Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAamir Ali’s Project Pixel: Where gaming meets giving back

Aamir Ali’s Project Pixel: Where gaming meets giving back

By: Amrita Priya

(November 10, 2024) Driven by a mission to make gaming more than just a pastime, Aamir Ali shaped the student-led online game development initiative, Project Pixel, into a platform that combines the thrill of gameplay with a deeper purpose, turning each download and play session into a force for social good. The immersive 2D games operate on a ‘100 percent donation policy,’ ensuring that every penny earned goes directly to charity.

The recent computer science graduate from The University of Sheffield has transformed a shared vision with a friend into a groundbreaking initiative redefining the role of video games in society. The seeds of Project Pixel were sown one and a half years ago when Aamir and Najaaz Nabhan, a student from Sri Lanka, envisioned creating a positive impact through gaming. Their student-led venture at the University of Sheffield engages over 25 students across different fields such as computer science, engineering, and humanities. For Aamir, now a data science professional at the UK-based multinational Gymshark since July, Project Pixel has been an opportunity to prove that gaming can transcend entertainment and serve as a tool for giving back.

Indian youth | Aamir Ali | Global Indian

Project Pixel team members

“We would love to inspire students at other universities and turn this into a global movement. Everyone at Project Pixel has shown that it doesn’t matter what degree you’re studying or whether you know anything about game development – you have a chance if you have the passion and willingness to learn,” Aamir shared in an interview.

A new kind of gaming initiative

Gaming is a rapidly expanding sector with a vast audience, and Aamir recognised its untapped potential for charitable efforts. Traditional gaming-related charity initiatives often rely on sponsorships and donations from players. Project Pixel, however, takes a different approach by developing original games whose proceeds go directly to charitable causes, making every player’s engagement impactful.

A 2D game created by Project Pixel

Learning by doing

Project Pixel is also a hands-on learning experience for students engaged in it. The team welcomes members from all academic backgrounds, even those without previous experience in game development. By providing students with a space to explore areas such as programming, sound production, graphic design, and story development, Project Pixel serves as a bridge between academic knowledge and industry practice. Each member brings a unique set of skills, from arts students working on character design to science students handling technical programming. This multidisciplinary collaboration enriches the games and allows participants to gain experience in various facets of game production.

“As the project started to develop we quickly found that lots of students from all over the University of Sheffield, who are studying on all kinds of degree programmes, are passionate about gaming and want to work in the industry, but they are not sure how or where to start, ” Aamir shared. “Project Pixel has given us all the opportunity to learn about game development together and take our first steps in the industry, whilst also doing something good for society.”

Their university’s support for the initiative has been instrumental. Through the Faculty of Engineering’s co-curricular activities fund, the team secured funds to buy a publishing license for Google Play, allowing them to bring their creations to a wider audience. For Aamir, leading Project Pixel has meant guiding a team through the challenges of real-world game development while creating a culture of inclusivity and shared purpose.

One of Project Pixel’s team sessions

Storytelling with heart

The Project Pixel team has released four games, each with its own story-driven themes. Project Pixel’s first game, Color Dash, takes players into a world drained of color by an evil sorcerer. The player embarks on a quest to bring color back by gathering vibrant orbs, a journey symbolizing hope and resilience. This message reflects Project Pixel’s own commitment to spreading positivity in the gaming world, proving that even virtual landscapes can carry powerful themes.

Their second game, Flight Frenzy, follows the daring adventures of a pilot navigating a challenging world filled with obstacles like skyscrapers, birds, and turbulent weather. Players must collect resources like fuel and ammunition to keep flying, making quick decisions that test their reflexes and resource management.

Project Pixel | Aamir Ali | Global Indian

One of Project Pixel’s presentations

Turtle Odyssey is about different stages of a turtle’s life and how it sails through various obstacles. While the fourth game, Chef’s Last Stand is level-based, where players place chefs of different strengths strategically to fend off waves of mice. It is about achieving success by defeating all waves without losing health. Each game is crafted not only for enjoyment but also to inspire players, reinforcing the project’s mission to make gaming a platform for change.

Industry support and guidance

The journey of building Project Pixel has not been without its challenges, and Aamir and his team benefited from guidance along the way. They have collaborated with Sumo Digital, a video game developer based in Sheffield, to gain insights into effective game design and development. “Meetings with Sumo’s Director of Education Partnerships, Jake Habgood, offered valuable industry perspectives,” shared Aamir highlighting how his team refined their approach and ensured that each game meets professional standards.

