On August 15, Appropriate IT Development Academy (AIDA) hosted a special event to celebrate India’s independence day and mark the opening of AIDA’s first training center in Kinathukadavu, near Coimbatore, India.

This event “Celebrating Ourselves, Inspiring Social Change” took place at NGP Engineering College, Coimbatore on Aug 15 from 3 – 5 pm. The ceremony opened with a short presentation on Appropriate IT’s recent accomplishments around the world and what it hopes to do with its local offshoot Appropriate IT Development Academy (AIDA).

A traditional lighting of the lamp by the assembled dignitaries and well wishers marked AIDA’s official launch.

This was followed by an intense discussion session designed especially for young women aspiring for social change. How does one live, work, and be inspired in a world that seems to resist, a society that does not want to change, and a path strewn with too many barriers?

Three young social change makers – Priya Devi, Shweta, and Suganya – joined in conversation with four international women innovators – Geeta Ilangovan (India), Heather Moore (Germany & USA), Usha Venkatachallam (USA & India), and Yun Ming Wai (China) – in an effort to jointly create a new vision for social change.

The conversation traced the various pathways for young women to live, work, collaborate, be inspired, and most important of all…lead. The event came to a close with felicitations offered by Dr. Thavamani Devi Palaniswami from NGP Educational Institutions, where the Development Academy was pilot tested and Mr. A M Palanisamy from Vivek Vidyalaya, where AIDA has found a donated home.

In the end, it was an evening of inspiration for our fledgling effort as much as it was for everyone else assembled in the auditorium.

We will post thoughts from some of our special guests as short blog posts in the coming weeks. In the meanwhile, enjoy this photo slideshow from the event, courtesy of Appropriate IT’s flickr album.