A girl called Srusti from Morarji Desai Residential School, Challakere, Chitradurga had a time when she did not even get the opportunity to learn coding in her hometown. But she developed a great interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) when she was mentored coding by Yaana Nayak, a 39-year-old transwoman in Bengaluru.

Srusti is now back in her residential school in Challakere and has now sat for her project of developing a sensor-based smart home, smart street, and smart solar panel for multiple exhibitions. She actually wants to pursue a career in research based on sciences.

For Yaana, this tech education serves as an equaliser for both class and gender differences in society. Boys and girls are treated differently in society when it comes to the delivery of education. The boy is always sent to a good school with some good educational standards while the girls are mostly deprived of a scholastic curriculum and are mostly not even sent to schools when they reach an age close to puberty or even after that. Drop-outs are a case more common with girls.

Introduction of coding at a young age shall open multiple avenues to students for a wider choice of vocations. And when coding is taught as a gender equaliser, it helps for the greater inclusion of transgender people in the system. The teacher has so far had a nice experience dealing with students unless she adds she has to face any bitter experiences or comments.

Yaana has taught coding to various co-ed government schools. The students that come by to receive knowledge are moreover from the neighbouring locale. She is fluent in the Kannada language and that helps students to actively engage in the learning process. We also get to know that she assisted students in the use of sensors, microcontrollers, temporary circuits, and coding to create a panel that would harness solar energy.

Yaana is actually becoming a beacon light for the students of the State. It is people like Yaana who don't shame about their sexuality and give us a message that we should accept the way we are and should take steps for our advancement. It also gives us the message that we must let hope die of our passions. That constant flame and spirit shall help oneself to keep driving in.

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Reference:

• m.timesofindia.com