For Aamir, this project’s practical experience has enriched his own professional journey. Since joining the multinational company, Gymshark as a data science professional in July, he has applied the lessons learned from Project Pixel, from teamwork and collaboration to project management skills that he carries forward in his role.

Aamir (second from left) with the Gymshark team

Looking ahead…

Project Pixel’s ambitions reach beyond the University of Sheffield. Aamir and Najaaz have always hoped that their initiative can inspire similar projects at other universities worldwide, creating a network of young developers who use gaming as a tool for social good. The project has already made a significant impact within the UK, standing out as one of the largest student-led gaming initiatives dedicated solely to charity. By demonstrating what is possible when young people unite their passions for a common purpose, Project Pixel hopes to create a new wave of gaming for good.

Follow Aamir Ali on LinkedIn
Discover more fascinating Stories

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 10, Nov 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Madhalasa Iyer: The Princeton student merging literature and science to change mindsets

(March 15, 2024) Indian-origin, Texas-based Madhalasa Iyer was appalled when she learned that in her district, a 13-year-old African-American boy was forced by his peers to drink his own urine. They even recorded the inhuman incident while yelling racial slurs at the victim. As she read the news and discussed the hate crime with her friends, Madhalasa learned of many more instances of discrimination and racism in her own district. In 2019, to help change societal mindsets, she founded Team Motley, an initiative emphasising the importance of solidarity for human equality. As part of her drive, she wrote a book titled 'Motley' to drive home the message of social equality. Later, the scope of her organisation expanded to include advocacy for environmental action. In addition to her work on social discrimination and the environment crisis, Madhalasa is working on a manuscript on phytomedicine to emphasise the benefits of ancient medicinal techniques. [caption id="attachment_36623" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Madhalasa Iyer[/caption] The author, researcher, speaker, and environmentalist has received several awards for her multifaceted talent, including recognition for her writing by the Alliance for Artists and Writers and the New York Life Foundation, as one of the six teen artists and writers chosen across

| Global Indian" width="539" height="539" /> Madhalasa Iyer[/caption]

The author, researcher, speaker, and environmentalist has received several awards for her multifaceted talent, including recognition for her writing by the Alliance for Artists and Writers and the New York Life Foundation, as one of the six teen artists and writers chosen across the US.

In 2023, as one of the Coca-Cola Scholars, Madhalasa Iyer was awarded a $20,000 college scholarship for her contributions to bring positive change in her community. She is currently pursuing neuroscience at Princeton University.

“I work on things that I am genuinely passionate about and this keeps me motivated,” Madhalasa tells Global Indian.

What does Team Motley do?

As an international initiative, Team Motley distributes books, stories, and artworks promoting acceptance, inclusion, and biodiversity to children and youth worldwide. These materials are created by teenagers who aim to share positive messages on these themes with children across the globe.

“We started by publishing our own children’s book, Motley, which discusses discrimination on a broader level, seeking to combat racism and bias in our society,” Madhalasa shares.

She and her team have successfully established Team Motley’s chapters in Texas and Washington State in the US, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Ismailia and Cairo in Egypt.

Talking about Motley’s other branch, environmental advocacy, Madhalasa remarks, “It was already a big part of my life considering I grew up watching my grandmother build our own greenhouse. I have participated in environmental advocacy since 2018 but added it to Team Motley in 2022.”

[caption id="attachment_36605" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cover image of Madhalasa Iyer's book Motley[/caption]

Supported by grants from nonprofits such as Discovery Education, American Service Alliance, the Hershey Foundation, USC Shoah, and the National Century Foundation, as well as through community fundraising, Team Motley now has more than 2,500 participants in five countries.

Emphasising on changing mindsets for making life of youngsters easier, Madhalasa remarks, “Children are often the most susceptible to society’s opinions and social influences. Therefore, building a community of acceptance will promote inclusion for future generations, regardless of their skin colour or ethnic background.”

For its impactful work, her Team Motley has received several awards and recognition from organisations such as the Plano ISD Diversity and Inclusion Board.

Madhalasa attributes the success of her initiatives to her team members at Team Motley.

