Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveDiana awardee Aanya Rao’s Art Connect is brightening up the lives of patients in Singapore

Diana awardee Aanya Rao’s Art Connect is brightening up the lives of patients in Singapore

Written by: Amrita Priya

(August 7, 2022) While accompanying her father to health centres during his second kidney transplant in 2018, fourteen-year-old Aanya Rao did not appreciate the dull hues of the space. “They should be bright enough,” to infuse some positivity into the minds and lives of the people already in a sombre mood, she thought.

Struck by the absence of vibrancy, the youngster delved into research on the impact of art in the healing process. It was then that the idea of Art:Connect germinated. “For many patients, special needs children, healthcare workers, and senior citizens hospitals and care centres have almost become like home. It is very important for them to have a vibrant and positive environment,” she tells Global Indian, while connecting from Singapore.

Indian Artist | Aanya Rao | Global Indian

Aanya Rao, founder Art:Connect

From hobby to purpose

Aanya had always been in love with art, learning the nuances of fine arts since the time she was a seven-year-old. It was during the hospital visits with her father that she realised that the hobby can be utilised for a larger purpose. In 2020, she laid the foundation of the student-led body Art:Connect, and since then, the teenager along with 40 plus student volunteers studying in schools and colleges of Singapore, have been working in tandem to put their artistic talent to good use. To eliminate the starkness of the white walls, they coloured them up with murals in health care centres, displayed their handmade creations in exhibitions to raise funds, and organised art workshops and competitions for patients and senior citizens.

A mural by Art:Connect team at Vanguard Healthcare, Singapore

The Art:Connect team also conducts art workshops for mothers and their children suffering from lysosomal storage disorder, and diseases like phenylketonuria, thalassemia and osteogenesis. They have organised exhibitions to spread awareness about organ donation, dementia and mental health, and have been making greeting cards to brighten up the lives in hospitals during festivals. “While we started with brightening up walls, our initiative branched out into other areas connecting art with well-being,” says the teenager.

The team finds immense satisfaction in the fact that their creativity has not only got an audience but has been replacing gloominess with vibrancy. With their slogan, ‘Art can, and will, heal the world’ they have been leveraging the “healing power of art” to brighten lives of not just those who are suffering but also of the healthcare workers and caregivers who work in the emotionally, physically and mentally draining environments.

Art:Connect organised a special workshop in collaboration with Rare Disorders Society Singapore (RDSS)

Future ahead

To keep on adding a healing touch is what Aanya never wants to lose focus of. The 16-year-old, Class XI student of NPS International School Singapore, is working on succession planning and building the next step of leadership as she comes closer to her foray in the world of university education.

The Art:Connect team collaborates with about 500 students across schools of Singapore for special projects. “Moving on from a core team of five, I will play a more advisory role,” informs the teen about her non-profit’s future plan.

Art:Connect’s organ donation awareness exhibition in collaboration with National University Hospital, Singapore

A STEM lover, Aanya plans to pursue either biotechnology or bioengineering in college. A trained Bharatnatyam, Kathak and ballet dancer, she ‘absolutely loves art’, and finds working for Art:Connect a great stress buster.

Follow Art:Connect on Instagram and its website

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Published on 07, Aug 2022

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Rani Rampal: First Indian woman in sports to have a stadium named after her

(April 5, 2023) “Words seem too less to express my happiness and gratitude as I share that the MCF Raebareli has renamed the hockey stadium to ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf’ to honour my contribution to hockey,” tweeted an elated Rani Rampal. With this, the former women’s hockey captain who has earned the moniker ‘the queen of hockey’ for her consistently good performances has achieved a rare honour.In another tweet, Rani remarked, “It is a proud and emotional moment for me as I become the first woman hockey player to have a stadium to my name. I dedicate this to the Indian women’s team and I hope this inspires the next generation of women hockey players!” [caption id="attachment_29085" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Rani Rampal[/caption] The journey of the twenty-eight-year-old hockey player from being a cart-puller’s daughter to representing India in all the major international hockey turfs is nothing short of an inspiration. The self-made hockey player had dared to dream when there were odds stacked against her and with her sheer dedication has come a long way. Life as a cart-puller’s daughter Growing up in Haryana, Rani dreamed of becoming a hockey player ever since she was a little girl. But her cart-puller

