From Frustration to Transformation: An Indian woman in US is Turning Student Projects into World-Changing Movements
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August 12, 2025
Across classrooms in the United States, a quiet gap was growing.
Brilliant ideas were being born in the minds of young students, many from immigrant and underrepresented communities, but those ideas rarely made it past the four walls of their schools.
These students were thinkers, builders, and visionaries in the making. Yet, without the right platform, their voices were unheard, their innovations unseen, and their potential undervalued.
It was a reality one educator couldn’t ignore.
That educator was Garima, a mentor, founder, and believer in the boundless capabilities of young minds. She saw the problem not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to create change.
“The gap between what students learn in school and what the real world demands is massive,” she reflects. “We shouldn’t wait for college or adulthood to talk about innovation or leadership. We need to make space now.”
From that conviction came the International Conference for Science and Innovation (ICSI), a global stage where students from grades 2–12 present groundbreaking ideas, connect with mentors, and stand tall as problem-solvers in their own right.
Breaking Barriers for Young Innovators
Building ICSI has been both energizing and humbling. Convincing people that younger students are capable of deep, thoughtful innovation has been one of Garima’s biggest challenges.
The other? Balancing access with excellence. “How do we make something truly transformative without making it feel elite or out of reach?”
Her answer: community partnerships, mission-aligned mentors, and a values-driven approach. Every year, ICSI refines, listens, and evolves with students at the center of every decision.
More Than an Educator
Beyond ICSI, Garima is the co-founder of Onlinechalk, a company dedicated to personalized education, test prep, and college advising. Her work helps students own their story, whether that’s crafting a standout college essay, acing the SAT, or building a social impact app.
“ICSI is simply an extension of that philosophy,” she says. “When you give students the right support and belief, they’ll show you what’s possible.”
Redefining ‘Impact’
For Garima, impact is deeply personal.
“It’s when a student walks away believing in their ability to create change not someday, but now,” she says. “It’s a 10-year-old speaking passionately about a problem they care about, or a high schooler helping a middle schooler refine their idea just because they care. Those moments shift futures.”
Advice for Fellow Changemakers
Garima’s advice to grassroots changemakers is simple: Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Just start.
“Grassroots work can feel slow or thankless, but you’re planting seeds that grow for generations,” she says. “Stay close to the people you serve, listen deeply, and keep your values louder than the noise. Change doesn’t always start from the top, sometimes it starts with a single student, a single question, and someone willing to say, ‘Let’s build something better.’”
ICSI Summit 2025 is Live on UPDEED
This year, ICSI takes its mission to the next level with the ICSI Summit 2025, Live as an Event Campaign on UPDEED.
More than just a science fair, the summit is a launchpad, a place where thousands of high-achieving students, especially from immigrant and international families, can present their work, gain visibility, and connect with global mentors.
Because excellence deserves a stage and every student deserves the chance to shine.
Through UPDEED’s global platform, the campaign links Garima’s vision to a worldwide network of supporters who believe in the transformative power of youth innovation.
Support the ICSI Summit 2025 & Help give student innovators the visibility, connections, and belief they need to change the world.
🔗 https://updeed.co/campaign/?uid=147
UPDEED Profile LInk of Onlinechalk: https://updeed.co/user/?id=26062
LinkedIn profile of Garima Rai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garimarai1/
