Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveIndian American golfer, Akshay Bhatia, is creating waves in the international circuit

Indian American golfer, Akshay Bhatia, is creating waves in the international circuit

Written by: Team GI Youth

(August 1, 2023) Imagine being one of the best amateur golfers in the United States of America, dreaming to become a professional player and winning several tournaments for the country in the coming years. However, when the opportunity came, you couldn’t perform up to your potential. 21-year-old Akshay Bhatia was quite heartbroken when he couldn’t cut in any of the six PGA Tour starts in September 2019. “I struggled mentally, I missed every cut,” the golfer recalled, “I had a lot of people expecting me to play well and it didn’t happen.”

Golfer | Akshay Bhatia | Global Indian

But while several others would have lost hope, Akshay dug in further and worked very hard on honing his skill further. The golfer, who acknowledged that he faced challenges upon turning pro, took the pandemic as an opportunity to pause, re-evaluate, and gain valuable insights. “I got to sit back, talk to my coach, realise where I’m at in my life. After that, you know, I’ve just climbed the mountain slowly and slowly and slowly,” he shared. And he might have just made a significant stride by winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Barracuda Championship in California, defeating Patrick Rodgers. The win will earn the Indian American golfer earned him full Tour status and a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Inspired to greatness

Born in Northridge, California to an Indian couple, Akshay’s childhood was not unlike other immigrant kids in the USA. However, his life was shaped due to his sister’s passion for the sport. As a young child, the golfer witnessed his elder sister, Rhea Bhatia, swinging a golf club for the first time. In the following years, Rhea’s dedication to the sport paid off, as she achieved the title of 2015 4A Regional Champion during her high school days. Notably, she continued her golfing journey as a valued member of the women’s team at Queen’s University of Charlotte.

Soon the young golfer started playing the sport and found it quite immersing. Having a remarkable junior career, the Global Indian achieved the distinction of being the first high-schooler ever to participate in the U.S. Walker Cup team. Coached by George Gankas since he was 13, Bhatia kept on piling up amateur victories till he began getting noticed. In 2017, the golfer caught the nation’s attention when he contributed to the victorious team in the 2017 Junior Presidents Cup. Remarkably, at the age of 15, Bhatia made his mark at the Boys Junior PGA Championship by setting multiple records. According to the JuniorPGA website, the golfer, “carded an all-time course and championship record 61, at the 42nd Boys Junior PGA Championship at the Country Club of St. Albans in Missouri.”

In 2018, Akshay secured the runner-up position at the U.S. Junior Amateur tournament. The golfer showcased his talent at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, where he earned two silver medals – one in the boy’s event and another in the mixed team event alongside Lucy Li. Moreover, his pivotal performance contributed to the triumph of the US team in the Junior Ryder Cup held in the same year.

Looking past his failures

After failing in the September 2019 golfing season, he kept working on his game. And just four months before turning 20, Akshay achieved a historical feat. The golfer lifted his maiden Korn Ferry Tour (KFT) title at the $750,000 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. He became only the third Indian-origin golfer to do so after Daniel Chopra and Arjun Atwal. At the age of 19 years, 11 months, and 19 days, the golfer achieved the distinction of being the third-youngest professional golfer to secure a victory on the development circuit, joining the ranks of notable players such as Jason Day and Sungjae Im.

Akshay after winning The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic

And now, the golfer is now one step closer to his dream of being on the PGA Tour. After winning his first PGA Tour title, Akshay got emotional while interacting with the media. “I can’t even talk,” he said, adding, “I’m just excited. I love playing golf, I love playing on the PGA Tour, and it’s just a dream come true to have it.” Recognising the challenges he faced along the journey, the golfer acknowledged that it had been “a really tough road.” However, he said that he always knew that he was “going to get here, it was just a matter of time. For it to happen this year with Special Temporary Membership and now to get to play all these events and to get it done today was, I can’t even describe it.”

The young golfer is looking forward to playing several international tournaments in the upcoming season and winning many as well. “Good golf takes care of itself and if I play good golf, the rankings will go up. I don’t look at it too much. My goal is to get into the US Open,” he shared.

