Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveRiding her way to glory: Activist Jivya Lamba is a ray of hope for young girls

Riding her way to glory: Activist Jivya Lamba is a ray of hope for young girls

Written by: Team GI Youth

(January 17, 2024) Every year, India witnesses millions of girls dropping out of school due to a lack of transport facilities to educational institutions. The lack of security for these young girls has pushed several parents to keep them locked up in their houses. While several non-profit organisations and politicians have been working to rectify the situation by spreading awareness, a young 16-year-old activist decided to do something more concrete.

Jivya Lamba

Jivya Lamba, a class XII student from Haryana, was so disturbed after she visited a local village, that she spent several days thereafter searching for a solution to this grievous, yet unaddressed issue. “During the pandemic, I was a volunteer to distribute food, and sanitary products to people in the nearby village. During one such visit, I met with a few girls, who during the interaction told me that many of them had to leave the school after attaining puberty. When I asked for the reason, they said that their school was quite far away, and since the road to the institute wasn’t safe their parents thought it better to keep them at home,” the activist said.

After a few sleepless nights of researching the issue, Jivya stumbled upon the idea of installing GPS trackers on the bicycles of these girls, which can be used by their parents to know where they are at any time – a campaign she named WeCycle. It was quite a simple but effective idea, which helped reduce high school dropout rates among girls and increased their participation in studies – winning Jivya, the prestigious Diana Award, 2023.

Donning many hats

Academically brilliant, Jivya has been vocal about various causes since she was quite young. She has even represented her school internationally in various debate competitions. “Since the age of 11, debating has been a defining journey for me. Winning medals at the World Scholars Cup Global Round and Yale’s Tournament of Champions showcased my dedication and passion for debating. Beyond competitions, debating expanded my perspective. During the pandemic, I invested time in enhancing my skills and earned more medals in the 2022 World Scholars Cup. This journey was more than just a competition; it represents my continuous growth and the profound impact of words,” the activist expressed.

Jivya handing out her book to girls at a rural school

However, it was when the pandemic hit the nation, that the youngster started actively volunteering at the grassroots level. The Global Indian, along with a few friends, collected steam vaporisers, PPE kits, face masks, home testing kits, and sanitary products for free distribution in the village and other deprived areas. They also volunteered to distribute home-cooked meals to not just the needy, but also to COVID-19-positive patients and their family members. “The pandemic highlighted how desperately we needed to reach out to others and offer help. However, it became evident that even though many people recognised this need, the drive to take the initiative was lacking. So, I thought about taking a step and started working with underprivileged communities,” shared the activist, who is also a trained singer.

A true changemaker

It was during one such distribution errand that the activist came across the issue of girl safety. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Many girls, who had attained puberty, were unaware of menstrual health and various related syndromes. “Through my interaction with these girls in rural areas, it became quite clear that they had very little understanding of the changes caused by the onset of puberty and lack guidance on how to tackle it.” shared the activist, adding, “They are reserved and uncomfortable speaking about menstruation, adding to lack of confidence. Some had symptoms similar to PCOS but lacked awareness or community support.”

The young activist talking to parents at school

The activist then invested her time in creating an educational handbook, forming support groups, and actively engaging with families and community leaders to promote awareness about menstrual health. “The idea is to not just spread awareness, but also open a dialogue about these issues. My handbook is developed in the regional language, to make sure that everyone who reads it understands the concepts,” shared the activist, adding, “WeCycle is a step forward in the direction of free mobility for our young female students, athletes, and future-generation mothers. I am committed to making lives easy for these girls and my heart goes out to them.”

Follow Jivya Lamba on LinkedIn and her website

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Published on 17, Jan 2024

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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

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Chaitanya Karamchedu: Indian-American teen finds affordable way to convert seawater into drinking water

(September 27, 2023) "1 in 8 people do not have access to clean water, it's a crying issue that needs to be addressed," said Portland resident Chaitanya Karamchedu. Living in the part of the US where the Willamette River and Columbia River converge, the Indian-American teenager saw that despite the presence of two large water bodies, people still had problems accessing clean water. This nudged the Jesuit High School student to come up with an innovative idea to convert seawater into drinking water, an invention that won him $10,000 at Intel’s International Science Fair. It all began when Chaitanya found that millions of lives are endangered due to a lack of clean and drinkable water, especially in developing countries like India. As per stats, 163 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water. "The best access for water is the sea, so 70 percent of the planet is covered in water and almost all of that is the ocean, but the problem is that's salt water," he said in an interview. For years, the idea of isolating drinking water from saline water has baffled scientists. Moreover, he discovered that desalination was inaccessible in many remote coastal areas due to its

tal areas due to its high implementation costs. This made him more determined to create an economical solution for seawater salination.