Indian Sportsperson | Rani Rampal | Global Indian

There was a hockey academy near their house. Rani would spend hours watching players practice. She too wanted to play but every time she requested the coach to include her in the practice sessions, he would reject her saying, she was malnourished. While her parents kept on postponing her demands to purchase a hockey stick. One day Rani found a broken hockey stick near the academy and was on top of the world. Determined to change her life’s trajectory she begged the coach to give her a chance to learn. Eventually, with lots of pleadings, he agreed to train her. This was the beginning of a history that was waiting to be unfolded.

The journey began...

When Rani’s parents came to know about her plans to play hockey, they were reluctant. Instead, they wanted her to take up household chores and disapproved of the idea of girls playing hockey wearing skirts. It was the second time that Rani had to plead very hard. “I pleaded with them to let me play and if I failed, I promised I would do whatever they wanted me to do,” she said. It was only then that they agreed.

At the academy, each player needed to bring 500 ml of milk to drink before resuming practice. However, it was just 200 ml that the family could afford for Rani. The youngster did not want to take any chances and make the coach unhappy. She would mix milk with water in a 500 ml bottle and take it to the academy to do exactly what the coach desired. Rani picked up the sport fast. Looking at her dedication to the sport and how she did not miss a single day of practice, the coach built a liking for her. Later he even bought her a hockey kit and shoes and allowed her to stay with his family so that her nutritional needs could be taken care of.

It was a joyous and emotional occasion for her family when Rani came home with her first earning, a Rs 500 note that she won in a tournament. It was her first earning and when she gave the money to her father, he wept in joy. “I promised my family that one day we would be having our own home and worked hard to keep that promise,” the Global Indian said.

On the path to success

After playing several tournaments and representing her state under the guidance of her coach who stood by her in thick and thin Rani got a chance to play at the nationals. As she started to play professionally, GoSports Foundation, a sports NGO provided Rani with monetary as well as non-monetary support. At the age of 15, she was the youngest player in the national team which participated in the 2010 World Cup. After giving several consistent performances, there came a day when she was named the captain of the Indian Hockey Team – making her parents and hockey coach swell in pride.

Keeping to her promise she fulfilled the need for one’s own home for the family in 2017. “It was an emotional day for all of us. We cried together and held each other tight” she said. Having played the sport for more than 13 years now, the veteran player has been the mainstay of the team. In 2020 the striker who often doubles up as a midfielder was honoured with a Padma Shri. Her coach Baldev Singh received the Dronacharya Award.

[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHockeyIndia/status/1638478661547626498?s=20[/embed]

Bringing laurels to the country in numerous international tournaments Rani has also worked as an assistant coach with the Sports Authority of India. Apart from Padma Shri, she has won the Arjuna Award and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award – the highest sporting honours of India.

With a stadium that has just got named after her, the hockey player has reached a significant milestone in her career. From being a girl who had to plead to enter a hockey academy to becoming the first female player to have a stadium named after her, Rani’s journey is extraordinary.

Follow Rani Rampal on Twitter

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How Sri Nihal Tammana’s recyclemybattery.org has recycled 145,000 batteries, and counting…

(December 21,2021) Recycling batteries for a better future Recycle My Battery has recycled over 145,000 used batteries Every day almost 15 billion batteries are purchased to power everyday objects, most of which end up in landfills. In Edison, New Jersey, a seventh grader works tirelessly to rid the world of battery pollutants, aspiring to make the world safe from fires. Interestingly, his campaign also started when a fire at a waste plant in California caused million of dollars' worth of damage. When Sri Nihal Tammana read about it on his tenth birthday, he realised the culprit was a discarded lithium-ion battery. That became a clarion call for the 12-year-old to start a campaign to rid the Earth of used batteries. It galvanised the community, and like-minded children to begin collecting and recycling all types of batteries. Most importantly to save the planet. The little boy founded recyclemybattery.org which has grown exponentially since it began in 2019. Collaborations with Call2Recycle, today there are recycle bins in 200 US locations, and the non-profit is also working with US school superintendents, covering over 200 schools (200,000 children). [caption id="attachment_8698" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Recharge My Battery founder Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption] "I started to learn about

,000 children).