Follow Akshay Bhatia on Instagram

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 01, Aug 2023

Share with

ALSO READ

Wonder Kid: Kiara Kaur’s journey through books, speeches and world records

(November 29, 2023) “Curiosity is a spark behind every great idea and I'm born with an extra scoop of that,” said five-year-old Kiara Kaur in the opening remark of her TEDx Talk on the theme, ‘Unboxing Curiosity’. In an age where digital technology has deeply integrated into the lives of children, Kiara, a voracious reader is defying the norms. She discovered her love for reading when she was merely two, and since then, has immersed herself in it. “I have read more than 2,000 books until now,” she said adding, “By listening to this you must have assumed that I am a gifted child with an extraordinary talent but let me tell you, I am just like any other kid born in this world.” Owing to her fervent passion for reading, Kiara accomplished remarkable feats by gaining entry into the World Book of Records in London, and also the Asia Book of Records. This achievement involved her reading 36 children’s books consecutively within one hour and 45 minutes back in 2021, when she was just four years old. [caption id="attachment_34326" align="aligncenter" width="897"] Kiara Kaur[/caption] Kiara's dedication has captured significant attention on social media. Her story serves as an inspiration, motivating parents

="Indians in UAE | Kiara Kaur | Global Indian" width="897" height="504" /> Kiara Kaur[/caption]

Kiara's dedication has captured significant attention on social media. Her story serves as an inspiration, motivating parents to instil this valuable habit in their own children. Now at the age of six and based in Dubai, Kiara has turned author too and is a sought-after speaker who has earned a second entry into the World Book of Records in London for becoming the youngest keynote speaker to address the World Expo in Dubai.

The author and the speaker

In 2022 Kiara made history by becoming the youngest keynote speaker at the World Expo in Dubai, earning her a place in the World Book of Records in London. Her impactful speech was titled ‘Small Changes, Big Difference’.

Prior to this achievement, as a first-grader, she had delivered a speech during the International Women’s Week celebrations at the Mexico Pavilion. Her speech centered on the crucial theme of women’s empowerment. Kiara had sought guidance from her grandmother, Commander Dr Rita Bhatra, who served in the Border Security Force for 40 years, while preparing for her talk.

In a significant milestone last year, she became one of the youngest TEDx speaker worldwide by addressing a TEDx event held in Maharashtra on Children’s Day, November 14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1kV3NQ87FY

The little bundle of talents has also authored her first book, titled ‘Diary of a 5-Year-Old Genius Chatterbox Who Set World Records,’ which chronicles her extraordinary journey in her own words. Her mother, Dr Little Mahendra, a dean at a Dental College, mentioned in an NDTV interview that she simply typed as Kiara shared, and the process of book writing took seven months to complete.

Love for books and joy of conversations

Kiara loves the smell of the books and the ambiance of bookstores. Her fondness particularly gravitates towards storybooks adorned with big, colourful pictures and illustrations - they hold a special place in her heart. For her stepping into a bookstore feels like entering her natural habitat, as if she belongs there; she often refers to bookstores as 'the books’ paradise.'

Kiara derives immense joy from sharing the knowledge she acquires with those around her. Engaging in lively conversations is another aspect she cherishes deeply. In her TEDx talk she mentioned being called various names such as chatterbox, gaby, or a talking machine. Despite occasionally feeling disheartened by these labels, she equates conversing with people to the joy a child experiences when given a popsicle — it's a wonderful feeling she finds difficult to resist.

Change in people’s attitude

Even before being introduced to phonics, Kiara had displayed an extraordinary ability to read two or three-letter words, leaving her mother astonished. Intrigued by her daughter's aptitude, Kiara's mother decided to purchase a book for the toddler. "I began craving reading every moment," Kiara recalled. "I read everywhere, in the car, in the doctor's waiting room, even in the bathroom. Soon, books became an indispensable part of my life, and I realised the incredible power of knowledge."