The idea struck him in his high school lab. "The real genesis of the idea was realising that seawater is not fully saturated with salt," he revealed. This led him to work with an absorbent polymer to filter out pure water from the water bonded with salt. Unlike traditional thinking that considered seawater as fully saturated with salt, he found that only 10 percent of seawater was actually saline, while the remaining 90 percent remained untapped and not bonded to salt particles. Staying away from conventional desalination efforts, Chaitanya focused on this abundant 90 percent of seawater that was not directly saturated with salt. His goal was to develop a cost-effective method to extract drinkable water from this portion. This novel approach has the potential to revolutionize access to clean and safe drinking water for millions of people worldwide who currently struggle with inadequate water resources.

The widely practiced method of desalination not only faces challenges related to cost but also raises environmental concerns. High energy consumption is one of the primary drawbacks of conventional desalination techniques, which has raised environmental concerns due to its carbon footprint and potential ecological impacts. Chaitanya's innovative approach to desalination, however, offers a promising alternative by being a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution.

If his method proves to be scalable and sustainable, it could not only provide a more environmentally friendly way to produce freshwater but also significantly reduce the economic burden associated with desalination projects. This kind of innovation is essential for ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water while minimising the negative impacts on the environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1v7Fkcrhmk

Chaitanya, who was also named among the Regeneron Science Talent Research semifinalists, has made a groundbreaking discovery that stands as an example of the power of innovation and dedication in addressing one of humanity's most pressing challenges — access to clean and safe drinking water. His unwavering commitment to finding a solution has the potential to transform the lives of countless individuals around the world.

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How ‘Jalsa’ star Surya Kasibhatla brought about Bollywood’s big leap

(October 31, 2022) In the opening scene of Jalsa, a neurodivergent, teenage boy makes a video on how to bowl. Inspiration had come from Surya Kasibhatla himself, who plays the role of Ayush and is the first actor with cerebral palsy to be in a Bollywood film. Surya, who liked to post videos of his own on YouTube, made one with cricket tips. Auditions and a serendipitous discovery Ultimately, the video would lead the Jalsa team to him. After over two months of auditions, where over 150 Indian kids with cerebral palsy were put through rounds of specially-designed auditions, they zeroed in on Surya Kasibhatla. The actor was flown down from America, with precautions made all through the journey, both on and off the sets. [caption id="attachment_23630" align="aligncenter" width="728"] Surya Kasibhatla and Vidya Balan in Jalsa[/caption] Jalsa has received acclaim the world over, with Kasibhatla's performance singled out for praise. It's the first time a person with cerebral palsy has acted in a Hindi movie. "Whether that is me or not, is a secondary aspect," Kasibhatla told Forbes Magazine. Much of this was driven by casting director Anmol Ahuja, who had Kasibhatla flown down from America. Ahuja's early brief had

he first time a person with cerebral palsy has acted in a Hindi movie. "Whether that is me or not, is a secondary aspect," Kasibhatla told Forbes Magazine.

Much of this was driven by casting director Anmol Ahuja, who had Kasibhatla flown down from America. Ahuja's early brief had been to cast a neurodivergent actor and he began a hunt for actors along with Deepak Agarwal, another member of the team. They spotted actors in Doha, South Africa and Mumbai. At the same time, they also looked for kids with a background in theatre, a reluctant back-up plan. Eventually, they knew they had found what they were looking for in Surya Kasibhatla. Precautions were in place on and off the sets, to ensure that the young Global Indian felt at home.

The debutant who made history

Surya's newfound stardom does little to hide the excited, star struck 13-year-old, for whom working with Vidya Balan was one of the highlights of the experience.

"I have always loved Vidya ma'am's acting," he told the Hindustan Times in an interview. "Working with Vidya ma'am was more than a dream come true and absolutely delightful. She was very loving and caring and I had a gala time working with her. She is my favourite actress."