[caption id="attachment_8698" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Recharge My Battery founder Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

"I started to learn about all types of batteries, and how chemicals cause pollution when they end up in landfills, poisoning groundwater and damaging the ecosystem. I realised that our entire world is powered by batteries, and they are only going to be more widely used. I founded Recycle My Battery to address this," says the pint-sized TEDx speaker, environmentalist, eco-hero and Point of Light honouree.

His large, observant bespectacled eyes light up at the mention of science and sustainability. The winner of the NJ Governor’s Award and the Jefferson Award for his work, Nihal has a sensibility that defies his years.

The method to the research

The Woodrow Wilson student, Nihal researched on how to prevent batteries ending up in landfills, and it was a huge turning point that has been the guiding light that is slowly creating a change. "I started RMB to reduce the 15 billion batteries that are carelessly thrown away each year to zero. We have an amazing team of over 150 kids, and have achieved so much in the two years thanks to my team! We have recycled over 145,000 used batteries so far, and educated over an estimated one million people." Now, Nihal hopes to reach India with his campaign.

[caption id="attachment_8700" align="aligncenter" width="837"] Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

Always thinking ahead, partnering with Call2Recycle and Best Brains helped spread RMB’s wings across the US. Call2Recycle offered free battery bins while Best Brains helped right from initiation, advising on where to place battery bins in over 150 locations. Today, 145,000 used batteries have been recycled and the team has educated an estimated one million people on battery disposal, etc.

The 2009 March-born student has been STEM-inclined since he was a toddler, and thus math and science were his favourite subjects.

Infact, Nihal already had dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur even though his parents were concerned that he was too young to start an organisation. He started it, anyway. At age 10, news of fires and lithium-ion batteries put him well and truly on this path. His younger sister is in awe while his parents who work in IT, and are extremely encouraging, especially his father, "He kept motivating me towards my dreams. Without him, I wouldn't have started my organisation!" says Nihal. Nihal loves speaking to his grandparents in Vijaywada, India, and often regales them with his stellar achievements.

From recycle to spreading awareness

The TedX speaker admits sheepishly to being extremely nervous on the podium, and it took two months of practice to prepare for his TedX speech. The Eco-Hero awardee is a 12-year-old who has only just begun tackling world problems. With the help of more than a 145 strong childrens’ team, today RMB has placed more than 250 battery bins across the US. "We have also won 15 plus national and international awards," chirps Nihal.

The PEYA Award is what Nihal cherishes the most, One in a Million Award, NJDEP Recycling Award, Citizens Award, Nihal is thankful for the acclaim and attributes it to team effort, and the partners who supported his dream.

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A post shared by Recycle My Battery (@recyclemybattery)

If STEM subjects bring a glint to Nihal's eyes, he is also a proficient artist, and has won national awards for his distinctive drawings, one of which is shared below. "I have loved art and drawing since I was little. It was super creative and fun to draw, and impress everyone. I drew frenetically just to pass time - 100s of drawing, and I have gotten many awards," says the achiever who seems earnest and adult in demeanour.

The boy who has received appreciation from New Jersey state senators Bob Menendez, Sam Thompson, Patrick Diegnan and Vin Gopal, and Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey, exudes a wisdom beyond his years, and is grateful for their support which has furthered RMB.

As other children were gaming or playing tag, Nihal went CEO hunting to ask for support. That came in the form of kudos from Kevin Kassekert, COO of Redwood Materials, among many others.

Experience and impact has already given Tammana the depth to charter new paths in his life. His research-minded proclivity takes him forward, "I tend to do research to learn more about the environment, waste management, and recycling! When I see the battery bin is full, I feel very proud that people are using the bins that we place," says Nihal who still has ample amount of schoolwork to do, his first priority. After that comes RMB work, and of course, research.

