# Bridging the Gender Gap in Tech: The Inspiring Story of Pehia
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Chapter 1: The Need for Inclusion in Tech
Today, it's evident that the technology landscape we navigate is fraught with issues stemming from a lack of diversity and inclusion within tech teams across various companies. This challenge is universal, affecting countries worldwide. Women and transgender individuals often find themselves absent from discussions and events centered around technology and innovative solutions.
This was particularly true when the Pehia Foundation was established. Enfa Rose George and Sreepriya Radhakrishnan were among the few girls eager to attend tech conferences that were located far from their homes. This ambition often required them to seek “permission” from their parents for such travels. In many Indian households, a young girl asking to travel alone typically faced a firm 'No.' However, if she mentioned that another girl would accompany her, the narrative would shift, and parents would suddenly feel more at ease, allowing the trip. This puzzling logic still baffles me, even years after I graduated from college, but it certainly rang true in the homes of both Sreepriya and Enfa.
The solution was clear: they needed to rally other girls interested in attending these conferences. Thus, the Pehia WhatsApp group began with 30 members, gradually expanding over the years and fostering friendships and travel partnerships among tech-savvy young women.
Section 1.1: The Mission of Pehia Foundation
The Pehia Foundation is a community-driven non-profit organization committed to closing the gender gap in technology. It has evolved into a registered non-profit with regular meetings (prior to Covid) where participants can learn and teach various technologies, ultimately building applications or solutions that benefit society.
This initiative equips both girls and boys who join the Pehia Foundation with essential skills in engineering and technology, making them competitive candidates for internships and job opportunities. Unfortunately, this hands-on experience is often absent from the current engineering curriculum, which tends to focus on theoretical examinations rather than practical application.
I have immense admiration for the entire Pehia team for their impactful work in Kerala. Key figures on the board include Anusree S and Diya Liza Varghese, alongside Sreepriya.
Subsection 1.1.1: Empowering the Transgender Community
One significant achievement worth highlighting was their workshop aimed at the transgender community (Ze Camp 2019), held in collaboration with the Mar Thoma Church group. This initiative aimed to help participants secure jobs in a competitive job market while educating attendees about the challenges faced by transgender individuals and emphasizing the need for improved societal treatment. Pehia is truly becoming a voice for the marginalized.
Chapter 2: The Future of Technology and Inclusion
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As technology continues to be a cornerstone of modern life, it is crucial that its development includes voices from all segments of society. Sreepriya and her team are actively working to bridge these gaps through various camps, workshops on cutting-edge technologies, and an annual event known as the Pehia Summit.
During a recent podcast episode, I realized the importance of challenging existing norms, one of which is highlighted here:
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