Do gender or age determine how big your dreams can be? For many, this remains a difficult question. But Gitanjali Rao, an Indian-American girl from Colorado, shows that neither age nor gender should limit what we hope to achieve.
A Ten-Year-Old’s Determination to Make a Difference
Born in 2005, Gitanjali developed a passion for science from an early age. But what truly set her on the path to innovation was a news story she saw in 2015. At just ten years old, she learned about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where children were becoming ill due to lead-contaminated water. Moved by the suffering of kids her own age, Gitanjali felt compelled to act.
She began researching relentlessly, sought expert guidance and even trained in a university lab. After months of dedicated effort, she invented a portable device called Tethys which detects lead in water in seconds and sends the results to a mobile app. Her invention empowered families to monitor their drinking water safely—an inspiring demonstration of compassion and scientific creativity.
From Local Concern to Global Impact
In 2017, Gitanjali entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge with her invention and won first place. In 2020, TIME magazine named her its first-ever Kid of the Year, calling her ‘a creator of the future’. Her story has since inspired young people around the world to dream boldly and take action.
Seeing the rise of cyberbullying among teenagers, she developed Kindly, an AI-powered tool that detects potentially harmful messages before they are sent. Promoting empathy and responsibility in digital communication, Kindly has been supported by UNICEF and is now used in schools globally as part of digital literacy education.
Equality Means Having No Limits
Gitanjali never felt that her gender or age held her back. Her motivation wasn’t to prove that girls can succeed in science—it was simply that she loved it and believed she could. Through global talks, workshops and books, she encourages young people to move beyond social expectations and follow their true passions.
Her story reflects the heart of UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality—true equality doesn’t mean giving everyone the same path, but offering everyone the freedom to choose their own. Regardless of gender, every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive in whatever field they love.
Gitanjali Rao reminds us that dreams are not defined by gender. Change begins with belief, and grows through action. Everyone deserves to be seen. Everyone has the power to make a difference.
About SDGs
SDG 5 Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