Dreams of the silver screen

Surya was four years old when he first decided he wanted to be an actor. Born in Hyderabad, Surya and his parents faced the immediate challenges of a raising a neurodivergent child. "There is a long way for societies to become completely exclusive," he said, in the HT interview. There are schools, however, which make the effort. Daksha School in Hyderabad, where Surya studied, is one of them and for that he is always grateful.

Growing up, his parents ensured that their son was never treated differently. His father, who is an IT professional, migrated to the United States when Surya was still young, although he was, by then, a big fan of Bollywood and Telegu cinema. Surya told the BBC he lives in a "happy and engaged family environment at home and is part of all decision-making on important matters pertaining to him."

By the age of 13, when he was chosen for the role, Surya was doing software development, having shown an early talent for computer programming, music, movies and sports. Word of the role in Jalsa came from his physiotherapists in India, who reached out to his parents.

In the Maximum City

It was the cricket video that did the trick. "The moment we saw that video, we knew we had to get him," Ahuja told Film Companion. He then got on a video call with director Suresh Triveni before being cast in the role.

The film team also re-visited Ayush's character, re-working the script to establish as many similarities as they could between him and Kasibhatla. Long dialogues were removed - they were not in keeping with the typical style of speech for someone with cerebral palsy.

The making of Jalsa was a complex and layered process. Acting, Surya found, harder than he had imagined. When he arrived in Mumbai, he was started off with film workshops and working through the role with director Suresh Triveni, who has a neurodivergent family member himself.

Learning on the job

"The best and toughest part of the film was doing justice to the role... Being in the scene is harder than many people think, but the pre-shoot workshops as well as the team on the sets made me comfortable." Among them was his co-star Vidya Balan, he taught him the art of emoting in every scene.

Kasibhatla himself was more than happy to do the work.

Inclusivity on the sets

"Nobody from the team treated me differently," Surya said. "I was one among them. I was absolutely comfortable while shooting for Jalsa. Right from my travel logistics to the accommodation, food, local travel, everything was a seamless experience."

Follow Surya Kasibhatla on Instagram.

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Meet the girls who won Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023

(March 8, 2023) In her address at the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023 felicitation ceremony Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, president Droupadi Murmu showered praises on this year’s eleven recipients. The Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, also known as the National Child Awards, is India’s highest honour for exceptional achievers between the ages of five and 18, in innovation, scholastics, sports, art and culture, social service and bravery. “The country whose children are so talented is bound to reach great heights,” said the President during her speech. The youngsters also got the opportunity to meet prime minister Narendra Modi after the felicitation ceremony. Global Indian celebrates the achievements of all the winners, and on International Women’s Day puts the spotlight on the five girls who received the prize, all of whom have climbed their own mountains to reach where they are today. Anoushka Jolly Innovator and social activist This young innovator’s app, Kavach, spreads awareness against bullying. Anoushka Jolly was a victim of bullying for three years, an experience she describes as the “lowest phase in her life.” It was also a “turning point,” she says, which helped her “identify her life’s purpose – to stop bullying and help kids be happier.” [caption

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This young innovator’s app, Kavach, spreads awareness against bullying. Anoushka Jolly was a victim of bullying for three years, an experience she describes as the “lowest phase in her life.” It was also a “turning point,” she says, which helped her “identify her life’s purpose – to stop bullying and help kids be happier.”

[caption id="attachment_28198" align="aligncenter" width="581"] Anoushka Jolly with the Prime Minister of India[/caption]

Educational institutions, social organisations and experts have all stood by Anoushka in her endeavour - she also won a Rs 50 lakh investment on Shark Tank. “No one is born a bully; they are usually led into it in one way or another. We need to be open to hearing their side of the story, be empathetic and forgiving because sometimes peer pressure also leads them to bully,” she said in an interview with Global Indian. “However, the good thing is that we can always lead them back to being good,” remarked the Delhi girl.

Alana Meenakshi Kolagatla

Chess player

Ranked world number one in the U-12 girls’ category by FIDE (the International Chess Federation), Alana Meenakshi was described as a “distinguished chess player” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his congratulatory tweet. “Her successes in chess have made her shine in various competitions globally. Her accomplishments will certainly inspire upcoming chess players,” he wrote.

