A Week of Observation, Experimentation, and Ideas for Change in Delhi

The Delhi edition of YCB Season 7 brought together 41 students from 17 schools across nine states for a week of interdisciplinary learning at IIIT-Delhi. Conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Intelligent Product Development (CIPD), the bootcamp introduced participants to the different stages of changemaking, from observing problems in their surroundings to exploring possible solutions, understanding users, and communicating ideas.

The week opened with an orientation and observation workshop led by Aniket Gupta, Founder of Tale of Humankind, followed by interactive dialogues with young changemakers Keshav Suyal, Rozy Maindoliya, and Sagarika Deka. Chief Guest Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham Education Foundation, delivered an inspiring address titled "The Future Belongs to Problem Solvers," while Prof. Ganesh Bagler introduced entrepreneurial thinking. Hands-on exposure at CIPD introduced students to electronics and robotics, complemented by cognitive psychology sessions with Prof. Sonia Baloni Ray and expressive arts with Rozy Maindoliya.

Digital creation and structured problem-solving took center stage as Neev Modh and Khushboo Khator facilitated web/app development workshops, Prof. Richa Gupta led design thinking and problem validation, and AI researcher Tushar Chandra demystified AI/ML and ChatGPT. Students explored creative problem-solving with Prof. Alok Srivastava, consumer behaviour with VC Amar Dixit, and storytelling with climapreneur Shweta Dalmia. Practical business planning with the Business Model Canvas and pricing with Saurabh Jain (VP, Paytm) rounded out the entrepreneurship curriculum, alongside experiential visits to the National Science Centre, National Gallery of Modern Art, and Nehru Planetarium.

The bootcamp culminated in the "My Idea for Change" pitching competition, judged by Global Teacher Awardee Arti Qanungo and Techmed Buddy Founder Alok Anand, with valedictory addresses by Prof. G. P. S. Raghava (Director, IIIT-Delhi) and Prof. Kriti Kanjilal (Dean of Student Affairs).

Winning Ideas:

• Team Krishi Express (Joint Winner): Address post-harvest agricultural losses and limited cold-chain access to empower Indian farmers and secure rural livelihoods. (Team: Shrikar, Sidharth, Yuvaan Garg, Eshita Moda, Narayani)
• Team Signs of Tomorrow (Joint Winner): A mobile learning application promoting sign-language education with an emphasis on accessibility, affordability, and social inclusion for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. (Team: Kanavjot Singh Johar, Utkarsh Jain, Himaksh Mendiratta, Myrah Om Brar Suneja, Jeslyn Ahuja)