Merging science with writing

Although Madhalasa is currently pursuing Neuroscience at Princeton, she is passionate about creative writing as well. She has attended the Iowa Young Writers Studio and the Sarah Lawrence Writing Camp (sponsored by the National Anthony Quinn Foundation with a merit-based scholarship). In these programmes, the budding writer got an opportunity to develop her writing skills by garnering tips and advice from the luminaries from the world of writing.

Merging her interest in science and her passion for writing, Madhalasa Iyer has published scientific work at IEEE, Journal of Student Research, Mentoring in Medicine Journal, and the Curieux Academic Journal.

[caption id="attachment_36611" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Madhalasa Iyer while receiving an award[/caption]

With the purpose of bringing the benefits of phytomedicine (herbal medicine with therapeutic and healing properties) to the fore; she is working on a manuscript on the subject. “It explores use of phytomedicine techniques in the ancient Chinese traditional medicinal practices, Vedic Indian scriptures, Native American treatments and mediaeval medicine practices,” she mentions.

An avid researcher, Madhalasa has presented her scientific research findings at esteemed platforms like the International SusTech Conference, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Southern California Undergraduate Conference (SCCUR), the Harvard Research Club at NYC, the Harvard Science Research Conference, and the Texas Science and Humanities Symposium. She has also given talks at TEDx and EarthX (world's largest green gathering held annually around Earth Day in Dallas, Texas).

ALSO READ | Sejal Akerkar: The Seattle poetess who donates her books’ royalties to the needy

Writing for change

For her work as an author, environmentalist and social justice advocate Madhalasa has been recognised by national organisations of the US like the Discovery Education, YoungArts, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Leyla Beban Author’s Foundation, Anthony Quinn Foundation, Century Foundation, University of Washington, New York Life Foundation, National Rifle Association (NRA), the Coca-Cola Foundation, and Elks Organization among others.

Her literary works (prose and poetry) have been published in journals like the Cathartic Literary Magazine, The Weight Journal, Scars Publications, Literary Yard, Poetry Nation, Plain View Magazine, Bluefire Magazine, amongst others.

The numerous awards and recognition that she received for writing, has motivated Madhalasa in using the power of the pen to cultivate change. “Each of us have the ability to use our words or work of art to illustrate positive messages and ideas to our community and we should use it” she mentions.

[caption id="attachment_36610" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Madhalasa Iyer after receiving one of her awards[/caption]

Stronger than Hate Challenge

In 2021 when Madhalasa was still in high school, she bagged first place and won a $6000 scholarship in the ‘Stronger Than Hate Challenge’. Created to inspire middle school and high school students, the annual competition is conducted for students aged 13 and up in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Since the event emphasises the role of social-emotional learning in empowering students to overcome hate, and encourages young people to use their voices to connect with the community, Madhalasa had got interested in participating.

Inspired by, Madhalasa had created the multimedia poem titled ‘Where Were You’ emphasising the significance of standing up for what’s right in order to stop history from repeating itself.

“If we can all speak out against discrimination, our war on division the holocaust survivor Tamara Branitsky is won and acts such as genocide and atrocities would only be present in the pages of history,” Madhalasa believes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0s0fmVH-s

Rising above odds

Although the Texas-based youngster has written several literary pieces and scientific research papers, and given talks at platforms like EarthX and TEDx, her journey of developing into a confident communicator has not been a smooth ride.

She was born in California but spent the first eight years of her life in Nepal and India. As an eight-year-old with a strong Indian accent, when Madhalasa moved to the US, she was looked down upon for her cadence and tone. “During my early schooling years, I struggled at grammar and writing tests. It took me years of continual accent therapy to rebuild the confidence that I had lost,” Madhalasa shares. But a creative bent of mind, dedication towards self-improvement, and love for reading kept her going in her self-enhancement initiatives.

“A combination of determination and support from my parents, family, and friends enabled me to overcome my speech and writing challenges, ultimately paving a way for me to become an author and a speaker,” she remarks.

[caption id="attachment_36609" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Madhalasa Iyer with Scholastic Art and Writing Awards[/caption]

With the attitude and experience of rising above challenges, Madhalasa Iyer aspires to create a world ‘where equality isn’t a question and where people sow the seeds of environmental action for the betterment of the future generation’. “As a citizen of the world, I wish to be an active contributor towards these changes.” She signs off.