[caption id="attachment_28196" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Alana Meenakshi with the President of India[/caption]

“Kids should do something creative than just watching TV or spending time on mobile phones, she said in an interview with Global Indian, adding, “They should go out and play or, try some arts and crafts. Maybe, they should try learning a new thing like chess,” remarked the Vishakhapatnam girl.

Hanaya Nisar

Martial arts champion

The youngster from Kashmir has won great laurels representing India in multiple international competitions. Hanaya recently brought home a gold in the third World SQAY Championship held at Chingju in South Korea.

[caption id="attachment_28193" align="aligncenter" width="568"] Hanaya Nasir with the Prime Minister of India[/caption]

“I am honoured to receive such a big honour and also interact with the President and the Prime Minister of India,” she said after the award ceremony. “The award and interaction with such dignitaries are going to act as motivators for me to further excel in sports. I aim to make my country, Jammu and Kashmir and my parents proud,” she added.

Gauravi Reddy

Classical dancer

A prolific dancer from Telangana, seventeen-year-old M Gauravi Reddy has performed at various national and international events and is passionate about Indian culture. When she was twelve, Gauravi became the youngest dancer to be nominated to the International Dance Council (UNICEF, Greece) in 2016.

[caption id="attachment_28190" align="aligncenter" width="809"] Gauravi Reddy with the President of India[/caption]

Though the prolific dancer specialises in Kuchipudi, she can also perform other classical Indian dance forms like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak and Manipuri. “It’s all because of my mother’s support that I have come this far. She has always encouraged me,” said Gauravi in an interview after winning the award. “There is nothing wrong with youngsters being inclined towards western dance forms but at the same time, they should not forget their roots and learn a classical Indian dance form as well,” she added.

Shreya Bhattacharjee

Tabla player

Twelve-year-old Shreya holds a record in the India Book of Records for playing tabla for the longest duration. The young artist received a gold medal at the ninth Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts held in Singapore.

[caption id="attachment_28192" align="aligncenter" width="689"] Shreya Bhattacharjee with the Prime Minister of India[/caption]

The Assamese prodigy has received various honours and accolades and has emerged champion in the All-North-East Tabla Solo Competition, All India Pt Rupak Kulkarni Music Competition and All India Tabla Solo Competition. “I am very happy to receive the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Becoming a recipient has increased my responsibilities to take my skills to newer heights and reach out to audiences nationally and internationally,” she said in an interview.

Watch Rashtriya Bal Puraskar felicitation ceremony on the President of India's YouTube channel

Reading Time: 5 mins

Indian teen inventor Niharika Shukla’s tool diagnoses ASD, she now turns to tech in safety & trafficking

(January 14, 2022) A teen with responsibility and accountability, her endeavours find solutions to global issues. Niharika Shukla was just 12 when she noticed how difficult it was for autistic children to pick up new skills. This was especially true for children diagnosed late with disability. Having volunteered for autism and learning disability support groups, the Indian teen mulled over it. Soon, she had her answer – a tool to diagnose autism spectrum disorder early, helping thousands. The 14-year-old student at Cumberland Valley High School, Pennsylvania, USA developed the Autism Diagnostic Tool, an artificial intelligence algorithm and device which uses auditory biomarkers and AI to diagnose autism spectrum disorder. A STEM believer, Indian teen inventor Niharika already has quite a few feathers in her cap at a very young age. Her work with AI was recognised by the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, a Wisconsin-based organisation that showcases youngsters’ research talents. Shukla is a part of Girls with Impact, an entrepreneurship and innovation academy, a programme that equips girls with entrepreneurship skills. The student, innovator, researcher and inventor is also the 2021 Science Fair Grand Champion and Broadcom MASTERS Top 300. How to help those on the autism spectrum

p-image-9646 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Autism-Project-Board-Niharika-Shukla.jpeg" alt="Indian Teen Inventor | Niharika Shukla " width="633" height="632" />

How to help those on the autism spectrum

What led Shukla to the invention was the close observation of children with ASD, and what late diagnosis acerbated. Children with ASD are bullied, self-injure themselves, have learning difficulties and a regression in abilities. “It felt wrong that children could be diagnosed with ASD as late as age 12, and not get the treatment they need,” Niharika Shukla tells Global Indian.

