When Prateek Sethi looked at how unsafe public spaces had become, he saw a problem waiting for a solution. At the outset of his youth, Prateek was already thinking about a question that researchers and technology developers continue to grapple with: how can suspicious activity be detected quickly, without relying on intrusive surveillance systems or expensive infrastructure?

His answer was ‘AI Powered Criminal Activity Detection through Sensor-less Sensing’, a system that uses Wi-Fi sensing and machine learning to identify human movements and recognize unusual or suspicious activities. Unlike traditional surveillance systems, the solution does not require cameras or expensive equipment. It uses existing radio signals to understand movement patterns, making it potentially more affordable, scalable and less intrusive.

The potential applications extend beyond public spaces to homes and organizations, helping detect unusual activity early and improve safety.

His idea earned the First Position in the third edition of vivo Ignite.

But the significance of Prateek’s journey goes beyond the technology itself. Through mentorship, structured guidance and the opportunity to refine his idea, he gained the confidence to see himself differently, not simply as a student looking for answers, but as someone capable of creating them.

Prateek’s journey offers a window into a larger story unfolding across India. Young people grow up in vastly different circumstances. Some have access to technology, mentors and opportunities from an early age; others may be first-generation learners from smaller towns or communities where such opportunities are less accessible.

Yet, their aspirations can be remarkably similar.

They want to learn, create, solve problems and contribute to something larger than themselves. This is what makes this year’s International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, particularly meaningful.

The circumstances a young person is born into may shape their starting point, but not their potential. Education lays an important foundation, but learning alone cannot always bridge the distance between knowing and doing. Young people also need exposure, mentorship, confidence and platforms where they can apply what they learn, experiment and pursue ideas. Sometimes, they simply need someone to tell them that their idea is worth pursuing.

Now consider a different journey within the same country.

Tanushri, a student of biology and mathematics, worried about the financial strain her STEM aspirations could place on her family. During her second year at NIT Raipur, she learned about the vivo KanyaGyaan Scholarship Program and applied, unsure of her chances. Being selected gave her the freedom to focus on her studies, and she went on to publish two research papers.

Today, she is taking her STEM training to the grassroots, working with rural farmers and women entrepreneurs through a non-profit, while nurturing a dream of establishing a support centre of her own.

Her journey also reflects the ripple effect of opportunity. By pursuing her own STEM aspirations and supporting women at the grassroots, Tanushri is creating a path that can inspire other young women to see STEM as a future they, too, can pursue.

Prateek and Tanushri began from different places and needed different forms of support. Yet, their aspirations were similar. Both stories show us that potential can exist long before opportunity does.

Through initiatives such as vivo Ignite and vivo KanyaGyaan, we have seen how access, exposure, mentorship and platforms to learn and experiment can help the youth take the next step.

As a technology brand, we believe our responsibility goes beyond products. It is also about contributing to an ecosystem where youth have pathways to turn curiosity into ideas, ideas into action, and aspirations into possibilities.

Different starting points should not determine how far a young person can go. Creating more pathways to opportunity can help more young Indians shape their futures and realise their potential.