Genesis Global School awards King Constantine Medal to lshika Agrawal

Posted: 20 December 2021

Genesis Global proudly awards the King Constantine medal to Ishika Agrawal for her outstanding work for the community.

“A gifted young woman, Ishika is blessed with an extraordinary potential for coding,” explains Leenu Singh Genesis Global’s Rep. Ishika uses her computing gifts to better the world and has founded a mental health platform called Breath Infinity.

Ishika explains that “due to the stigma attached to mental health, a lot of teenagers decide to sweep their problems under the carpet and to never talk about them at all. Also, because the cost of therapy is way more than people can afford, we knew that factors like finances were proving to be a hindrance to accessing mental health services. This called for action. We were certain that things had to be changed in order to make a difference to those suffering from mental health issues. Hence, we came up with a unique solution – Breathe Infinity – to tackle these problems.” The platform is equipped with complex features and high-end secure databases, providing teenagers with an anonymous, safe, and free outlet to discuss their mental health issues to a panel of professional counsellors. As the Founder and Technical Lead Ishika aims to ‘eradicate all hindrances that are barring teenagers from seeking professional help’.

Leenu praises Ishika for her maturity and compassion. “I will always remember her as one of the rare students who can easily be-friend others and give them the comfort to talk about their problems and put their mind at rest.”

Furthering her quest to use technology to make a difference, Ishika took on the responsibility of the Director of Education at ‘GirlsCodeIt’, an international nonprofit that aims to bridge the gender gap in the tech world. Detailing the gender inequalities in Tech industries, Ishika clarifies that “only 22% of the AI professionals globally are women… This is a matter of concern as it also affects the technology that is being developed today. For example, an AI model is very likely to reflect the biases of its creators (which are men in most cases), further reinforcing stereotypes.” GirlsCodeIt provides a variety of coding-based workshops such as STEM Sessions, Java and Python Lessons in an effort to motivate more girls to pursue careers in Computer Science and break the male dominated mould.

“Leadership means to lead by example and to strive to make a difference. It is necessary to take charge and to unite others for a common goal. … As the Director of Education at GirlsCodeIt, an organisation primarily led by women, I feel that everyone can play a part in making a difference and breaking the stigma. When we help young girls develop technical skills such as coding, we know that it will help break the pattern and motivate girls to pursue CS as a career option.”

“Ishika is a determined and assertive woman, who proudly takes a stand for those in need. Her altruistic nature ensures that she raises her voice for all. These characteristics were evident in her proposal for inclusion of gender pronouns in the school policy. Celebrating diversity and promoting gender inclusivity is just one of the many ways she uses her skills to better her community” says Leenu Singh, Genesis Global School’s Round Square Rep.

In 2020 she interned at Your Amigos Foundation, an organisation that provides children with mental health support. In her two-week internship she excelled and was one of the top performers, raising money for a worthy cause.

In August 2019, she conducted a self-defense program in her neighbourhood to teach children (irrespective of gender) basic self-defense techniques. And during lockdown, she taught her house worker’s daughter English and Math. She continues to make a change within her school community by helping organise interactive programs based on the Round Square IDEALS for students between grades 5-12.

“I am elated to win the King Constantine Award. It means that what I’m doing indeed matters and if I continue to do the same, probably one day I’ll create an impact on the lives of many.”

Ishika is set to graduate Genesis Global School in 2022 after which she plans to pursue Computer Science at one of the top US Universities. “After that I aim to use technology to create an impact and leave a mark on the world.”