After close observation and research, she identified that characteristic vocal features, auditory biomarkers indicate the presence of ASD. “Using auditory biomarkers, I wanted to create a new test to diagnose ASD in children in a more accurate, affordable and quick way,” Shukla explains.

The device first uses microcontroller-based hardware to collect audio through an inbuilt microphone. The data collected from the hardware device is sent to the computer for backend processing, for voice-feature analysis, and after a few rounds of analysing the data, the device diagnoses autism spectrum disorder, with the final results sent by bluetooth, to a mobile app. The Indian teen inventor is currently working on improving her algorithm, gaining a deeper understanding of AI, and collaborating with mentors to bring her innovation to a wider audience. The young inventor is optimistic.

Most recently, Niharika received a scholarship to Karlie Kloss’s Technology and Innovation Camp, Kode with Klossy, to learn programming. Initiated by supermodel and coder Karlie Kloss, it offers free coding camps for girls aged 13 to 18 across the United States.

More inventions on the anvil

During the pandemic too, Shukla was busy. Observing that many faced problems with not being able to accurately measure health data at home, Niharika donned her thinking cap again. “You can’t visit the doctor during a pandemic, and I wanted to create a solution,” she adds. Her invention - HealthVitals, a low-cost, at-home health monitoring device checks pulse data, blood oximetry, and temperature, was introduced in 2021. “One can monitor their health and proactively prevent serious issues,” smiles the Indian teen inventor.

Love for microcontroller projects

Using microcontroller devices to solve problems, she explains, “Small devices that include microchips, memory and the ability to connect to external sensors and devices, one can programme microcontrollers to perform specific actions.” Niharika started puttering with microcontrollers during lockdown, working on many projects. “They could be anything, as big as my prototypes for HealthVitals, or something as small as an LED display screen for my room! Microcontrollers and sensor technology fascinate me - I see so many possibilities for this technology in the future!” the young scientist happily explains.

Fun learning science since childhood

Shukla fell in love with science at a very young age - grade one - when she would sketch designs of devices. The affair only embellished as she grew. “I loved science and technology. I see the ability to address issues in my community and help people! If there’s a fire in my town, technology is the first thing that alerts firefighters to save families. In many ways, science and technology are one of the most powerful and helpful tools of our generation,” the Indian teen says.

The apple, and the tree

Parents Bharti and Rajiv Shukla are IIT and Harvard alumni. Her elder sister, Neha invented a cap -- SixFeetApart in 2020 to ensure social distancing during Covid-19. All this has ensured that this brilliant "apple" did not fall far from the tree! While her sister Neha made her family proud being featured on the Nasdaq screen at Times Square for her innovation, Niharika is herself taking after this STEM family’s aspirations. “Neha motivates me because I see how her work directly impacted so many people. She inspires me! My sister and I are close, and we both lift each other up, and help each other stay motivated!” shares the little innovator.

Daily regimen of the young inventor

Her day during Covid 19 begins with online Zoom classes and reviewing coursework. “After a quick snack, I get into my work for innovation and STEM,” chirps the Indian teen inventor. Not just a science geek, Niharika is artistic too - she unwinds playing the piano. “I’ve been playing the piano for the past six years. I also enjoy painting, drawing, and reading new books,” adds the Indian teen.

Bharti and Rajiv Shukla are her biggest motivators. While Bharti works in management consulting for tech and government sector projects, Rajiv works in the space of finance and healthcare, thus their home conversations can be as complex as AI and ML or just simple as ‘what’s for dinner?’ The Shukla sisters have their parents to mentor them through their innovations. “We all worked together to create a little solar-powered car. My sister and I assembled the car, and my parents were so surprised to see it rev on a hot summer's day!" she laughs.

India is close to her heart

The Shukla family visited India just before the pandemic - warm summers with family, catching up with cousins and grandparents, and imbibing the culture.

Shukla now plans to follow her sister Neha and dabble into wearable technology, looking at personal safety and preventing child trafficking. “I’m also excited to learn more about emerging technology like artificial intelligence, gene-editing, nanomaterials through online resources, courses, and reaching out to mentors! I hope to partner with companies like UNICEF to bring my innovations to a wider audience,” says the pony-tailed science whiz.

Follow Niharika Shukla on Linkedin

Reading Time: 6 min