Manya Harsha: The eco-warrior turns vegetable waste into paper, saving millions of trees
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(September 17, 2023) When most of the people were busy making Dalgona coffee in the lockdown, the then 10-year-old Bengaluru-resident Manya Harsha had turned her home into a mini laboratory where she spent hours looking for ways to turn vegetable waste in eco-friendly handmade paper. Passionate about environment, her green initiatives have been appreciated by the United Nations-Water. “I celebrate every day as Earth Day. I believe it’s our responsibility to look after our surroundings and nature,” she said in an interview.
Manya Harsha
Just when the world had come to a standstill, Manya, who has been a champion of environment, dived deeper to find a solution to saving trees. Around 15 billion trees are cut each year to make paper, and Manya was determined to find a way out. Despite several initial hiccups, she was able to devise a novel method through which she could produce 2-3 A4 size sheets by using 10 onion peels. The process was tiresome as her first attempt turned out to be a complete failure, but she persisted and kept improving the technique until she could make sheets in varied colours and patterns. “Recycled paper reduces energy and helps stop deforestation. With around 1.3 billion population, India generates an average of 1000 gms of kitchen waste per day, if everyone starts recycling vegetable peels into paper, each one can contribute to the lessening of Ecological crisis,” reads one of her Instagram posts.
Growing up amid the lush greenery of her grandmother’s home in Bengaluru, Manya felt closer to nature. But seeing waste pollution as a constant menace, she started raising awareness on environment preservation. “Born in Bengaluru, I see the beautiful Garden city slowly transformed by heaps of garbage dumped on the roadside and how the quantity of waste is increasing every passing day has been a matter of huge concern. This scenario always had made me think for a permanent solution as to how the flower and plant waste can be utilized in an eco-friendly manner,” she said.
As young as eight, she started raising awareness through blog and poetry. She understood the power of words, and ended up authoring five books on environment and nature. While she kept relentlessly championing for environment preservation, she took it a notch higher when she made handmade paper from vegetable peels. “Making one paper a day keeps deforestation at bay, in my opinion. It’s an easy sustainable option to wet waste management,” she said in an interview.
In 2020. she was awarded for her project SUNSHINE, an eco-friendly initiative, where she created DIY vegetable paper to promote environment awareness among kids. So far, she has produced over 300 sheets of colourful paper made from vegetable waste. “Instead of chopping trees for paper, let’s recycle the kitchen waste to eco-friendly vegetable paper. Let’s all together join hands to restore our earth,” Manya said, adding, “8 trees are sacrificed for 1000 pounds of paper! Now with around 8-10 onion peels, I can make 2-3 A4 size papers. A 1/2 kg of Peas husk can make 3 A4 size sheets! 2 -3 baby corn husk makes around 2 A4 size sheets! These colourful vegetable papers are just like any other handmade paper. You can write, draw, paint, fold and create art out of it.”
The Water Heroes awardee in 2020 by the ministry of JAL Shakthi, Manya is also the editor of her kid’s journal Sunshine Fortnightly. Moreover, she received the India Book of Records for being the youngest to write a book on nature. “I believe nothing in this world is a waste until you consider it one.”
(May 28, 2023) In the sleepy village of Hinsla, some 150-km from Jaipur, in Alwar district of Rajasthan, child marriage has been a long-standing tradition. Girls as young as eleven or twelve are married off by elders as they reach the "appropriate age" since most are considered a social and financial burden. However, in a world where deeply rooted traditions often overshadow progress and human rights, there are individuals who rise above the norms, challenge the status quo, and become catalysts for change. Payal Jangid is one such inspirational figure. Her relentless fight against the practice of child marriage in her village has made a significant impact, not only in her own life but also in the lives of countless others. This made her the first Indian to receive the Goalkeepers Global Goals Changemaker Award from Gates Foundation in 2019. [caption id="attachment_30492" align="aligncenter" width="710"] Payal Jangid receiving Changemaker Award for eradicating child marriage from her village[/caption] She was just twelve when she overheard her parents discussing suitors for her and her sister, who is two years older than her. That very moment her heart sank as she reminisced the times, she watched innumerable little girls in her village being married
arents discussing suitors for her and her sister, who is two years older than her. That very moment her heart sank as she reminisced the times, she watched innumerable little girls in her village being married off to strangers at such a tender age, and the idea made her uneasy and claustrophobic. "Watching them, I knew that this was wrong—children shouldn't be put through this," she told Reader's Digest. Despite the cards dealt to her, she was determined to change her destiny, even if it meant standing up against the old-age traditions and elders. She blatantly refused marrying at a young age, and even protested against her sister's marriage proposal. However, she was met with strong dissent. "Marrying off children young was considered auspicious (in my village)," she added.