Follow Madhalasa Iyer on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

Scientist, innovator, TEDx speaker, trainee pilot – how teenage prodigy Gitanjali Rao is raising the bar

“I know a lot of people say that kids are the future, but I want to spread the message that we are here now, and we can make a difference.” - 11-year-old Gitanjali Rao in 2017 Meet Indian American teen scientist and TIME’s First Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao. She is wise, confident, knowledgeable, self-assured and loves reading Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s websites. A chat with her is refreshing: Lucid thoughts flow almost as if scripted. It’s hard to fathom how a 4 foot something girl with sparkling eyes oozes such clarity. Picture a pre-teen walking into the Denver Water Treatment plant with a lab coat over gummies, and holding forte among science professionals. https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1356357624376287233?s=20 In an exclusive interview with Global Indian, She radiates poise as she speaks on her first prototype in use – Tethys, which detects lead contamination in water and shares that information through Bluetooth. Her occasional giggles make this child scientist more endearing. Today, at 15, she has 11 innovations to her name, of which three are in the prototype stage with one released. Innovation-driven by empathy Gitanjali, named after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s famous book of poems, has an altruistic sense of scientific purpose that takes one aback. In 3M’s Not the Science Type docuseries, she says: “All of us can make a difference. It’s just about finding that one thing

, She radiates poise as she speaks on her first prototype in use – Tethys, which detects lead contamination in water and shares that information through Bluetooth. Her occasional giggles make this child scientist more endearing. Today, at 15, she has 11 innovations to her name, of which three are in the prototype stage with one released.

Innovation-driven by empathy

Gitanjali, named after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s famous book of poems, has an altruistic sense of scientific purpose that takes one aback. In 3M’s Not the Science Type docuseries, she says:

“All of us can make a difference. It’s just about finding that one thing you want to change, and changing it. I want to use science to inspire kindness. Find yourself with it.”

https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1334727929037606912?s=20

Wearing multiple hats

A weighty quest for science guides the toothy teen scientist. She is described as a Forbes 30 Under 30, America's Top Young Scientist, TEDx Speaker, STEM Promoter, TIME Top Young Innovator, author and student. Moreover, she is a proficient glider, pianist, classical dancer, fencer, and a (self-proclaimed) average cook. This quest started with her proclivity to ask questions. Years on, those very questions led her to solutions. First, she tackled water scarcity and contamination that led to the Tethys prototype at just 11.

[caption id="attachment_5592" align="aligncenter" width="426"] At the age of 15, Gitanjali Rao has 11 innovations to her name.[/caption]

The technology, Rao says, can be easily enhanced to other contaminants. “More students, especially in the recent Regeneron Science Talent Research, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, etc have taken the same technology and enhanced it for other contaminants or water purification with doped nanotubes. Arsenic, Mercury and Cadmium are a few,” she tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. Further, she has provided some Brazilian students her solution for further research.

“I am in the process of working with American Water Works Association to explore influencing state and federal policies on water testing,” says Rao.

She paid for Tethys materials through her Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge prize money, which she won when she was barely 12.

Addressing the opioid crisis

Rao became fixated with another question – how to address the opioid crisis - when a family friend was prescribed opioids after an accident. She developed Epione – a tool to diagnose prescription opioid addiction using an ELISA-based protein detection method. Epione works on a fluid sample and uses protein expression from the mu-opioid receptor gene to find out if a patient is at the onset of addiction. “The device uses standard colorimetry processes to identify addiction status. Results on a mobile app show the status of addiction, and includes a map of the nearest addiction centre,” Rao adds about this early-stage research.

[caption id="attachment_5611" align="alignnone" width="852"] Gitanjali Rao enjoys talking about science with kids.[/caption]

Parental guidance

Rao feels her upbringing - thinking, trying and ideating differently were encouraged - made problem-solving a habit. She probably inherited intellectual rigor from her parents - Rama and Bharathi Rao, who migrated from Mangalore to the US and have strong academic credentials. Her parents instilled the freedom to choose and that she says taught her to be resourceful and take risks.

“If I felt like learning to fly a glider, I had to earn it, find a scholarship. If I wanted to attend a space camp, I had to search for scholarships and apply. To learn more about a concept, they would help me search for an expert, article or professor. They ensured I was safe, and allowed me to take risks.”

Today, she has a student’s flying license and can fly a glider.

