Empowering Kashmir's Youth

The world is a global village, driven by evolving technology and progressive advances in healthcare, clinical research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, IT, and engineering sciences. The unceasing innovations in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have shaped every service and manufacturing industry.  Nearly 55 percent of organizations have adopted AI in their framework. With the rise of chatbots and digital assistants, global companies rely on AI to handle simple interactions from employees or customers.

Kashmir Care Foundation (KCF), a not-for profit organization, aspires to empower the next-generation of students and young professionals from Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmiri Global Connect is its flagship project with the objective to inspire students and young professionals to think out-of-the-box and pursue career opportunities in STEM-related fields.

Through carefully structured meetings, KCF is convening agenda-driven interactions of accomplished Global Kashmiris living in Kashmir and outside Kashmir with students and young professionals to inspire them to gain confidence and belief that “I can do it too, and I can do it better and faster.”

On Oct 27, 2024, KCF while conducting its second session, dived into the exciting world of AI/ML. The session was moderated by Dr. Faisal Farooq, the Director of Artificial Intelligence at Pinterest and hosted by the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora. The panellists of the session were : Mr. Amjad Khan (from Microsoft, Dubai), Dr. Manzoor Ahmad (Scientist, University of Kashmir), Dr. Muzafar Rasool Bhat (Assistant Professor, IUST), Mr. Junaid Mohammad (from Google, Germany), and Mr. Samar Khan (CEO of TripAI, USA).

A total of 400 individuals participated in the session and the panellists’ shared their insights about the emerging role of AI across various fields, emphasising the countless career opportunities emerging in this rapidly growing area. Several attendees were interested in learning about the panellists’ career trajectories, and the milestones they conquered while establishing themselves in their professional spaces. The panellists responded thoughtfully, offering guidance, resources, advice about essential skills, internship options, and words full of wisdom, to inspire the participants.

The panellists discussed the applications of AI that are relevant to life and commerce in the Valley, impacting trade, travel, horticulture, agriculture, healthcare, and service industry. They concluded the session with the hope that the coming years will witness more representation of Kashmiris in the AI workforce, and our youth will become World Leaders at the AI/ML global front in academia and industry.

The session concluded with Dr. Altaf Lal, founder of KCF, underscoring the significance of such initiatives to complement our education system. He also introduced the panellists for the upcoming session on Nov 24, 2024, at 10:30 AM IST on “Clinical Sciences: Treatment using local knowledge”.  The session will be KCF’s special tribute to celebrate the life of Dr. Ali Jan, the legendary, Luqman-e-Kashmir.  This session will feature six distinguished experts: Dr. M.S. Khuroo, Dr. Abdul Hamid Zargar, Dr. Parvaiz Koul, Dr. Upendra Kaul, Dr. Nargis Bali Kaur and Dr. Javeed Iqbal.

We look forward to a large audience for the session on Nov 24, so that medical students, physicians and researchers are inspired to follow the footsteps of our featured Kashmiri Global Leaders in academic medicine.  Follow Kashmir Care Foundation on Facebook and Instagram “@kashmircarefoundation” to stay tuned with our upcoming sessions.

Zaara Farooq, Member of KCF Core Group, is a student of DPS Srinagar