Ela Patel-Euler

The energy hit us the moment we stepped off the train. New York City: the city that never sleeps, the city where anything feels possible. For the three of us, it represented opportunity. And we were about to dive headfirst into a sea of it at EdTech Week.

The weeks leading up to the event were a whirlwind of preparation. The dining room table transformed into a makeshift production studio, covered in drafts of pamphlets, folders, and poster designs in various stages of completion. We debated color schemes and rewrote our pitch deck countless times.

Why all the effort? Because we knew what we were walking into. We were three teenage girls about to enter a room full of seasoned professionals, established companies, and industry veterans. We needed every advantage we could get. Every detail of our booth had to communicate a clear message: We are serious. We are capable. We belong here.

Walking into Columbia University’s EdTech Week venue was both exhilarating and intimidating. The space buzzed with conversations about funding rounds, and partnership deals. Entrepreneurs networked over coffee. Investors scanned the room for the next big thing. And then there was us.

It didn’t take long to realize we were the youngest people there. A quick scan of the crowd confirmed that we were surrounded by adults with decades of experience in EdTech. For a brief moment, we questioned if we could really compete for attention in a space like this.

But that moment of uncertainty transformed into determination. If we were going to be the youngest people in the room, we needed to be the most passionate, and the most memorable. We looked at each other, took a deep breath, and decided it was time to level up.

Once we set up our booth, something shifted. People were curious. They’d walk by, do a double-take, and then approach us with genuine interest. Some were drawn in by our eye-catching materials. Others simply wanted to know our story. Who were these young founders, and what were they building?

We pitched. And pitched. And pitched some more.

Each conversation was a chance to share our vision: accessible technology education for students who might otherwise never have the opportunity. We explained our device, demonstrated its capabilities, and painted a picture of the impact it has in underserved communities. With every pitch, we got sharper, more confident, and more compelling.

Some people offered encouragement, others asked tough questions that made us think on our feet. But every interaction taught us something valuable about our product, our market, and ourselves as entrepreneurs.

We came to EdTechWeek with two clear goals: find EdTech companies with educational content that could be uploaded onto our device, and identify potential partners who could help us establish new computer labs in different locations.

The conversations that emerged were better than we could have imagined. We connected with companies whose missions aligned perfectly with ours. Some had content libraries that would be ideal for our EdTech platform, and a few even expressed interest in piloting our solution in their partner schools.

As EdTech Week came to a close and we packed up our carefully crafted booth materials, we reflected on what we’d accomplished. Yes, we’d made valuable connections. Yes, we’d refined our pitch and identified potential partners. But the most important thing we gained was confidence.

We walked out as legitimate entrepreneurs who had held our own in a room full of industry professionals. We proved, to them and to ourselves, that age doesn’t determine capability, passion, or potential.

The city of opportunity had delivered exactly what we needed. And this was just the beginning.

GGE’s mission is encapsulated in our powerful mantra: Innovate. Educate. Elevate. These three words represent not just our core values, but our unwavering commitment to leveraging technology as a tool to bring transformative learning solutions to children suffering from the devastating effects of learning poverty.

Learning poverty, defined as the inability to read and comprehend a simple text by age 10, is an alarming global issue. According to a recent World Bank report, a staggering 70% of 10-year-olds are currently affected by learning poverty. Even more concerning, 260 million children worldwide do not attend school at all. This crisis severely undermines efforts to build human capital, crucial for both personal development and the economic progress of nations, while stalling advancements toward Sustainable Development Goals. Children who lack access to quality education or fail to develop critical skills are often denied the opportunity to secure employment and build prosperous futures for themselves and their families.

For millions of children, education—an essential human right—remains tragically out of reach. The barriers are numerous and complex, ranging from violence and conflict in their communities to the destructive impacts of climate change. Even gender plays a pivotal role, with female students disproportionately affected by societal constraints, limiting their educational opportunities.

Yet, there is hope. Together, through innovation and determination, we can redefine the boundaries of education. We can deliver learning opportunities directly to the doorsteps of children in the most marginalized and inaccessible regions. With technology as our ally, we can transform what once seemed impossible into a reality, ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

This summer, the GGE team embarked on an extraordinary journey to Ethiopia, a venture that would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the Emun Community Center. Their connection to the Kaizen Center was instrumental in transforming our vision into a remarkable reality.

Our summit commenced at 9:00 AM on Saturday, July 27th. Initially, we were uncertain about the turnout—after all, we are just three high school girls from the United States. But as attendee after attendee began to arrive, our hearts swelled with gratitude and excitement.

All 14 of our dedicated GGE ambassadors were on hand to welcome guests, ensure a smooth registration process, and help facilitate the day’s activities with remarkable efficiency.

The summit began with a powerful panel featuring representatives from the World Bank, UNICEF, IMF, and the Ayzon Foundation. This discussion shed light on the role of education in economic growth and development. It was emphasized that while providing resources to students is essential, equal support must be extended to educators, who are the foundation of the educational system in Ethiopia and beyond.

Furthermore, we explored the profound impact of Youth-to-Youth organizations, which possess a unique ability to empathize with those they serve and symbolize the promise of the future.

Between the first and second panels, a key highlight was the presentation by a group of four children—two returning participants from last year’s GGE summer camp and two newcomers. These students articulated how the EdTech device significantly enhanced their learning experiences and discussed its potential to make a global impact.

The second panel, featuring members from Imagine One Day, I Care for My Nation, the Emun Community Center, and the Addis Ababa School Bureau addressed the critical issue of gender inequality in education. The discussion underscored the importance of ensuring equitable access to education for all children, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or location.

Participants gained a wealth of knowledge about the EdTech industry and various facets of the education sector. However, the summit’s success extended beyond the exchange of ideas; it was a celebration of collaboration and the forging of new connections. We were thrilled to witness an event where diverse minds came together to inspire one another and cultivate ideas that have the potential to change the world.