These Mumbai Teenagers Decided To Teach Underprivileged Kids Coding To Help Them Get Better Jobs

"Initially, it's challenging for the students to grasp the technicalities. But once they see the results, you can see the excitement on their faces."

1. Avantika Mehra and Saakshi Kakar are Mumbai-based17-year-old students.

Avantika Mehra

2. Earlier this year, the two girls taught underprivileged students from in and around Mumbai as part of an initiative called TechStart.

Avantika Mehra

While prepping for a filmmaking competition, Mehra and a friend designed a summer workshop for students from humble backgrounds to learn HTML and CSS to allow them to create and design websites. As her friend was unable to attend the workshop, Kakar volunteered, and together they conducted the first workshop.

3. Since the first class, they have (along with a team of volunteers) trained 40 students under this initiative.

Avantika Mehra

4. Initially, they started with Down-to-Earth, an NGO that their school worked with. Soon enough, they had offers from other NGOs and even Mozilla to collaborate on the project.

Avantika Mehra

5. "Initially, it's challenging for the students to grasp the technicalities. But once they see the results, you can see the excitement on their faces," Mehra told BuzzFeed.

Avantika Mehra

"I got emails from six students saying they're interested in pursuing this professionally, requesting further coursework and information," she added.

6. While they have been running on a non-profit basis so far, they are looking for contributors to the project on Ketto.

Avantika Mehra

You can volunteer or donate old iPads, laptops and computers. For the same, email them at [e-mail]