[caption id="attachment_5593" align="alignnone" width="1010"] Gitanjali Rao learning how to fly.[/caption]

The Raos knew they were raising a special kid very early on. As a 10-year-old, a parent can expect the kid to ask for a new video game or a toy but the Raos had to service a carbon nanotube request.

'Kindly' to prevent cyberbullying

Among the other technologies that Rao has developed is Kindly, where she started with the question of how to prevent cyber threats. Kindly is an anti-cyber-bullying app that detects words related to cyberbullying using machine learning and natural language processing. As trailblazers go, her meeting with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella helped guide her with the initial prototype for Kindly. In an awe-inspiring meeting, Nadella was “kind enough to meet a 13-year-old, listen to her ideas and support,” she says.

Kindly has a Beta standalone app and browser extension now, and she has partnered with UNICEF to roll this out as a product that can be used worldwide to measure the number of preventable cyberbullying events.

Promoting STEM education through innovation workshops

A three-time TEDx speaker and winner of the US President’s Environmental Youth Award, Rao is hoping to solicit new innovators to address the world’s problems through her innovation workshops. She has already reached about 50,000 students in 26 countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEPYDLD3vg

“I hope to reach out to 50,000 more by 2021-end in partnership with MJP Foundation for schools in Cambodia, Royal Academy of Engineering for students in the UK, Transformation Ghana, and individual schools in India,” says the girl, who is now working on parasitic water contamination detection using genetic engineering. The key is to inspire girls to be unafraid of science and technology and help them connect it to real impact. But challenges abound. A workshop for girls in Gaza was canceled due to security issues. In Afghanistan and Chile, her struggle was to help people understand her accent.

“In a refugee camp in Kenya, some students had to walk 45 minutes just to listen, and had to leave before dark.”

The students at Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp started their own STEM classes using Rao’s book (A Young Innovators Guide to STEM – 5 Steps for Problem Solving).

“Schools in India that reach out and facilitate are much easier, though I have to tune my message for kindness, empathy, and collaboration.”

The TIME accolade has amplified her voice to influence and introduce innovation into the early education system. Since April 2018, Gitanjali has been working with UNICEF and was recognized as one of America’s Top Youth volunteers by Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. She even donated to UNICEF’s India COVID-19 response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_li_TNwOEk

A family girl

She is often teased by her family that she might be “Kid of the Year” but she still has to do her chores and clean her room. Her friends can’t fathom how America’s top kid scientist forgets adding key ingredients like melted butter while baking.

Her Indianness comes out in glimpses - eating hot bhajiyas on a rainy day. Or sipping on borrowed chai from her mom with a Parle G biscuit or rusk. Due to the pandemic, Gitanjali missed her yearly visits to India to see her maternal grandparents in Navi Mumbai and paternal grandfather in Hyderabad. But she’s thankful they are in the US now.

Mentored by icons

Having good mentors is an important crucible in any Global Indian’s journey. Rao speaks of being under the tutelage of Dr Kathleen Shafer from 3M (Tethys), Dr Selene Hernandez (Denver Water), and Dr Michael McMurray who guided her on genetic engineering concepts. Moving forward, her goal is to reach out to the US Department of Education to bring innovation into daily curriculum, which means innovations in education.

[caption id="attachment_4066" align="alignnone" width="425"] When Global Indians meet: Gitanjali Rao with 3M's chief science advocate Jayshree Seth in 2018[/caption]

Marvel’s hero project

Gitanjali was featured in the web series Marvel’s Hero Project as Genius Gitanjali for her valuable contributions to society.

“I think that being a scientist is like being a superhero, because superheroes save people, and want to do what is best for their society – scientists do the same exact thing,” she earlier told Google.

Reading Time: 8 mins

Entrepreneur Anshul Gupta is making therapy more accessible for autistic kids

(January 11, 2024) Even though one in every 100 children has autism, the disorder continues to be one of the most ignored medical conditions in the world. As the world grapples with the rise in cases and a severe lack of caregivers, an 18-year-old college student has become a beckon of hope for several autistic kids across the globe. Diana Award-winning Anshul Gupta has emerged as a trailblazing social entrepreneur, co-founding 'AUesome', a visionary social enterprise dedicated to breaking down barriers in autism therapy accessibility. A bachelor's student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Anshul aims to bridge the digital and physical world of at-home therapy for neurodiverse children. "Our mission is to make therapy accessible and affordable," explained the young entrepreneur, adding, "At AUesome we have iterated hundreds of kit designs, which include instructional videos, and apps that simplify the at-home therapy process for parents of children with special needs. We hope to eliminate the physical and financial barriers to receiving therapy." The impact of Anshul's innovative approach is already evident, with the AUesome team successfully designing and distributing 17,500 therapy resources to fulfill 550 kit requests globally. Everything Is AUesome Born and brought up in the lush green

and financial barriers to receiving therapy."

