Despite being more than 8,000 miles apart, Professor Abbas Attarwala and a group of middle school students in Mumbai, India, proved that distance is no barrier to impactful learning and meaningful connections.
During a four-day virtual workshop this spring, Attarwala introduced students to computer science through interactive game design—sparking curiosity and planting seeds of interest in STEM. The outreach idea came to him during his 2023 visit to a local all-girls middle school in India.
“I wanted to interact with different people and get a sense of what kind of computer science is taught in India,” Attarwala said. “I spoke with the principal about whether she’d be interested in a virtual outreach program for her students.”
A year and a half later, that idea became reality. Initially planned for 30 students, the workshop quickly expanded to include three additional schools after overwhelmingly positive feedback on day one.
Over four mornings for the girls, which were late nights for Attarwala, 65 students logged on to design games—from one with a maze and an apple-eating cat to exploring a treasure island. Each session built on the last, helping students develop both programming skills and confidence.
“Games are something kids get excited and passionate about,” Attarwala said. “They play on their phones, they play on their computers, so it’s a fun way to introduce complex details about programming to young audiences.”
Besides the principal, positive feedback came from parents who expressed gratitude and from students who excitedly reported back on the progress they made on their games after school. In the Zoom chat, students filled the messaging thread with heartfelt notes like, “I will miss these sessions” and “Thank you for teaching us,” capturing just how much the workshop meant to them.
Each session closed with a 30-minute guest speaker, all women in STEM, including Chico State computer science graduate students Zeba Samiya and Fatima Sultana. Attarwala wanted to show the students examples of women working in the computer science field.
“When young girls believe they can shape, lead, and grow in STEM, we all move forward”, he said.
Samiya saw the workshop as a chance to give back and be real about her journey, especially the challenges she faced moving from India to the US.
“It was important to me to be honest about the ups and downs and show the girls that even when things feel tough or uncertain, growth and opportunities can come from those moments,” she said. “I wanted them to know that no matter where they come from or what challenges they face, they should always believe in themselves and in something bigger.”
Despite the distance and virtual format, Samiya felt the students’ curiosity, excitement, and openness.
“It reminded me of why representation and shared stories matter so much—sometimes hearing someone’s real experience can be that small spark of encouragement someone needs,” she said.
Attarwala hopes to expand these outreach efforts globally and within the US.
“There were two girls in the workshop who mentioned they never could have imagined an opportunity like this,” Attarwala said. “That moment really hit me—it reminded me why these workshops matter so much. Who knows? Some of these students may someday consider Chico State as part of their academic journey. But even if they don’t, with efforts like these, we’re opening doors for students who could really benefit. We’re building global goodwill and showing that we’re a University that believes in the power of knowledge, inspiration, and a connected global community.”
