Meet The Cantavits Team from India— 2018 Senior Division Technovation Winners
Every year, the Technovation Global Challenge Program encourages teams of girls from around the world “to learn and apply the skills needed to solve real-world problems through technology.”
A group of finalists moves on to the World Pitch Day where they present their idea alongside other teams from around the world. This year, the Senior Division winners were The Cantavits team from India. They created an app called Eedo to create “an end-to-end connection between e-waste producers and authorized recyclers.”
Smart Girls checked in with the group of high schoolers after their win to hear more about how their experience at Technovation is impacting their futures.
Team Leader // Aditi J - Class 9
What was the inspiration for your project and why do you think it’s important?
People don’t care when they dispose of their e-waste. They just dispose of it as regular trash not realizing how badly it will affect the environment. So, e-waste was one of our listed ideas while brainstorming for the idea which we should continue upon. And in the meanwhile, an article on e-waste and its effects on a national daily motivated us to continue.
Most importantly our honorable prime minister also expressed his concern about the grave problem of e-waste. In a recent interview, he mentioned the importance of management of electronic waste and the lack of awareness amongst people about the same. That was also something that motivated us.
Current environmental conditions is something which we cannot ignore. So this type of project is very much needed in society because it solves a problem which is increasing rapidly.
How has your Technovation experience shaped your future plans?
Before my Technovation journey started, I was interested in technology but I didn’t know what to become in this field and what to do here. Now, Technovation has given me wings to fly in a world of endless opportunities. It gave me an opportunity to follow my passion. Now I plan to launch my very own startup and be the youngest CEO (be a successful entrepreneur).
Team Member // Shraddha C — Class 12
When did you first become interested in technology?
Three years back when I was in ninth class my coach made me aware about the Technovation event in which we can solve a social issue by developing an Android application. This was the time I first became interested in technology and felt that we can use technology as a weapon to fight the difficulties faced by people in our society.
How has your Technovation experience shaped your future plans?
Technovation has given me the best exposure in the field of technology at this age which most of the child aims to get in their life as well. It helped me to develop an interest in coding which I didn’t like a few years ago. It really shaped my future goals as it gave me another field on which I can work upon and excel in my life.
Team Member // Sneha A— Class 9
What was the inspiration for your project and why do you think it’s important?
We had thought of several social issues we felt it was important to make an app for in the starting of this Technovation challenge. E-waste management was one of our ideas at that time. But the main inspiration for this project was the article we read about the severity of this problem.
I think it is important because this is a rising issue which will snowball into a huge problem if not taken care of now.
How has your Technovation experience shaped your future plans?
I learned a lot of new things in my Technovation journey. It has changed my perspective completely. I had never considered being an engineer before but this experience has convinced me to go into the IT field.
Team Member // Kritika S — Class 12
When did you first become interested in technology?
I was exposed to the field of Software and Electrical engineering when my team took part in the Technovation Challenge of designing and programming an Android application for solving a community issue. These experiences only instilled me with the ideals of teamwork, compromise and hard work.
How did you feel when you found out that you would be attending the World Pitch Summit in San Francisco?
I was so happy about the fact that out of all the teams participating, our team had made it to the finals as the only team to enter the finals from our country. It was heart-warming to see that our hard work for was finally paying off and I don’t think mere words could express my happiness for getting to see our team’s name on that list that day.
Team Member // Shriya Shukla — Class 9
How did you feel when you found out that you would be attending the World Pitch Summit in San Francisco?
My first reaction was of disbelief followed by immense happiness.
How has your Technovation experience shaped your future plans?
Technovation has given me a glance into the world of coding and technology. In-depth thinking and research about a specific problem and trying to create a solution for it also made me think about how there are many problems in our society and how they can be solved only when we, the people, take an initiative and do something.
Find out more about Technovation by visiting their website.
