Indian Girls Code | Aditi Prasad | TEDxChennai

Summary

Aditi Prasad, co-founder of *Indian Girls Code*, addresses the critical gender gap in STEM education in India, highlighting how societal biases discourage girls from pursuing technology fields. Through her organization's programs, Prasad empowers underprivileged girls by providing them with coding skills and the tools to solve real-world problems. She shares inspiring stories of girls who, despite their challenges, use technology to improve their communities. With a vision to bridge the digital divide, Prasad calls for inclusive education that enables girls to thrive in STEM and contribute meaningfully to society, breaking cycles of poverty and limited opportunity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gender bias in India starts early, especially in fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), where girls are often discouraged from pursuing their interests.
• 😀 Despite outperforming boys in mandatory science and math subjects, girls' participation in STEM drops significantly once these subjects become optional in school.
• 😀 The percentage of women in STEM fields drops dramatically from school to mid-level careers, with only 7% of women represented in the workforce by mid-career.
• 😀 Closing the gender gap in STEM is crucial, as emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles, AI, and machine learning will shape the future of economies and societies.
• 😀 Indian Girls Code was founded to empower young girls in India by providing them access to coding education and bridging the digital divide and gender gap.
• 😀 Hands-on learning through platforms like Scratch allows young girls to create meaningful projects, helping them understand the importance of problem-solving and technology.
• 😀 Empowering girls to solve real-world problems with technology can inspire them to stay engaged with STEM and continue learning.
• 😀 Inspiring success stories from Indian Girls Code include girls who created home security systems, robots for rescue operations, and robots to assist elderly people.
• 😀 Encouraging boys and girls to learn and create together is essential for promoting gender equality in STEM fields and fostering collaboration between genders.
• 😀 The concept of 'Shakti'—feminine power—needs to be revived in modern times to inspire and empower young girls to become creators, innovators, and leaders in STEM.
• 😀 Indian Girls Code's long-term vision is to see girls from underprivileged backgrounds graduate from university and enter careers that will transform their communities and improve their futures.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the initiative led by Aditi Prasad and Indian Girls Code?

The main goal is to empower young girls in India to become creators and innovators by providing them with coding education, bridging the gender gap and the digital divide in the country.

Why does Aditi Prasad highlight the importance of coding education for young girls in India?

Aditi emphasizes that providing coding education to young girls will help bridge the gender gap in STEM fields and digital technology, where girls are often underrepresented. She believes that coding helps girls develop problem-solving skills and equips them to become leaders and innovators.

How does gender bias affect girls' participation in STEM fields in India?

Gender bias starts early in India, with many parents and communities discouraging girls from pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Girls are often enrolled in arts and social subjects instead, even though many outperform boys when STEM subjects are mandatory.

What impact does this gender bias have on women in the workforce?

The gender bias leads to a significant drop in the number of women pursuing careers in STEM fields. While 50% of girls opt for STEM subjects in school, this number drops significantly by the time they reach college and even further in the workplace. Many women leave the workforce at mid-career, which reduces their contribution to the economy.

How do young girls in Aditi Prasad's program learn to code?

Young girls in the program learn coding through platforms like Scratch, an open-source software developed by MIT. They use a drag-and-drop interface, assembling blocks of code to create projects such as games and stories, making the learning process fun and accessible.

What is the connection between coding and problem-solving according to the script?

The script suggests that learning coding is akin to learning to read. Once kids learn to code, they can use it as a tool to solve real-world problems. Coding teaches not just technical skills but also problem-solving strategies, project design, and how to communicate ideas effectively.

What is one example of a project that girls in the program have created?

One notable project was created by girls from an orphanage in Trichy, who used coding and electronics to develop a home alarm system for their orphanage. This project was driven by their concern for safety, demonstrating their ability to use technology to address real-world problems.

Why does Indian Girls Code encourage both boys and girls to learn together?

Indian Girls Code encourages both boys and girls to learn together because it fosters an environment where boys see girls working competently with technology. This helps break down stereotypes, promotes equality, and sets the stage for greater collaboration and respect in the future workforce.

What was the significance of the children's response to the flood in Chennai in 2015?

In 2015, after the devastating floods in Chennai, a group of children from a slum area created an animation to express their experiences. This project highlights how technology, like coding and animation, allows young people to process and share their stories, turning them into creators rather than just consumers of technology.

How does Aditi Prasad view the role of women in the future economy?

Aditi believes that in the next 10 to 15 years, fields like autonomous vehicles, data science, machine learning, and AI will transform the economy. She argues that to avoid widening the digital divide and gender gap, girls must be equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in these fields, contributing to the future economy.