[caption id="attachment_8702" align="aligncenter" width="772"] Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

Busy increasing RMB's influence across the US, the 12-year-old was also hired to research on waste management by an Indian firm. "I was recently hired as the youngest research lead at the Delhi-based EnviroVigyan (started by a professor and some PhDs). I want to do more research to learn more about waste management now," he adds. He also blogs for them.

Higher goals, ahoy

Egged on in no small measure by parents in IT, Nihal now has a clear goal in mind - of studying at an Ivy League like Stanford, and learn about environmental science, business development, science, space science and math.

For budding STEM students, his advice is, "Always go after your dreams and never give up! Failure leads to success!"

Having the right mentors opened a whole world of learning and opportunities, and Nihal is grateful for the guidance of Professor Dr Madigosky, Call2Recycle ex-CEO Carl Smith and his dad who "has guided and supported me throughout my journey to bring down the 15 billion batteries thrown away each year to 0!" he smiles.

It's not all work and no play, with doodling giving him the space to rejuvenate, playing and developing video games adding some fun, yet on any given day, reading and researching touts all else.

[caption id="attachment_8696" align="aligncenter" width="541"] A doodle by Sri Nihal Tammana[/caption]

"I practice martial arts, and recently got my black belt in Taekwondo. I love to learn about space. My dream is to become a space scientist. I hope to learn lessons from space to help us improve life on Earth," says the boy who has his own YouTube channel Learn with Nihal, where he educates through videos.

"In my spare time I draw and have also won some national awards for my work. I like to develop and play games on Roblox with my friends," smiles the boy who recently came third at a school geography competition, the GeoBee.

The world is his oyster, and Nihal is already thinking ahead, about how alkaline batteries help grow corn (which even the author did not know), and, a hopeful wish, "I want to start another company that can develop clean batteries in the years to come."

Follow Recycle My Battery on Twitter and Instagram

Reading Time: 7 min

Nebula Space Organisation: These students are building India’s first Gamma-Ray CubeSat to study black holes

(August 28, 2024) In 2021, at the age of 16, Snehadeep Kumar spent the lockdown trawling Discord, looking for like-minded people to join his space tech startup. At the time, the teenager's mission was to build the world's smallest telescope. Three years later, he has altered his goal, but his mission remains the same - to stay on the frontiers of cutting-edge space research. Snehadeep is the co-founder of the Nebula Space Organization, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, an Honorable Kentucky Colonel and a Young Member of the New York Academy of Sciences. The Nebula team is currently working on building India's first gamma base cube sat. Cubesats are a class of nanosatellites, usually measuring 10x10x10 cms. Now, the development of CubeSats is an industry unto itself, as they provide a cost-friendly platform for scientific investigations. "Satellites usually cost anywhere between $75 million. A CubeSat reduces costs by about 90 percent," Snehadeep tells Global Indian, holding up a model of a CubeSat to demonstrate. In 2010, ISRO launched the AstroSat, built with a budget of $50 million. The satellite, which was roughly the size of a room, was searching for gamma ray bursts to understand how black holes

, which was roughly the size of a room, was searching for gamma ray bursts to understand how black holes are formed. "Now, we're attempting to do the same thing with a CubeSat, which will cost only Rs 10 lakh," he explains.

The Nebula team has developed a proof of concept, which they have presented at ISRO. "We were one of two CubeSat based teams selected by ISRO for the National Space Science Symposium," Snehadeep says. They have also been selected to attend the International Astronautical Congress 2024, to be held in Italy this year.

[caption id="attachment_38992" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Snehadeep Kumar, co-founder, Nebula Space Organisation, is attempting to build the smallest CubeSat[/caption]

For over a decade, ISRO has been supportive of students in space tech, and welcomed their innovations. In 2010, ISRO launched STUDSAT, a CubeSat designed by students. The project had been conceptualised and executed by undergraduate students across the country. The picosatellite was launched on July 12, 2010, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. At the time, the objective was for students to get hands-on experience in space missions, and they were given autonomy with the design and fabrication of the picosatellite. It was also the smallest satellite launched indigenously by an Indian organization.

Growing Nebula

What started as an online group has come a long way. "When I started in October 2021, I had to work with an online team, but it's not possible to run a space tech startup that way," Snehadeep admits. At the time, they wanted to build the world’s smallest, functional space telescope, and were also studying the Milankovitch Cycles (changes in climate caused by the Earth’s movements).