But not the one to bow, she kept standing firm until she found courage from an unexpected source in 2012. That's the year that destiny intervened when the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), an organisation dedicated to the welfare of children, selected Hinsla as a pilot village for their child-friendly village initiative. This initiative aimed to transform the village into a safe and nurturing environment for children, emphasising their right to education, healthcare, and protection against exploitation. It was BBA founder, Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and his wife, Sumedha Kailash's interaction with the community on child's right to education and healthcare that turned out to be an inspiration for Priya. This turning point in Payal's life not only provided her with an opportunity for personal growth but also fuelled her passion to fight for the rights of children.
Inspired by the work of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Payal became an active advocate for children's rights, particularly the eradication of child marriage, especially after the Satyarthis helped put a stop to her marriage and convinced her parents if the dangers of child marriage. It was the change in the attitude of her parents that encouraged her to tirelessly worked to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of early marriage on young girls, their health, education, and overall well-being. Through various campaigns, she engaged with community members, parents, and local authorities, educating them about the importance of allowing girls to pursue their dreams, rather than burdening them with the responsibilities of marriage at a tender age.
It was in 2013 that she was elected as the sarpanch of Bal Panchayat - a platform where children to freely talk about their issues to a leader who could in turn help come up with solutions after coordinating with village panchayats. "With 11 members of the Children’s Parliament, we started raising our voice against the ban on child labour and child marriage around the village. As most of the girls were pushed into child labour, farming and household work, nobody was sending their daughters to school to complete their studies," she told New Indian Express.
The Global Indian organised protests and educated the community on the oppressive practices of domestic abuse, child labour, ghoonghat pratha. However, she was met with fierce opposition as many people turned her away for "spoiling their kids with radical ideas". But she didn't give up.
Payal's efforts did not go unnoticed. Not only in 2019, when she was just 17 years old, she was honoured with the prestigious 'Goalkeepers Global Goals Changemaker Award' by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation but no instances of child marriage have been reported in her village since then. This recognition served as a testament to her relentless dedication and inspired others to join her cause. Through her courage and determination, Payal Jangid had become a beacon of hope for girls not only in her village but across the globe.
Her efforts have contributed tremendously to making the children of Alwar commit to attending school and completing school. The 20-year-old, who aspires to be a teacher, is also the brand ambassador of Alwar’s ‘Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao’ programme.
[caption id="attachment_30496" align="aligncenter" width="366"] Payal Jangid met Barack Obama in 2015 during his visit to India[/caption]
Her remarkable journey is a testament to the power of one individual's determination to create a better world. Payal's fight against child marriage has not only transformed her own life but has also sparked a wave of change in her community. The impact of her work goes beyond merely preventing early marriages; it has instilled hope and empowered countless young girls to dream big and pursue their aspirations.
Her story serves as a reminder that no matter how deeply rooted traditions may be, change is possible. It takes courageous individuals like her to challenge societal norms, inspire others, and pave the way for a brighter future. Through her activism, Payal Jangid has proven that age is not a barrier to making a difference and that even the smallest of actions can have far-reaching consequences. "Many resign themselves, to the way things are, far too easily. Everyone must challenge injustice and not run away or hide from problems. With strength and cooperation, even the toughest minds can be changed," she added.