[caption id="attachment_34327" align="aligncenter" width="862"] Kiara Kaur[/caption]

As Kiara delved deeper into reading, her conversational skills blossomed, allowing her to engage effortlessly with individuals of all ages. Armed with the power of knowledge, she noticed a shift in people's attitudes toward her. Previously, being labelled a chatterbox indicated that her constant talking might have led to boredom during interactions, but now, people found delight in conversing with her. Kiara's depth of knowledge surpassed expectations for her age, surprising those around her.

“I started receiving more love by people from all the age groups, and today I'm blessed with many friends. We share books, stories, toys and many other things. So you see that's the change knowledge can bring,” the Global Indian remarked.

Finding support in her mom

Kiara gives all the credits of the kind of person she has turned out to be to her mom, acknowledging her as the fundamental force behind her achievements. During her TEDx Talk, she emphasised, "The bond I share with my mom is what has propelled me to stand here before you." She expressed gratitude for the time, energy, and guidance her mother provides, enabling her to spread her wings wide. The six-year-old affectionately refers to her mother as her 'vitamin.' “My curiosity would have remained locked in a box, if my mother would have not supported me and nurtured my curiosity with her patience,’ she said.

It was her mother who initially introduced her to the enchanting world of books, a gesture for which Kiara feels eternally grateful.

The power of mothers

Kiara firmly believes that a conducive environment is pivotal for children to thrive and succeed, emphasising that youngsters learn and emulate elders around them.

She highlighted the strength of mothers in shaping the life of their children. Kiara praised her lineage, pointing out how her great-grandmother's guidance helped her grandmother to become a gynaecologist, and her grandmother's influence then shaped her own mother, who now holds the position of dean at a dental college.

[caption id="attachment_34331" align="aligncenter" width="438"] Cover image of Kiara Kau's book[/caption]

Encouraging parents, Kiara stressed the importance of investing time in children during their formative years. "As kids, we require more than just food to grow,” she said stressing on how every child needs the freedom to explore their curiosity, allowing it to flourish so that they spread the knowledge in the world through intelligence and wisdom.

“This can't be done without the support and guidance of elders. Our young minds are like bird wings, the more we open, the higher we fly so please give us your time today and I am sure you will be proud of us tomorrow,” she remarked.

What's your Global Indian story? Write to us at editor.gi@globalindian.com

Reading Time: 5 mins

Eighteen-year-old prodigy Janhavi tells it like it is, in nine accents

(May 19, 2022) Having completed her senior secondary school at the mere age of 13 Janhavi went on to become a 16-year-old graduate after finishing her undergraduate studies at Delhi University. The prodigy from Samalkha, a town 19 km south of Panipat is popularly known as the ‘wonder girl’ for not only her academic accomplishments but also her ability to speak English in nine accents – British, American, Polish, Received Pronunciation, Canadian, Scottish, Australian, Norfolk, and Cockney. [caption id="attachment_16891" align="aligncenter" width="552"] Janhavi Panwar[/caption] Raised in a traditional Haryanvi environment, Janhavi's abilities are mystifying. She takes a more down-to-earth view, however, saying they have nothing to do with the “inborn skills” that people believe she possesses. “Good parenting and my own curiosity led me to explore different aspects. Developing my skills came from practice,” she states, in an interview with Global Indian. She did, however, show prodigious capabilities, even as a baby. “At the age of one-and-a-half, my vocabulary consisted of 500 English words.” The dream that came true Growing up, she learned of her father’s struggles to find a job. A highly erudite man – a double MA and an MPhil, which he possessed, made him stand out in the small town

with Global Indian. She did, however, show prodigious capabilities, even as a baby. “At the age of one-and-a-half, my vocabulary consisted of 500 English words.”

The dream that came true

Growing up, she learned of her father’s struggles to find a job. A highly erudite man – a double MA and an MPhil, which he possessed, made him stand out in the small town he called home. Still, work was never easy to come by, especially in Delhi-NCR, “as his communication skills in the English language weren’t so good, despite him knowing the subject,” Janhavi explains.

Deeply let down by the rejections, he made up his mind that his own children wouldn’t suffer like him. He decided they would be well-versed in spoken English, to thrive in a society where the language is so revered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGBmnvDXIyY

“When I was born, I became a means of experimentation for him. He started working on developing my English skills, right from the beginning, making sure that I converse in no other language with him,” she says.

