Teen Develops App to Help Non-English-Speaking Parents with Child Care and Housing: 'It Gives Me Hope'

Angelina Tsuboi, 16, was inspired by her mom, a Japanese immigrant and single mother of three. Now PEOPLE is sharing her incredible story in honor of International Day of the Girl on Tuesday

Angelina Tsuboi. Photo: Leona Tsuboi

For Angelina Tsuboi, computer science is nothing short of a superpower — and with great power comes great responsibility.

"I build apps to solve problems in my community," the Los Angeles-based 11th grader, who is fluent in 13 programming languages, tells PEOPLE.

Tsuboi has created an app to connect teachers and students for tutoring, and even one for the Apple Watch that guides users through CPR using vibrations to regulate compression and breathing cadence. She's also co-created a device that monitors air pollution.

But Tsuboi's most meaningful invention — inspired by her mom, a Japanese immigrant and single mother of three who needed a lot of help with translation and accessing resources — is Lilac, a multi-language app that connects non-English-speaking parents with childcare, housing and translation services.

"It gives me a sense of hope," says Tsuboi, "that even with all the things going on in the world, we can always think of solutions by using our creativity."

As a winner of Apple's 2022 Swift Student Challenge, Tsuboi has spent time with CEO Tim Cook. "I admire how his goals align with his values," she says.

Angelina Tsuboi and Tim Cook. Courtesy Angelina Tsuboi

As have hers. Since Tsuboi was 7, she's been trying to solve problems she sees through computer coding and building apps. Now PEOPLE is sharing her incredible story in honor of International Day of the Girl on Tuesday.

"I feel like I have a really good purpose and meaning in my life," says Tsuboi, "and it's a really good motivating force for good."

For more on Girls Changing the World, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now, or subscribe here.

An amateur pilot-in-training for the last two years, Tsuboi just launched an app called Pilot Fast Track to connect aspiring aviators with resources to pay for flight training. Recently, Tsuboi took her first solo flight, in a two-seater Sport Cruiser.

"I was always in awe of things that flew since I was very little — machines, airplanes, rockets," she says.

Tsuboi's future aspirations are just as lofty: to use technology and engineering, combined with her creative flair, to continue finding "pragmatic" solutions to life's challenges.

"It's a single, coherent, philosophical principle that has guided all the projects I've pursued," she says.