(March 21, 2024) Over the past few years, India's online gaming scene has boomed like never before, propelling it among the world's top three gaming markets. Although not yet a traditional career choice, numerous young people now spend their afternoons competing in professional tournaments. Among them is gamer Akarsh Chaudhary, also known as Vivone, a nine-year-old from Mumbai. Despite his tender age, he has not only taken part in but also emerged victorious in numerous tournaments. The young child embarked on his gaming adventure at the age of four, inspired by watching his father play popular games like PUBG on his mobile device. "I asked my father if I could try the game, and he handed me his mobile. Instantly, I became hooked and began playing by myself. After practicing regularly for a couple of days, I even managed to defeat my father," shared the young gamer. [caption id="attachment_22260" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary aka Vivone[/caption] With a substantial following of 108K followers on Instagram and over four lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel, Vivone has created more than 6000 live streams and videos. "Recently, I participated in the SkyEsports Streamers Showdown, competing against numerous top gamers from around the
scribers on his YouTube channel, Vivone has created more than 6000 live streams and videos. "Recently, I participated in the SkyEsports Streamers Showdown, competing against numerous top gamers from around the country. I clinched the first prize of ₹15 lakh, impressing even my opponents with my performance throughout the tournament," said the gamer, whose average earning through live streaming games is around $6000-7000 per month.
Game on
Amid the challenges of the lockdown, numerous individuals sought refuge in online gaming, including Akarsh's father, Vivek Singh. Unbeknownst to the IT professional, this pastime would eventually serve as the inspiration for his son's career. "Initially, when I started playing, it was purely for enjoyment. However, my father soon noticed my potential and began coaching me accordingly. He taught me a variety of moves and tricks that significantly improved my game," said the Global Indian.
[caption id="attachment_22261" align="aligncenter" width="549"] Akarsh with his parents, Shikha and Vivek[/caption]
Recognising his potential, his father commenced live streaming his games under his gamer alias Vivone, which phonetically sounds like "we won". Shortly after, Rooter, Vivone's streaming platform partner, received a surge of offers from gadget companies, fantasy apps, and even some FMCG brands, willing to pay up to ₹1 lakh for video collaborations. Vivone is proficient in playing games across multiple platforms, be it mobile, PC, or console. Talking about his favourite games, he said, "I really enjoy playing BGMI the most, but right now, Valorant is my top favourite. I like messing around with its characters and maps. I also like playing CODM, Fall Guys, Tekken 7, Rocket League, New State Mobile, Pokemon, and other little mobile games."
Although it's fascinating, Akarsh's parents take caution to ensure their son doesn't spend all his time glued to his laptop. "If you really love something and want to do it well, you should start learning and practising early with someone to guide you," the gamer's father, Vivek, shared in an interview, adding, "We noticed our child's talent and helped them get better at what they love. But we also make sure they do well in their studies and play physical games. Luckily, Akarsh enjoys playing football outside just as much as he enjoys playing it on the computer."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfC_YY6SLyA
Giving an insight into the young gamer's day, Vivek shared, "Because Vivone streams games nearly every day, we decided not to give him too much schoolwork, so we chose to homeschool him. After he finishes his studies in the afternoon, Vivone streams for about two hours. Then, like any other kid, he plays with his friends, especially cricket or basketball. Sometimes in the evenings, I take him swimming too."
After winning against some of the best gamers in the country in various tournaments, Vivone is now preparing to represent India in international competitions. "When I first began playing, I never imagined having such a large following and subscriber base. Now, my main aim is to excel in international tournaments. I'm currently searching for tournaments for players under 13 years old, primarily organized in the US, Europe, Korea, and China," the young gamer shared.