Skilling up

“YouTube has played a big role in helping me master the accents,” she remarks. “I am studying phonetic transcriptions now in my master's but have learned and practiced accents through phonetics transcriptions a long time ago,” says the former student of Asha Deep Senior Secondary School. By the age of nine, she would spend hours practicing her accents in English, even though the medium of learning at school was either Hindi or Haryanvi.

Her father, Brij Mohan is now a government school teacher while her mother Sanjana teaches in a private school. The ‘wonder girl’, who graduated with an undergraduate degree in English literature from DU, is about to finish her master's from Kurukshetra University. “I enjoyed my time as a DU student, organising elections and being the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) spokesperson. I did want to do a master’s in the UK but the pandemic messed up my plans,” she says.

Getting into the crux 

Janhavi tends to immerse herself completely into anything she sets heart on to achieve. These days, she spends her time in the library but her perfectionist streak has always been with her. Growing up, she would spend hours as a six-year-old watching YouTube videos and English news channels. She would work constantly on polishing her accents, refusing to go to bed until she got them right. In fact, she wouldn’t sleep until every item on her to-do list was ticked.

[caption id="attachment_16893" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Janhavi with her father and foreign tourists to India[/caption]

Frequent travels to tourist spots like Red Fort, India Gate, and Taj Mahal to meet people of different nationalities was part of the training regimen set by her father. “The foreigners’ accents would intrigue me,” Janhavi recalls. “By the time I was nine, I was watching BBC and CNN and mimicking the anchors.” Not only was she blessed with an ear for accents, she had a photographic memory too. “If you play two television channels simultaneously, with different news programmes happening, I can repeat both the reports entirely, in the respective accent, even weeks afterwards. I can enter a flashback and recall the details.” No wonder, then, that the prodigy appeared for her class 10 board exams when she was 11!

 The milestones…

Now at 18, Janhavi is set to finish her master’s progamme in English literature and is a sought-after motivational speaker who has conducted numerous sessions over the last five years. She had given her first motivational speech at the Bombay Institute of Public Administration to an audience of 150 IAS officers. 

Janhavi finds non-STEM subjects her true calling, even when at the age of 10 she was not only a student of class 10 but also helping her classmates with their science lessons. “To appear in the board examinations at that age became possible after a meeting with the then CM of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda who after talking to me for more than an hour permitted me to appear for the exams under the Haryana State Board of School Education.” Due to her ability to grasp quickly, she has completed two classes in a single year finishing the syllabus of each class in six months flat.

[caption id="attachment_16895" align="aligncenter" width="778"] Janhavi being honoured by Governor of Haryana and Punjab[/caption]

Even when she took her standard 12 board exams in humanities, Janhavi finished her study of non-medical science syllabus out of love for garnering additional knowledge.

Active in motivating

The avid reader of autobiographies, books on the conscious mind, and spirituality started getting recognized for her insights at the age of 13, receiving invitations for giving motivational speeches, and for conducting sessions and seminars. “I have trained staff of MNCs in metros, and government institutions apart from students of several educational institutions,” she informs.

The youngster, who once wanted to be an anchor, was invited to BBC’s Delhi office for an interview. “The anchor said, ‘if you want to join BBC, the door is open for you’,” smiles the wonder girl, remarking “Now I want to take up entrepreneurship in the training space, once I finish my Ph.D. in English literature.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Dyuv-TpDM

With too much on her plate at the moment, she plans to write a book sometime in the future. For now, the prodigy has been relishing the pleasure of being an English songwriter, singing her songs. Through her YouTube channel, which has eight lakh subscribers, she has been on a spree of creating motivational videos for people so that they touch the highs of their lives and combat their lows successfully. “My curiosity keeps me going. Waking up and doing something new each day keeps me ticking.”

“When I am with friends and relatives, I am a different person altogether. I talk with them in Haryanvi with a pure Haryanvi accent, and prefer not to show the other side of my personality,” says the prodigy who is an inspiration to her younger sister, Saanvi.