The impact of Anshul's innovative approach is already evident, with the AUesome team successfully designing and distributing 17,500 therapy resources to fulfill 550 kit requests globally.

Everything Is AUesome

Born and brought up in the lush green locality of San Jose, California, Anshul started volunteering at various organisations a quite a young age. An alumnus of Archbishop Mitty High School, the young entrepreneur was also the president of his school's Computer Science Club. It was, however, his personal experience of receiving therapy and working with neurodiverse individuals, that motivated Anshul to establish a company that uses technology to make educational and therapeutic resources more accessible to children with autism.

[caption id="attachment_35175" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Anshul delivering kits to elementary and KIPP schools[/caption]

Talking about the ground reality of autism, the entrepreneur said, "According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are one in 44 children having autism spectrum disorder in the US alone, and about half of those with severe ASD only have access to school-based treatment. Of these kids, about 17 percent have no access to any treatment whatsoever, with these numbers growing drastically. While I and a few of my classmates were working with individuals with special needs, we recognised the inaccessibility, lack of continuation, and low parental involvement for autism therapy services. And that is what became our motivation to establish AUesome."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OodlnvwI3Kg

So, what is it that AUesome does? "We improve upon existing therapeutic constraints by reimagining the therapy process through the utilisation of a therapy kit, augmented by a digital guidance platform and app," shared the entrepreneur, adding, "First, we curate clinically proven therapy tools and activities used by therapists – such as flashcards to train communication skills and clothespin activities for fine motor skills – into a therapy kit, delivered to parents and educators. Next, the kits are paired with an instructional platform, where parents can access guidance resources for each activity to educate themselves on how to conduct therapy with their child. Finally, after three iterations, we developed an accompanying app, which provides cognitive games and instructional videos that accompany the activities in the physical kit and recommends a daily schedule, quizzes, and ideas for customisation.

Road to expansion

The entrepreneur has distinguished his company through a unique pricing strategy. Rather than conforming to market trends, the company determines product prices through a combination of production costs and thorough market research. With costs as low as $10-15, AUesome provides an economical alternative to existing therapy systems, which can often demand upwards of a quarter-million dollars for individuals between birth and age 18.

[caption id="attachment_35176" align="aligncenter" width="552"] Fundraising initiative by AUesome[/caption]

"One of the key parts of our daily work is to receive user feedback. I believe they embrace both positive and negative input to improve our product continuously," shared the Global Indian, adding, "This market is worth $2.01 billion and is projected to grow 7.9 percent in the next couple of years. So, even from a business perspective, there is an emphasis on the importance of seizing opportunities as students and building a network of like-minded individuals who can support and contribute to their projects ensuring the sustainability of such innovative ideas."

Aside from therapy kits, AUesome has also initiated chapters. These chapters provide high school and college students with materials for leadership, networking, advocacy, and spreading awareness about neurodiversity and the necessity for therapy. So far, the organisation has 17 chapters around the globe. "We’re also hoping to expand more across the world through our global outreach initiative,” Anshul shared, "We’re currently working with the Brazilian government, Ukrainian hospitals, people in Canada, India, and beyond, to make a bigger impact beyond just in the United States.”

Follow Anshul Gupta on LinkedIn, GitHub, and his website

Reading Time: 6 mins

Poorna Malavath: Indian mountaineer conquering the summits of seven continents

(June 30, 2023) "I climbed Everest because I wanted to prove girls could do anything." This is what Poorana Malavath said after scaling Mt Everest at the age of 13. She scripted history by becoming the youngest Indian and youngest girl in the world to scale the world's highest peak. But that was just the beginning for this 23-year-old tribal girl who went onto complete the Seven Summit Challenge in 2022, by summiting all seven peaks in all seven continents. [caption id="attachment_31512" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Poorna Malavath[/caption] How the tribal girl fell in love with mountaineering It was in Palaka, a village in Nizamabad district of Telangana, that Poorna was born to parents who were farmhands. Being a tribal girl, Poorna did not have access to resources needed for mountaineering nor did she have the inclination to become a mountaineer, because it was something she couldn't even fathom in her wildest dreams. In her community, educating girls was a rare phenomenon, and even if some did attend school, they were pulled out as soon as they hit puberty as it was time to get them married. But her father Devidas Malavath wanted to educate his daughter and give her wings to

