Project RELAY Blog

Project RELAY can help you get started with slides that provide a basic understanding of CS principles. We also have a list of recommended resources for typing and coding practice over here:

• For typing we recommend: Individual resource | Class resource
• For introduction to block coding we recommend: Scratch | Makeblock IDE
• For text-based coding we recommend using the IDE for personal instruction: trinket.io | Programiz
• For self-guided instruction for text-based coding we recommend Codecademy

Hi my name is Syeda Zainab Fatima, and I am the founder of Project RELAY. I founded this organization because I love the world of computing and I want to help others have a chance to love it like I do.

My hope is that every student, regardless of their background, can access the tools and resources they need to succeed in the digital world. Project RELAY serves as a platform for schools around the world to get access to educational resources, equipment, and support for educating their students who come from underprivileged and exiled backgrounds.

My introduction to the world of computing began at a really young age, with my first coding experience at the age of 6 years old. Like many children, I had fascination with technology and the endless possibilities it offered. But unlike many, I had resources to explore, learn, and express my curiosity. It is unfortunate that many children, especially those from underprivileged and refugee backgrounds, do not have the same opportunities. From there, I began dabbling in various programming languages always came up with new projects on the fly. This experience taught me the importance of accessibility and the need to create opportunities for all children to explore the world of computing. That is where my research experience began. I began looking into ways to make healthcare interventions more accessible and effective for neurodivergent individuals.

With the use of AI/ML, starting in 8th grade,I developed a healthcare intervention tool that enables early detection and management of social withdrawal in neurodivergent individuals. using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and AI-based emotion detection from two sources (facial expression and speech). I have recieved national and international recognition for my work across the two years. In my third year as a 10th grader, I looked at deploying AI in resource-contrained hardware to detect non-convulsive epileptic seizures in real-time under $200. I gained a lot of professional approval.

I hope with this nonprofit initiative, we can bridge that gap and provide equal opportunities for all children to explore the world of computing and the fascinating interdisciplinaries it offers and allow them to undertake various endeavors just like I have.

- Syeda Zainab Fatima, Founder of Project RELAY