Follow Janhavi Panwar on Youtube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Reading Time: 5 mins

Kevin J Patel: Indian-American climate activist leading the charge for a greener tomorrow

(October 11, 2023) "My activism doesn't come as a choice. My activism doesn't come as a hobby. It's a survival tool for my community," says Kevin J Patel, a Los Angeles-based climate activist, who is the founder of OneUpAction International, an organisation empowering marginalised youth by providing them with the resources they need to be changemakers. Being one of the youth voices on the climate crisis, Kevin currently serves as a 2020 National Geographic Young Explorer. It was at the age of 12 that a health issue led Kevin to become aware of the environmental damage caused by the many oil refineries in the surrounding area. He is one of the two million California residents who live within 2,500 feet of an operational oil and gas well and are prone to health issues. Born to immigrant parents who moved to the US in search of better opportunities, Kevin grew up in a space where they grew their own food. However, he lived in a community in South Central Los Angeles where food scarcity was common, and it was in his first semester of sixth grade that he became aware of the issue. "I realized my community wasn’t getting access to

community in South Central Los Angeles where food scarcity was common, and it was in his first semester of sixth grade that he became aware of the issue. "I realized my community wasn’t getting access to healthier foods; I really wanted to do something about it. I started teaching my peers to grow food. Many did not know that food comes from farms and they can grow their own foods," he said in an interview.

However, things amplified in the second semester of his sixth grade when one day sitting in his classroom, he felt a sudden chest pain. He was fit, played sports, and had no high blood pressure, but ended up being diagnosed with arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats at an irregular rhythm. Confused, he started looking for answers as to why this might have happened to him and he found the answer in the location he lived. "South-Central Los Angeles was classified as a 'sacrifice zone' — places where residents, often low-income and/or people of colour, live close to freeways, factories, and oil wells. That's where environmental inaction and damage have resulted in arrhythmia-stoking levels of smog. So, I started protesting. I led marches, petitioned government officials, and demanded climate justice from anyone who would listen," he said.

While getting actively involved in activism, Kevin didn't see many people who looked like him, especially in the youth climate movement. In 2018, more than 85 percent of staffers in over 2000 environmental nonprofits were white. This nudged him to start OneUpAction International in 2019 to create a platform for young individuals who were BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). "I consider myself an intersectional climate activist, and one of the millions of people across the world who are already victims of the climate crisis. I didn't see a home for people like myself."

Over the years, OneUpAction translated into more than just giving voice to BIPOC, it turned into an organisation that supports and empowers marginalised youth to become changemakers, and to tackle the climate crisis within their local communities for a regenerative future. "Now we're an organization that is helping young individuals across the globe implement and accelerate solutions within their communities."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmBUTxqkREw&t=19s

Kevin, who is pursuing Political Science at Loyola Marymount University, has over the years collaborated with the community to create a one-of-its-kind Youth Climate Commission in LA County to amplify youth voices. "The power of young people is crucially needed. I also think we just need to intergenerationally work together to really make sure that we're solving these issues."

The young climate activist is into hiking and photography, and is keen to get more young people equipped with the resources like monetary aid, membership and all "to implement solutions and drive action within their communities." "We need more young people at the table, and this is where OneUpAction is currently focused. Youth will drive the change our planet needs."

Follow Kevin J Patel on LinkedIn and website

Reading Time: 4 min

Kiara Ramklass: Bridging communities through the rhythm of Marimba

(July 16, 2023) In a remarkable journey of passion and purpose, Kiara Ramklass, an Indian-origin South African, has made a significant impact on her community by using the power of music. Her social enterprise, Marimba Jam, has not only provided underprivileged learners with a means of expression through rhythm and music but has also become a catalyst for cultural and social harmony. Recognized as one of the 100 Young Mandelas of the Future, Kiara's journey with Marimba Jam has grown from a small school outreach initiative to a renowned organisation that enriches vulnerable communities with the joy of Marimba music in a post-apartheid South Africa. “We have a focus on nation building because in South Africa there is a huge disconnect between the privileged youth and the youth from underprivileged segments of society. We use music to bridge that gap,” said Kiara. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa8fAYwfMy4&t=83s A Cape Town resident, Kiara has already earned herself several accolades, including being named one of the ‘200 Young South Africans’ by the Mail and Guardian in 2023. Her organisation, Marimba Jam has broken a Guinness World Record and has received several awards - the Number One Youth-Owned Business at the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition

