#PCForChange: Beyond Techies, How Changemakers Are Using Computers

[The Better India logo]( IN PARTNERSHIP WITH [The Better Home logo]( The Better India is proud to deliver stories that will make your day straight to your inbox. Stories of change and changemakers. Of how a strong will transforms into positive impact for the entire community. This edition of The Better India on Email is brought to you by our partner [The Better Home](, the safest cleaners for your home and the planet. You can try them out [here](. Hello, How much difference does a computer make? It can change any life. However, these transformations are usually only highlighted in 'standard' situations. Someone goes to an engineering college, turns into a software engineer, starts a Startup, and invents a new website/app to make millions. But suppose we step away from these stereotypes. In that case, we can enter the wonderful world of 'technology for good' - situations in which a laptop or a personal computer created change in new ways or brought change to those who least expected it. Take Chennai-based techie Manu Sekar. Manu always believed that anyone with the proper guidance could easily do computer coding. But, two years ago, a unique request from a client forced him to reevaluate. The client had asked Manu to teach computer coding and programming to a child with autism. "People with special needs cannot make it to professional education or the mainstream workforce. I realised that there is no sustainable or alternate career option for them. They don't need charity, but the guidance to empower themselves and technology can play a major role," he says. This realisation motivated Manu to start HashHackCode in 2019, a platform that caters to specially-abled children with different cognitive abilities by teaching them computer programming. Under HHC, Manu now trains over 50 specially-abled students with Down syndrome, Autism, Dyslexia and speech or hearing impairment. How's that for a uniquely positive impact? If Manu brought change through software, Faridabad-based Akshita Sachdeva, Bonny Dave and Abhishek Baghel created it with hardware. Their organisation - Trestle Labs - created a device that can scan and read aloud printed, handwritten and digital texts by just placing the text under the device's scanner - a boon for the visually impaired. Indeed, change can even come through low-end hardware. The Pi Jam Foundation has reached over 15,500 kids across 52 schools in Maharashtra, Kashmir and Telangana - all using the smallest and cheapest computer there is - The Rasberry Pi. All three mentioned above have been encouraged in their efforts through the #PCForChange campaign by Acer, who have donated laptops to all three - who are using the power of technology to create change. 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