(October 1, 2023) Clad in Indian jerseys, the women in blue entered the cricket pitch at Hangzhou with the promise of winning the game against Sri Lanka. And staying true to their vow, the Indian Women's cricket team won a historic gold medal in cricket at the Asian Games 2023. While the team did everything to clinch the gold, it was Titas Sadhu who orchestrated a dream start by picking up three wickets in four overs and giving only six runs. The 18-year-old became a star for India at the Asian Games 2023 with her pace and swing bowling, helping India clinch its very first gold medal in cricket. "It was always a dream to play for the country but I had never expected that it would come true so soon," she told ESPN in an interview. It was in the semi-finals against Bangladesh that Titas made her international debut. Can't take my eyes off the GOLD!🥇 Proud to play my part in our team's journey to this triumph! 🇮🇳✨#asiangames2023 pic.twitter.com/okBfHnXWqm — Titas Sadhu (@titas_sadhu) September 27, 2023 Born in the Chinsurah district of West Bengal in 2004, Titas was always interested in sports, thanks to her father, who was
Born in the Chinsurah district of West Bengal in 2004, Titas was always interested in sports, thanks to her father, who was an athlete. But cricket wasn't her first love, instead, she had her eyes on swimming. So much so that she enrolled in Chinsurah Rajendra Smriti Sangha Academy on the outskirts of Kolkata to hone her skills in the sport. However, over the years, she developed an interest in cricket and started playing the sport at the age of 13. "It wasn't for my love of cricket that I joined it. Instead, I started playing it as a fun activity since I would often watch the academy matches and also help them. But when I started performing well, my interest in the sport started growing, and that's how cricket happened to me," she added. It was her father who was the wind beneath her wings, always encouraging and motivating her. "It's very important to have someone at a young age who pushes you, despite knowing your limits. I'm so glad that my dad kept pushing me to do better. He is like a friend to me."
However, she had to wait for her chance to break into the West Bengal cricket team. While she failed to clear the trials in the first go, Class 10th board exams forced her to miss out on the 2018-19 season. "Though it was heartbreaking I realised that I wanted to be a part of the U19 team. That's when I started getting more invested in the game."
It was after Covid-19 that Titas joined the senior Bengal squad in the 2020-21 season. She was only 16 when Bengal women’s coach Shib Shankar Paul saw her at one of the training sessions and realised her potential. He soon picked her up for three practice sessions. However, in the first few matches, Titas was unable to prove herself on the pitch and had to be dropped.
However, she was determined to bounce back and kept performing well in the inter-district matches and the Cricket Association of Bengal-affiliated tournaments. In 2022, she played in the Women's T20 tournament and ended up taking seven wickets in five matches, thus cementing her position in the senior squad. Talking about the Women's Premiere League, she said, "You get to play with the players from other countries, and you find that their perspective on cricket and life is very different from ours. And it also gives us the nudge to incorporate those perspectives in our game."
But it's with the Asian Games 2023 finals against Sri Lanka that Titas proved her mettle as a cricketer. "It was special as we don't get to clinch a gold at the Asian Games every time, and representing India as an athlete was a proud moment. I literally had goosebumps standing on the podium receiving the medal," she said.
(April 13, 2024) "Are there any fishes in the water?" or "What's the depth of the water" were some of the questions that a curious 9-year-old scuba diver and eco-crusader Tharaagai Aarathana asked her father Aravind Tharunsri before starting to swim across the Palk Strait in the beautiful morning of April 3, 2024 at Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. Having waited out for 1.5 hours for the wind to calm down, she along with her dad and cousin Nishvik were ready to take the plunge in the calming water of the ocean. "I am comfortable with deep water, otherwise I get scared to jump into the water as you can touch the sea floor," smiles Tharaagai as she connects with Global Indian. Swim across the Palk Strait It's the first time that a father-daughter duo has swam across the Palk Strait together, clocking an impressive time of 11 hours and 30 minutes and securing a place in Assist World Records. However, their motivation transcends mere record-breaking; their swim is for a bigger purpose - to raise awareness about ocean pollution and environment conservation. Tharaagai was only three when she began accompanying her father to weekly beach cleanups and soon learnt about
urs and 30 minutes and securing a place in Assist World Records. However, their motivation transcends mere record-breaking; their swim is for a bigger purpose - to raise awareness about ocean pollution and environment conservation. Tharaagai was only three when she began accompanying her father to weekly beach cleanups and soon learnt about ocean pollution, leading her to take charge as an eco-crusader. Even during the 30-km long stretch between Talaimannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanuskodi in Tamil Nadu, the trio remained committed to their cause, gathering 6 kgs of plastic waste. "Every piece of plastic we spotted floating on the ocean's surface, we made sure to retrieve and stow away in the boat," recalls Tharaagai.
