Making AI, robotics and coding fun for children in rural areas of TN

Today, the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is vibrant than ever and we’re on the threshold of discoveries that could change human society irreversibly. The role of AI in the future of education and employment is inevitable. And the technical skills should reach each and every kid in India. But unfortunately, that’s not the case in our country.

In order to tackle this, K Suriya Prabha, a microbiology expert, who was inspired by robotics, launched a start-up called YouCode Intelligence Solutions to seed the idea of innovation in children from rural regions.

“Most of the new-age start-ups cater to the needs of the urban population and are addressing their needs. Education is a basic human right and children in the rural sector have all the rights to learn technical skills. When launching the company, I was aiming at creating innovators from villages and using AI as a tool to solve problems. There is a serious skill problem in India and it’s higher in small towns and villages,” says Suriya Prabha.

Through the start-up, Suriya and her team introduce awareness on electronics, computer science and robotics technology to students in government schools. They cover three areas — code the robots, become a robot and experience AI.

“There is a general notion that students from villages are unable to grasp technical skills easily and it is complicated for them. But once we started taking classes, we saw the hunger in them to learn about the nuances of technology. Rather than educating them through tough programmes, we are teaching topics like coding and AI in a fun, playful way so that it would create a natural interest in learning and make it easier for them to learn,” shares the entrepreneur.

Though the awareness programme was launched a couple of months ago, the team has covered 8,000 children in districts like Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram and Madurai. “Since Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts were identified as aspirational districts under aspirational districts programme of the central government, we mainly focus on reaching out to children in these two districts. That said, our mission is to empower children from rural regions across the country with technical skills,” Suriya shares.

She believes that technology can be used as a tool to solve problems in villages and could make the community better. “For instance, during our recent field trip to Meghamalai in Theni, we made the children understand how they could solve problems through technology like conserving the pristine forests, ecology and environment, safeguard people from animals and vice versa,” she points out.