His fortunes changed when he began his undergrad, at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar. There, he had the opportunity to build a team, and also met Mohit Kumar Nayak, who is the Managing Director of Nebula. "I have always wanted to explore space and space tech, since my childhood days when I would spend nights in my father's village in Odisha looking at the stars," says Mohit. Now, he's responsible for growing the business itself, and spends his time attending conferences and networking with potential investors.

"Nebula is in the growing phase, we have done the theory and the research and we are preparing for the assembling and manufacturing part," Mohit explains. Their aim is to begin building the protype in October 2024, which will go through three rounds of testing.

"The first round of testing is with a hydrogen balloon. Then the prototype will be sent to a private testing unit. The third phase is approaching bigger agencies who can deploy our satellite in outer space," Snehadeep explains.

When science caught his fancy

Snehadeep's talent for science surfaced early - by the age of eight, in fact. His parents, keen to stoke his curiosity, subscribed to several student newspapers like Times NIE, which he read cover to cover. “I would read about science and scientific experiments and be completely fascinated by it all, also films like Interstellar and Inception, and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet inspired me,” says the Indian teen scientist. His father works at SAIL, and his mother is a homemaker.

[caption id="attachment_38993" align="aligncenter" width="590"] The Nebula team[/caption]

In third grade, an astute science teacher at his school DAV Model School, Durgapur, Soma Ghosh, noticed Snehadeep’s inclinations and took it upon herself to encourage him. “She asked me to participate in a science competition - Intel IRIS,” says the lad who grew up in Durgapur, Bengal. With her help, he built a functioning electromagnetic circuit, connected to a bell. “She taught me how to conduct a project, and write about it,” he adds. In Class 9, another mentor, Sushmita Chandra, a science teacher, cemented his knowledge – he worked on three projects with her.

That year, he began looking into trapping excess water from the soil. “Roots don’t absorb all the water, so where does the rest go? Can we save it? I placed a device that comprised a filtration tank, and a containment tank - water goes into the container, then into the filter for purifying,” says the Indian teen scientist, of the filtration tank which contained moringa seeds, a natural purifier. “We tested the water, and it was fit to drink. SRM University funded the project. I also began thinking of publishing this in a journal,” he adds. Another project involved creating electricity out of carbon monoxide released from cars – creating a rechargeable hybrid battery.

The perils of publishing

Getting published is tough, the Indian teen scientist found out. He approached Nature.com and Scientific American, and was turned down. “I also learned that we need to pay to have our articles published. Besides, journals like Scientific American accept submissions only from PhD candidates, or people with undergraduate degrees,” the Indian teen scientist says.

By this time, Snehadeep was already in communication with some of the world’s top scientists - Dr Tom Welton, president of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London and the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Gerard ‘t Hooft, who, “likes to chat with students. He would send me practice papers to solve,” smiles the Indian teen scientist, adding, “I have always been interacting with scientists, Nobel Laureates, to discuss problems in maths and physics."

Always on the lookout for new programmes to do, new things to learn, normal teen activities are much too passe for him. “I received an acceptance from the Oxford summer programme but won't be able to attend because of dates,” he mulls. The Indian teen scientist is also part of the Asteroid Search by Nasa’s Astronomers Without Borders, an initiative through which citizen scientists get the chance to make original astronomical discoveries.

Snehadeep's achievements:

Received a Rs 56 lakh scholarship from Lifology, to pursue a bachelor’s degree from select universities across the world.
Top 10 from India by Environcentre Foundation in 2021, for his project “Coagulated water filter and purifier.”
Silver medal in the SRM University Mission Invention. The country's biggest science fair
A Young Fellow of Harvard’s CYES. The Harvard's Entrepreneurship Society, with a very selective procedure
Immerse Education Cambridge Summer Camp in 2020 and Oxford Summer Camp in 2022
A young member of the prestigious New York Academy of Sciences, which selects 1,000 students from over 2 million entries.

