Written by In a narrow lane of Delhi’s Govindpuri slums lived 14-year-old Aarav, a boy with a bright mind and dreams far bigger than his surroundings. His father, a daily wage laborer, had lost work during the pandemic, and his mother stitched clothes to keep their household afloat. Yet, amid the struggle, Aarav nurtured an unwavering passion for robotics.
He had once watched a YouTube video in a nearby cyber café showing school students building robots. Fascinated, he began collecting scrap wires and motors from local repair shops and attempted his own crude creations. But without proper mentorship, access to components, or exposure, his potential remained caged.
One day, Aarav’s story took a turn. His school’s part-time counsellor introduced him to LEAP, a platform that connects students & professionals from various backgrounds with mentors, learning resources, and real-world opportunities.
Through a simple registration, Aarav was onboarded. Within a week, he got in talking’s with a girl named Anisha, a robotics engineer working with a startup in Bengaluru. Impressed by Aarav’s raw curiosity and hands-on skills, she began weekly virtual sessions with him.
Anisha not only guided him in basic programming and hardware concepts but also encouraged him to document his ideas. LEAP platform gave him access to free learning kits, coding platforms, and even helped him participate in a junior tech innovation contest.
Word of Aarav’s dedication spread through LEAP’s community. A Delhi-based NGO offered him a better internet setup. A group of college students from IIT Delhi volunteered to review his prototypes. A local journalist, associated with LEAP, featured his story on a blog, bringing in donations for his future education.
In just under a year, Aarav built a low-cost fire alarm system for small homes, which was shortlisted in a national-level science fair.
The trip was Aarav’s first flight, first hotel stay, and his first time on stage. His model didn’t just win a runner-up prize, it won hearts. A corporate CSR head who attended the event offered to fund Aarav’s higher studies.
Today, Aarav is a 17-year-old high schooler preparing for engineering entrance exams with full sponsorship, regular mentorship, and a growing community around him.
LEAP didn’t just connect Aarav to people, it connected him to possibilities.