Teaching Kids to Ask Better Questions – The Autonomy Algorithm | Ahan Mehra | TEDxNerul
In this bold and inspiring talk, Ahan Mehra, an 18-year old changemaker, challenges the conventional model of education for the marginalized. Sharing lessons from his grassroots work in rural India, he reveals a powerful insight: the most transformative gift we can give a child is not the right answer, but the tools and empowerment to ask the right question. Through his project—the Mallawan Village Foundation—Ahan introduces the Autonomy Algorithm, a framework that empowers underserved youth to learn independently using curiosity, creativity, and AI-powered tools.
What sets this approach apart is its potential to disrupt traditional education models. It bypasses the usual barriers of physical schools, qualified teachers, and institutional infrastructure—offering a scalable, rapid, and deeply personal way to bring meaningful education to those who need it most. By equipping children with the ability to ask better questions and access knowledge autonomously, this method reframes education as a bottom-up process of self-directed empowerment.
Drawing from personal anecdotes, on-the-ground impact stories, and digital experiments, Ahan advocates for a future where learning is not something done to students, but something they drive themselves. His talk is a call to reimagine education—not as a top-down system—but as a liberating force rooted in curiosity, relevance, and access.
This talk will resonate with educators, policymakers, innovators, and changemakers committed to equity, innovation, and the urgent need to educate at scale without waiting for perfect conditions.
Ahan Mehra is an 18‑year‑old changemaker and founder of the Mallawan Village Foundation, bringing digital literacy and art education to rural children in India. Featured at UN Global Goals Week and Art Capital Paris 2025, his work fuses creativity with social impact. In The Autonomy Algorithm, he shows how AI and curiosity‑driven learning can turn rote education into lifelong self‑discovery. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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