Empowering young innovators: All Girls’ Hackathon inspires future women in tech

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 12, 2025

The TechDiva Foundation, in collaboration with the Akshar Foundation and the Computer Science Department of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), successfully hosted the All Girls’ Hackathon, bringing together 109 enthusiastic young girls and seven government school teachers, including principals. The event fostered a dynamic environment of learning, creativity, and technological exploration.

Students from Akshar Model School and various government schools benefiting from the Akshar Foundation’s educational initiatives participated in the hackathon. These schools included T.C. Government Girls High School, Laxminath Bezbaruah ME School, Sundarbari ME School, Lokapriya Bordoloi Vidyalaya, and Birubari Rupnagar Vidyalaya. The event provided a unique platform for these young learners to engage with coding, technology, and innovation, sparking their interest in STEM fields.

Manu Sekar, Founder and CEO of the Chennai-based TechDiva Foundation, emphasized the importance of introducing young girls, particularly from low-income backgrounds, to technology at an early stage.

“In this third edition of the All Girls’ Hackathon, our mission is to create a lasting impact by nurturing their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). By giving them this exposure, we aim to boost their confidence and expand their future career opportunities,” Sekar stated.

Prof. Dr. Alka Sarma, Founder Director of Akshar Foundation, underscored the effectiveness of the Akshar Education Model, which integrates hands-on learning with conceptual understanding to empower students in government schools.

Tridib Dutta, Zone Supervisor at Akshar Foundation, highlighted the broader vision of the hackathon, stating, “Our objective is to introduce these students to cutting-edge technology at USTM, helping them explore new possibilities and develop crucial digital skills.”

As part of the event, students tackled 100 short computer-based questions, serving as a selection process for further intensive training in Artificial Intelligence and technology. The initiative is a part of All Girls’ Hackathon 3, a nationwide effort hosted across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and the North Eastern states in partnership with universities, colleges, and NGOs.

Beyond being a competition, the All Girls’ Hackathon emerged as a powerful empowerment platform, encouraging young girls to dive into the digital world, cultivate technical expertise, and build a strong foundation for careers in technology. By igniting curiosity and fostering innovation, this initiative paves the way for the next generation of female tech leaders and innovators.