Enduring nearly 12 hours in the water is no easy feat, especially for a nine-year-old who was accompanied by her seven-year-old cousin Nishvik. "I have been swimming since I was three. All these years of water adaptation have helped me stay put for a very long time. With each challenge, I push outside my comfort zone and that's what I did with the Palk Strait swim too. At times, we have to face strong currents or daunting waves but we adapt to the challenges and face them," smiles the eco-crusader.
The 30-km swim
The journey began from Dhanuskodi after getting clearance from both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments. "We boarded a mother boat in the afternoon of April 2 to reach Talaimannar in four hours. The big boat provides essential amenities like beds, food, and restroom facilities. It also carries the support crew consisting of doctors, physiotherapists, and their assistants, two support swimmers, and a kayak," reveals Aravind, who is a scuba diving instructor. To ensure their safety, they were accompanied by a mother boat, a rescue boat, a backup boat, and a kayak.
Starting in the wee hours of April 3, Aravind, Tharaagai, and Nishvik, who were waiting for the weather to clear out, braced themselves for a long day ahead. "It's a non-stop journey without any breaks," explains Aravind, adding, "You can drink water or eat a banana or dates or nuts from the accompanying kayak." However, setting off before dawn had its perks as they had the opportunity to witness bioluminescence, (emission of light by living organisms), which captivated the two kids. "That's one of the things we love about night swimming," smiles the girl.
[caption id="attachment_37127" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Swimming across the Palk Strait[/caption]
Given their years of swimming experience, the duo didn't undergo any special preparation for the 30km swim. "We have been constantly swimming and gymming - for stretching to avoid any cramps during swimming along with some cardio," reveals Aravind for whom mental fortitude was equally important as he recognised the unpredictability of the ocean.
With decades of scuba diving experience under his belt, Aravind felt relatively prepared for the challenges. "Throughout the swim, I kept the kids motivated by engaging in small talk or plays so that they don't fell the fatigue. I kept them distracted so that they dwell on how far is the finishing line," he laughs. However, the final four hours proved to be the most challenging as they had to swim against the current. "If we stop swimming, the current would push us back. So, we kept moving forward despite the strong current," adds Tharaagai, who was welcomed by a cheering crowd at Dhanuskodi.
Swim for a cause
Aravind calls himself "a proud father" seeing his daughter create an impact as an eco-crusader. "Till now, she has collected 2000 kg of plastic waste from ocean and beaches," beams Aravind, adding, "More kids are getting inspired and joining us for future adventures to create awareness. The idea is that if my daughter can do it, everyone can do it." Aravind firmly believes that the future generation has the power to create change. "If we ask the government to stop manufacturing plastic bottles, it won't happen. But these young kids are witnessing the harmful effects of single-use plastic on the environment. In the future, one of them would ascend to positions of influence - be it Chief Minister, Prime Minister, or Forest Officer. That's when these efforts will truly matter," says Aravind.
An eco-crusader
The Chennai girl's love for water is a gift from her father who started adapting her to water when she was all of three days old. By the time, she was nine months old, she began floating and in the next two years, she was swimming like a pro. Her bond with water kept strengthening with each passing day, and at the age of five, she started training for scuba diving in shallow water.