Follow Snehadeep Kumar on LinkedIn

Skill India: Champions make country proud in WorldSkills Competition 2022

(December 17, 2022) In 2022, India outdid itself in the WorldSkills Competition, moving two places up the ranking table, from 13 in 2019 to 11 in 2022. With the government putting skill development in primary focus, the country has earned two silvers, three bronzes and thirteen medallions in the world’s biggest skills competition, considered the gold standard of excellence. WorldSkills International is the global hub for skills excellence and development, founded in 1950 with the aim to provide youngsters a chance to compete, experience, and become the best in their chosen endeavour. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship, Government of India, has been leading the nation’s participation on the WorldSkills Platform. [caption id="attachment_25471" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nandita Saxena after winning silver medal in patisserie and confectionary[/caption] This year saw 1400 participants from 58 countries, participating in 62 categories. The events were held in a decentralised manner in 15 countries across Europe, East Asia and North America, over a period of 12 weeks between September to November 2022. Global Indian takes a look at the champions of 2022 who brought medals back home: Nandita Saxena (silver medal in patisserie and confectionary): Nandita became

align="aligncenter" width="800"] Nandita Saxena after winning silver medal in patisserie and confectionary[/caption]

This year saw 1400 participants from 58 countries, participating in 62 categories. The events were held in a decentralised manner in 15 countries across Europe, East Asia and North America, over a period of 12 weeks between September to November 2022. Global Indian takes a look at the champions of 2022 who brought medals back home:

Nandita Saxena (silver medal in patisserie and confectionary): Nandita became the first Indian female competitor in history to win the silver medal in confectionary and patisserie at the WorldSkills platform. The Karnataka girl had joined IHM Aurangabad after her Bachelor’s degree to develop her patisserie and confectionery skills. Under the guidance of her mentor Vinesh Johny, she learned the nuances of the craft. She went to Lucerne, Switzerland to participate in the global challenge.

[caption id="attachment_25472" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Nandita Saxena | Photo Credit: WorldSkills India[/caption]

Praveen Kumar Giri (silver medal in water technology): The Odisha boy is a mechanical engineering student of CV Raman Global University. A staunch proponent of using technology for water conservation, Praveen was drawn to the field when he observed the perils of water scarcity in his surroundings growing up. He bagged the silver at the state level skill competition and went on to snag the gold at the National Skill Competition in Delhi before moving to the WorldSkills platform. He demonstrated his skills to experts in Stuttgart, Germany.

[caption id="attachment_25473" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Praveen Kumar Giri | Photo Credit: WorldSkills India[/caption]

Anushree Srinivasan, (bronze medal in hotel reception): The Coimbatore girl has won the first medal for the nation in the hotel reception category. The graduate from SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Kattankulathur joined ITC Hotels soon after passing out. She has internship experiences at Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and The Savera Group. Anushree used her work experience to upskill herself in problem-solving, teamwork and time management, under the mentorship of Aagman Baury. She travelled to Montreaux Switzerland to participate in the global challenge.

[caption id="attachment_25474" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Anushree Shrinivasan | Photo Credit: WorldSkills India[/caption]

Likith Kumar YP (bronze medal in prototype modelling): Likith travelled to Bern in Switzerland for the WorldSkills Competition. Prior to winning the bronze medal there, he had bagged the first place in the prototype modelling skill in IndiaSkills 2021 – the countrywide skill competition. Likith honed his skills under the guidance of his mentor, Bhaskar Singh, the chief expert in prototype modelling skills at Toyota India.

[caption id="attachment_25475" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Likith Kumar YP | Photo Credit: WorldSkills India[/caption]

Karthik Gowda Seehalli Nagaraju (bronze medal in mechatronics): Born into a humble background, the Mysore boy got the chance to hone his expertise in mechatronics at Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The twenty-year-old dedicated his win at WorldSkills 2022 to his mentor, Bhagyashree Patil. He demonstrated his skills to leading experts and manufacturers in machine vision and automation at Stuttgart, Germany.

