Vanij Periwal is a 12-year-old student at The International School Bangalore. He enjoys learning by doing, whether that means figuring out how a piece of electronics works, building something with his hands, or bringing a story to life in front of a classroom.

That curiosity has taken him in two very different directions. With his brother Manan, he worked with a mentor to turn a traditional white cane into a smart blind stick, adding an ultrasonic sensor, Arduino Nano and buzzer to give the user an additional warning about obstacles ahead. During his summer vacation, he took a completely different approach at Parikrama School, working with a Grade 6 class through stories, discussion, writing and performance.

The two projects look very different, but both began with the same kind of question: could something be done a little differently? One led to a device that could be built and used. The other turned a classroom into a place where students could read, question, create and perform.

Vanij is interested in the process as much as the finished result: asking questions, trying things out, learning from people who know more, and seeing an idea develop along the way.

There is plenty more for him to explore. For now, he is enjoying the process: asking questions, trying things out, learning from others and discovering what he wants to make next.