[caption id="attachment_37128" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Aravind with daughter Tharaagai[/caption]
Growing up near the sea made her aware of the marine pollution and the plastic menace on the beaches. At a young age, she understood "how plastic and abandoned nets were adding to the pollution and affecting marine life." With some hand-holding by her father, she sat through awareness programs and training, absorbing every bit of information about endangered marine species, especially the Dugong (sea cow). "With 150 dugongs left in India, she decided to save them from plastic pollution. She is creating awareness among kids through presentations in various schools," says Aravind, who founded South India's first-ever scuba diving center Temple Adventures in Pondicherry in 2007.
His passion for protecting the environment has rubbed off on his daughter as the two are now working as a team of eco-crusaders. "Every week, we clean up the beaches and the ocean beds. I then segregate the plastic and send the one that can be upcycled to the recycling plant. While the other is taken care of by the government who dispose of it properly," reveals Aravind.
Tharaagai, who is being home-schooled, wants to be a scuba diver when she grows up. But the nine-year-old is currently enjoying her work as an eco-crusader and wants more kids to join hands. "I alone cannot clean marine plastic, everyone has to participate," she signs off.
(June 9, 2024) Growing up in a village in the East Champaran district of Bihar, Adarsh Kumar lived a life that was harsh and difficult. But the struggles didn't deter him from pursuing his dream - to become an entrepreneur. Now on his fourth startup Skillzo, the 16-year-old is on a mission to upskill over 10,000 school students in Bihar to become future leaders by providing them exposure, experience, and networking opportunities. "We are empowering a generation of learners with hands-on experience and resources to pursue careers and start businesses," he tells Global Indian. Coming from the grassroots, Adarsh understands the struggles and limitations that children like him face and knows that learning is the solution. In just a year, Skillzo has impacted over 7000 students, and Adarsh is excited to bring practical skills and knowledge to students who need it the most. "It's the need of the hour," says the teen, who has secured a ₹30 lakh scholarship from Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur, a leading IB School in India. Rising above the challenges Born in East Champaran, Adarsh was brought up by Monika Upadhyay, who wanted her son to have access to the best education. This led Adarsh
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Rising above the challenges
Born in East Champaran, Adarsh was brought up by Monika Upadhyay, who wanted her son to have access to the best education. This led Adarsh to DAV School which was different from his previous government school. "It opened up a new world to me. Back home, we spoke Bhojpuri, here I found students conversing in Hindi. But my dream was to become fluent in English, and I wanted to start by reading one page at a time. Around the same time, smartphones came in which sparked my curiosity for the digital world." When he was in fourth grade, his mom gifted him a laptop. "Jio revolution was happening, and the internet became cheap and easily accessible. Soon I explored how to make apps and create websites." Around the same time, he stumbled upon the term entrepreneurship for the first time.
Intrigued, he researched more as he was keen to make an impact. "Growing up, I have seen people face troubles around me and I was always keen to work for them. But we are often told that we can change the world only when we reach a certain age." But he understood that age is just a number and co-founded his first startup 2Trillions in 2020 to empower education, animal welfare, and environment conservation. "We were making merchandise with thought-inspiring quotes, selling them, and donating the profits. But soon Covid-19 hit, and due to logistical issues, it had to shut down." Soon he found himself back in his village, and along with the help of a cousin and sister-in-law, he embarked on a social and political campaign Mission Badlao to make a difference in the lives of 1300+ families. "I realised that lack of education was the primary reason many were facing issues in the community. It was an eye-opener for me."
Bridging education gap with Skillzo
Keen to do something, he left his hometown in 2022 for Kota and later moved around Dehradun and travelled to almost 20 cities in the last two years. But soon realised it wasn't just Bihar that was stuck in the traditional methods of education, the situation was equally grim in other parts of the country too. It was a far cry from the education system in Delhi/NCR which is focussed more on practical knowledge and skill development. "I realised students lack in three things at the school level - exposure, experience, and network (of mentors and peer group). This led me to start Skillzo in July 2023 to bridge the education gap," says the teenager, who opted for a top-down approach.