a rare phenomenon, and even if some did attend school, they were pulled out as soon as they hit puberty as it was time to get them married. But her father Devidas Malavath wanted to educate his daughter and give her wings to fly, so he encouraged her to join Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS) when she was ten. "Stepping out of my village gave me opportunities I didn't even dream of. In my new school, I felt like a newborn butterfly emerging from her cocoon," she said in an interview.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Poorna Malavath (@poorna_malavath)

It was at TSWREIS that she was selected for a mountain climbing workshop, something that was set to change her life forever. Seeing her athletic prowess, thanks to her years of playing kabbadi and volleyball, her teachers and mentor Dr RS Praveen Kumar, the retired IPS officer who was keen to give TSWREIS schools a makeover, saw her potential. He encouraged her to climb the Bhongir rock in Telangana. Fear took over her for the very first time as she saw herself making the climb uphill, but once she made it to the top, she had also conquered her fear. It was exhilarating, and that very moment she knew she had found her calling, and started training with Shekhar Babu, a professional mountaineer.

Youngest girl in the world to scale Mt Everest

Three years into her training, she scaled the Mount Everest at the age of 13, thus becoming the youngest Indian and youngest girl in the world to scale the summit. "The snow-clad Himalayan ranges were breathtaking. I could see all the camps as well!,” she told The Hindu. Though achieving the feat was thrilling for the then teenager, she had to face many difficulties. "The winds were pretty harsh and it was also bitingly cold. Moreover, during the expedition, we had to eat packaged food which was not easy to digest. I was as frequently throwing up whenever I was given food in those sealed bags as the smell was unbearable for me," she told a daily. But what disturbed her the most was seeing dead bodies of the climbers on her way to the summit. It was the second time in her life that she felt fear, understanding the fragility of life. But everything was worth it as she raised Indian flag on the world's highest peak. "The satisfaction of all the hard work I had done along with quietness and peace filled me."

However, scripting history wasn't easy as she underwent eight months of training, wherein she was sent to the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. It was here that she climbed Mount Renock which is 17,000 feet. She then trained in Ladakh where she was accustomed to sub-zero temperature of -35 degree Celsius. Seeing her endurance levels, she was sent on the Everest expedition.

Seven summit challenge

After climbing Mt Everest, she was keen to complete the Seven Summit Challenge. This led her to climbing Mt Elbrus in Russia which stands at an elevation of 5,642 m and later Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania which is 5,895 m in height. In 2019, she climbed Mt Vinson in Antarctica. And by June 2022, she had scaled all seven peaks in all the seven continents with Mt Denali (the highest mountain in North America) being the last peak that she summited. "It was a very different experience for me because every mountain has its own difficulties. The journey to Mt. Denali was more difficult than Mt. Everest. I have to train for two-three months. I had to work very hard. I had to work on my diet and exercise regularly. Climbing Mt Denali was very tough but my passion took me on the top," she said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgJosfwXvyo

Poorna's incredible achievement of .conquering all seven peaks across seven continents stands as a testament to her unwavering determination and indomitable willpower. Her journey exemplifies the belief that nothing is impossible when you set your mind to it. Her story serves as a reminder that with perseverance and a strong will, we can overcome any obstacle and reach the summit of our aspirations. "Taking the first step is the best way to overcome your fear and march towards your goal."