[caption id="attachment_25476" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Karthik Gowda | Photo Credit: WorldSkills India[/caption]

Akhilesh Narasimhamurthy (bronze medal in mechatronics): The competitors of mechatronics were allowed to participate in a team. Akhilesh had teamed up with Karthik. This win holds a lot of significance for the youngster who has had a troubled childhood. With a specially-abled mother, Akhilesh struggled to make ends meet after his father abandoned them when he was young. He dedicated the award to his maternal uncle who funded his study. He has been trained at Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) by Bhagyashree Patil.

[caption id="attachment_25477" align="aligncenter" width="370"] Akhilesh Narasimhamurthy | Photo Credit: WorldSkills India[/caption]

This is the 46th edition of the WorldSkills Competition, which is held every alternate year in a new country. Originally scheduled to be held at Shanghai, this is referred as a ‘special edition’, as it was delayed due to the pandemic and then conducted in a decentralised manner across several countries.

Indian champions participated in 50 skill categories, including graphic design technology, bakery, jewellery making, web technologies, health and social care, mobile robotics, restaurant services, information network cabling, autobody repair, automobile technology, 3D digital game art, fashion technology, and hair dressing among others. 

A total of 56 competitors, 50 experts, 11 interpreters and seven team leaders were part of the Indian contingent after rigorous selection process of National Skill Development Corporation starting from district to India Skills 2022 National Competition.

Visit WorldSkills India to know more

Reading Time: 5 mins

Sri Nihal Tammana’s Recycle My Battery helps rid the world of hazardous waste

(September 17, 2024) When Sri Nihal Tammana, founder of Recycle My Battery, turned 10, his father sat him down and told him about the world in which they lived. "It was my birthday and my dad said I had to be more concerned about what was going on around the world," says the US-based Nihal who is now 13 and has been running his non-profit, Recycle my Battery for three years. The Edison teen is the winner of the prestigious CNN Heroes Young Wonder Award, for his work in making sure that batteries don't end up in landfills or in the water supply. After that fateful conversation with his father on his tenth birthday, Nihal began watching the news. One day, he learned that a waste disposal plant had caught fire. He found that the cause was a lithium-ion battery that had been thrown into the trash, where it exploded. "I remember watching the chaos and it was super scary," he said. Nihal thought of his favourite toy - his drone, which also runs on batteries. "I asked my dad if anyone could do something about the problem and he said yes but they aren't trying to fix the problem.

Importance of Battery Recycling

"Batteries power nearly all our devices and we are going to be using them more and more," Nihal explained. "I realised that the problem wasn't with batteries themselves but with what we do with them after they run out of juice." The answer, he knew, wasn't in banning them altogether but simply in disposing of them correctly. "I'm a realist," he remarks. "I can't imagine not using my battery-powered devices, not even for a day. The battery isn't going away and it won't help us to stop using them either. The answer is recycling."

For over a year, Nihal studied the impact of batteries on the planet. Then, he looked at solutions for the disposal process. He went door-to-door, talking to everyone who would listen about the issue. He also visited local businesses to make sure they were recycling properly. His cousin soon joined him and in 2019, they founded their own non-profit, Recycle My Batter. "We talked to everyone at school and around the neighbourhood. Many people decided to come and help out. Changing the way people think and act as a community is the most important thing we can do today."

School children in New Jersey rallied to his cause. Recycle My Battery then began setting up battery bins in offices, schools, public libraries and other locations, also working with Call2Recycle, the largest organisation of its kind in the US and Canada. A little over three years after it was founded, Recycle My Battery now functions with a team of 300 school kids, who spread awareness and install free-to-use battery bins in schools and other public locations. The organisation has collected over 225,000 used batteries, successfully keeping them out of landfills and ensuring that they recycled. "People have been very supportive," he remarks, adding that his efforts at school have earned him a new nickname - Battery Boy.

Nihal is also an active proponent of spreading awareness, which he does through conferences, webinars, email campaigns and going door-to-door. These efforts have helped them reach out to millions of people around the world. In 2020, over 20 school superintendents signed up for the installation of the battery bins on their premises. "That's more than 200 schools and over 200,000 students," Nihal says.

In December 2022, as Nihal received the CNN Heroes Young Wonder award, attending the ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. "The earth has done so much for us," Nihal said. "We should do something back. I hope that other people have an epiphany too and make a change, even if it's a small one."

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