He calls Skillzo a community of over 420 high school students from across the country. These students are exposed to various opportunities and events and also participate in mentorship sessions. "We have done sessions on entrepreneurship as well as study abroad scholarships for Indian students," says Adarsh, who calls these events a perfect networking opportunity for students. Moreover, Skillzo helps with internships along with assisting students who plan to study abroad in terms of SOP and essay writing.
Skillzo has partnered with IIT Guwahati and IIT Bombay to promote entrepreneurial skills at the school level. In the last year, Adarsh has reached out to his network and as well as used LinkedIn extensively to spread the word about Skillzo. In just one year, Skillzo has impacted over 7000 students by providing technical skills and knowledge, which is the need of the hour.
Upskilling 10,000 students
Eager to do something for his hometown and East Champaran district, Adarsh is now on a mission to upskill over 10,000 students in the area with the help of the IGNITE BHARAT program to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and culture. A 60-minute program which is a mix of lectures, masterclasses, and assignments elaborating on entrepreneurship, design thinking, content reach, and personal branding has been curated by students of IIT Guwahati, IIT Bombay, Harvard University, and Stanford University. "The idea is to launch the IGNITE BHARAT program in small towns of India, starting from East Champaran in Bihar," reveals Adarsh, adding that the instructors are from IIT-Bombay, IIM-Ahmedabad and MICA. The program, which is set to be launched in a couple of weeks, will be introduced to students from Grades 6 to 10 for free. "They can attend the program either at school or at home. Afterward, they have the option to work on a project, which they can submit to us and pitch during a district-level event."
Explaining the desire to come up with the program, Adarsh says he wants to expose the students to concepts like entrepreneurship and design thinking. "The kind of impact I am looking for is that people become aware and start talking about it in schools, tuitions, coaching institutes. I hope I become that example or inspiration for them to believe that it's possible to dream big even if you come from small cities and towns," he smiles.
Learning the ropes of IB School
As someone who comes from the grassroots, he understands the importance of education. "Education is the passport to success, and it holds for people who especially come from backgrounds like me. We have no other way, apart from education. But I don't want to confuse education with schooling, what I mean is learning," adds the teen, who has been elected to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme from JPIS, one of the best IB Schools in India. It was a few years ago that learnt about the concept of IB Schools through LinkedIn. "It was a fantasy school for me. But when I looked up the fees, I was shocked. I realised why I wasn't aware of these schools," he laughs.
[caption id="attachment_38164" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Adarsh Kumar with Ayush Periwal[/caption]
With his aspiration to get world class education and entrepreneurial mindset, he dreamt of top universities of the world and knew an IB School was a perfect stepping stone. "Moreover, I wanted to experience studying at an IB school as it's my dream to create an IB school in a budget-friendly way. The best way to do it is to experience it, that's when I decided to enroll in one." He began by cold mailing a few IB schools including JPIS, Jaipur. "I received an email from JPIS asking me to get on a call with group CEO Ayush Periwal who was fascinated by my story and invited me for a meet-up in Jaipur. That's when he told me I had received a scholarship for the next two years. For a moment, I felt I was daydreaming." Come July, and Adarsh will pack his bags to leave for Jaipur to experience studying at an IB School. "Since IB School is known to focus on practical knowledge and skill development, I'd want to learn and apply the same practicality in the area of education."
At just 16, Adarsh has come a long way, but he credits Skillzo for bringing about the change in him. "We got a ₹10 lakh investment for Skillzo from my mentor Rahul Narverkar and that changed everything - my confidence, my perception." An avid reader, he likes to journal as well as Netflix. Belting out advice to youngsters, he says, "Focus, hard work, and consistency is the key to success in every field. If you can access this article, you have no reason to say that you can't do it," he signs off.
Payal Jangid met Barack Obama in 2015 during his visit to India[/caption]
Akarsh with his parents, Shikha and Vivek[/caption]
Swimming across the Palk Strait[/caption]
Aravind with daughter Tharaagai[/caption]
Adarsh Kumar with Ayush Periwal[/caption]