Follow Poorna Malavath on Instagram

Reading Time: 4 min

Ayush Gundawar: US Presidential Scholar making online tutoring accessible for free

(October 4, 2024) The first wave of Covid brought the entire world to a standstill, and changed the way everything functioned till then, including education. Moving from the vast spaciousness of classrooms to 17-inch laptop screens, students had a hard time fitting into virtual classrooms. Atlanta-based Ayush Gundawar was no different. Despite being someone who enjoyed learning, he felt deeply unmotivated. "Even my friends in high school dealt with the same emotions. That's when I realised if students like us who had access to academic support were having a hard time, how were students from disadvantaged communities dealing with this sudden change, especially when they had no access to extra resources like math tutoring? It felt unfair. And I was motivated to find a solution," the entrepreneur tells Global Indian. That's when the idea of LearnForsyth sprouted in Ayush's mind, and he soon got his non-profit registered. Initially, Ayush was the only tutor who began taking classes for the underprivileged students in his neighbourhood and simultaneously worked on building the website. "It took me months to code. Meanwhile, I also visited the local libraries pitching them the idea, and in return, they gave me articles for LearnForsyth. I even advertised

braries pitching them the idea, and in return, they gave me articles for LearnForsyth. I even advertised about the platform by putting up posters in local temples and churches," says the teenager, who has impacted over 2000 students across the globe through a network of 200 volunteering tutors - who are a mix of high schoolers as well as professionals.

[caption id="attachment_39720" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Ayush Gundawar was named US Presidential Scholar 2022[/caption]

Raised by software engineer parents who moved to the US in the early 2000s, Ayush grew up in a family culture that was cultivated around academics. "It wasn't just for better career opportunities but also to develop personality," adds Ayush, who enjoyed learning computers from a young age. His parents' careers acted as a catalyst in shaping his interest in computer science as young as ten years of age. "That's when I first learnt to program and was instantly hooked." This interest led him to make websites and applications as a teenager but it was in 2020 that he put his skills to the right cause when he started LearnForsyth, a non-profit that provides free peer-to-peer tutoring.

[caption id="attachment_39721" align="aligncenter" width="675"] LearnForsyth's tutoring session[/caption]

Ayush Gundawar, who has helped LearnForsyth grow from strength to strength in the last few years, calls it an enriching experience that has shaped him as an individual. "I have learnt a lot in the process. Seeing kids who were facing difficulties performing in their school are now performing well after enrolling in LearnForsyth has been a validation of sorts. The fact that I have used my skills to help improve human life across the globe has been so fulfilling," says the 20-year-old who is a researcher at Georgia Institute of Technology.

However, tiptoeing into the world of online education with a platform like LearnForsyth was equally challenging. Being just 16 at that time, the entrepreneur had to work a handful of jobs and internships to help get the seed funding for the platform, along with balancing his school with LearnForsyth. But moreover, growing his brigade of volunteers seemed like a mammoth task. "Initially, I was tutoring students for six-seven hours daily, but soon I started reaching out to high schoolers through newsletters and posters asking them to help to make a difference," says the entrepreneur who reveals that LearnForsyth teaches all subjects, and even helps students prepare for SAT and special projects like writing college essays.

Despite the hiccups, LearnForsyth came with its share of learning for him. From plainly working on the backend to mastering the design of the website, Ayush made technical progress in the last two years. Moreover, it gave him a chance to hone the leadership skills that he plans to put to good use during a corporate setup in the future. "Managing around 200 volunteers has helped me understand how to work with people in a way that they feel motivated," says the 2022 US Presidential Scholar. "The recognition has brought a big shift in me as an individual. I understood that there are so many like-minded people who are working to make the world a better place. Moreover, it has given me the opportunity to network with them."

He plans on making LearnForsyth accessible to everyone across the globe in near future. "I want people to access free tutoring and use it to their full potential in realising their educational goals," says the entrepreneur who plans on launching a startup in the tech space after a few years. Wedged between his passion for LearnForsyth and his studies, he likes to unwind by playing basketball with his friends and playing the guitar. Elaborating on the biggest lesson learnt in the last two years is the "accessibility" that online education has given to students across the world. "A student in Africa can access the same knowledge and education as someone in Asia. The accessibility is helping improve people's lives," says the entrepreneur.

Ayush Gundawar’s journey with LearnForsyth has been nothing short of transformative, not just for him but for the thousands of students whose lives he’s impacted. What began as a one-man initiative to tutor underprivileged students in his neighborhood has now grown into a global platform, offering free tutoring across subjects and SAT prep, all driven by a network of 200 volunteers. Ayush's ability to combine his love for technology with a genuine desire to make education accessible has proven to be a game-changer, especially in a time when students from disadvantaged backgrounds needed it the most. His work is a testament to how a single idea, fueled by passion and persistence, can create ripples of change across the world.

Follow Ayush Gundawar on Linkedin