My4&t=83s

A Cape Town resident, Kiara has already earned herself several accolades, including being named one of the ‘200 Young South Africans’ by the Mail and Guardian in 2023. Her organisation, Marimba Jam has broken a Guinness World Record and has received several awards - the Number One Youth-Owned Business at the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards, first prize at the Investec Startup School Africa and the Billion Acts of Peace Award led by 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, where it was chosen from millions of acts of peace worldwide as one of seven finalists. As the winner of the Billion Acts of Peace Fellowship from the Peace Jam Foundation Kiara got the opportunity to participate in a one-year global fellowship.

Her award-winning social enterprise not just teaches but also has a band that performs across South Africa. The band has had the honour of performing for the likes of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Western Cape Government, the South Africa National Rugby Union Team, and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation apart from performing at numerous events.

The rhythms of marimba

Marimba is an African musical instrument of the percussion family. It is like a xylophone and consists of a series of wooden bars of varying lengths. The instrument is played by striking the bars with mallets, allowing the performer to create melodies and harmonies by varying the rhythm, speed, and intensity of the strikes. Marimba is known for its rich and resonant tone.

The ground-breaking Marimba Jam syllabus are being used in African schools that wish to integrate marimba into their offerings. “We are to first to develop a syllabus that allows marimba to be the first African instrument to be taken as a subject in school,” said the 28-year-old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaoB00sMobo

Breaking world records and achieving recognition

In 2018, Marimba Jam achieved international recognition by breaking the Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Marimba Ensemble’ with the participation of 241 females between the age of eight and 23 on South African National Women's Day. Previous holders of this title included Australia with 108 players in 2016, and Zimbabwe with 222 players the same year.

The following year, the organisation represented South Africa at the prestigious Social Enterprise World Forum, showcasing its impactful work on a global stage at Addis Ababa.

Making a Difference

Marimba Jam actively supports community causes through Marimba Jam Cares to bring about social change.

As the Marimba Jams website states, “it’s built upon the ideology that music can act as a vehicle for social change,” following the organisations motto,” Finding Harmony in Community,” to connect youth of South Africa bridging the socio-economic barriers that divide them. The profit earned from every paid performance and workshop of Marimba Jam helps in supporting the causes of its NPO branch - Marimba Jam Cares.

It started when…

When Kiara Ramklass, was in grade 11, she was deeply moved by the plight of the underprivileged in her society. Recognising her talent for playing the instrument, marimba, she decided to utilize it as a medium for change. With the support of the youth development organization enke: Make Your Mark, Kiara started her initiative to provide marimba lessons to learners from underprivileged schools in her locality. Her efforts were acknowledged with the Amy Biehl Spirit of Youth Award in 2012, further fuelling her determination.

In 2014, when she was in the first year at university, both her parents lost their jobs. Kiara stated teaching marimba as a part time job to support her education. Her teaching skills were so much in demand that at one point of time she found herself teaching 15 batches of students a week while pursuing her full-time degree in film and media screen production at the University of Cape Town.

[caption id="attachment_31934" align="aligncenter" width="542"] Kiara Ramklass, CEO and founder, Marimba Jam[/caption]

Later, she was chosen for the Global Young Innovators Programme to participate in a seven-month course by Newable UK and Innovate UK. “I was awarded a grant of £10 000 to develop a new virtual reality app for the African Music Heritage project,” she said.

Kiara is also the recipient of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders, which took her to the University of Texas’ McCombs Business School for a six-week fellowship.

From small initiative to thriving social enterprise

Kiara's commitment to teaching marimba and her desire to make a deeper impact led her to formalise Marimba Jam into a full-time venture in 2015. Since then, Marimba Jam has flourished as a dynamic social enterprise, offering marimba lessons to thousands of learners in the Western Cape. The organisation also runs annual teacher training courses, festivals, and workshops, providing part-time employment to university students who want to be a part of the cause.

Held annually at an open-air theatre, the Marimba Jam Festival is a popular event. It not only provides Kiara’s students a platform to perform but also works as a fundraising event to continue with the organisations outreach programme – to provide weekly marimba band lessons at schools meant for poor children. “The underprivileged schools don’t have any access to music or art and culture. We invite students at such schools into private schools so that they can share and learn from one another. This initiative gives them the opportunity to unleash their talent,” Kiara says.

[caption id="attachment_31935" align="aligncenter" width="736"] Kiara with her students[/caption]

The Indian-origin musician and teacher was born and raised in Cape Town and is dedicated towards making a difference in a post-apartheid South Africa through the transformative power of music and social entrepreneurship.

Follow Kiara Ramklass on LinkedIn
Follow Marimba Jam on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

Pranay Kumar: Empowering tomorrow’s leaders through Nine Foundation

(May 10, 2024) After graduating from the Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Bengaluru, Pranay Kumar embarked on a new chapter in Sikkim. Passionate about entrepreneurship, he founded Chakrasfarm Pvt Ltd, which found a home at the AIC-SMUTBI at the Manipal Institute of Technology at Sikkim. The breathtaking beauty of the state served as a catalyst for his thoughts on climate change, as he noticed a lack of awareness on the subject in the region. Pranay founded the non-profit Nine Foundation which has impacted 500 students. “It’s a non-proﬁt organisation I established to tackle climate change through education. The best part is that we offer our program completely free of cost to students. We don’t charge anything from schools we collaborate with,” Pranay tells Global Indian. Although agritech had sparked his journey, the Sikkim floods ignited in him a passion that he couldn't ignore. “As an engineer, I felt compelled to contribute to nature. Witnessing the exploitation of our planet became too much to ignore,” he shares. [caption id="attachment_37722" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Pranay Kumar[/caption] Compelled to take action “Witnessing our planet's vulnerability, I knew action was crucial. Inspired by UCDF, I co-founded Nine Foundation, not just to educate, but to empower. Seeing

an engineer, I felt compelled to contribute to nature. Witnessing the exploitation of our planet became too much to ignore,” he shares.

[caption id="attachment_37722" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Pranay Kumar[/caption]

Compelled to take action

“Witnessing our planet's vulnerability, I knew action was crucial. Inspired by UCDF, I co-founded Nine Foundation, not just to educate, but to empower. Seeing the potential in young minds fuelled my mission to equip them as the leaders of tomorrow's climate fight,” he remarks.

The Chakrasfarm project got on hold due to unforeseen reasons but the engineer with an entrepreneurial bent of mind started a travel company. Moreover, the foundation has injected a new lease of life into his journey.

So profound is Pranay’s commitment to the cause that he incurs all expenses of the foundation from his own pocket. However, the rewards he gains from this investment are priceless. "There's something truly special about being present, engaging directly with the students, and witnessing their enthusiasm firsthand," he shares.

He looks at education as a tool to change the mindset of an entire generation, creating a ripple effect that lasts for decades.

The Nine Foundation

“The name ‘Nine’ wasn't chosen at random. It symbolises completion and new beginnings, which perfectly reﬂects our commitment to a sustainable future, and I believe education is the key to real change,” Pranay says, about the significance behind the foundation’s name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdY-3QFGGa4

Pranay and his team partners with schools to integrate climate education into their curriculum, making environmental awareness and action an essential part of the students’ learning experience. The aim is to empower students to become informed advocates for planet Earth, equip them with knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to create a more sustainable future.

“While I have a fantastic and reliable team who helps initiate partnerships with schools, I also make it a priority to visit these schools myself whenever possible,” Pranay remarks.

Nine Foundation team engages senior and junior classes, sparking interest and action through interactive workshops and presentations. These sessions explore the science behind climate change, present real-world solutions, and empower students to take ownership of their environmental impact.

Empowering the youth

Those students who show extraordinary interest in Nine Foundation's work are given the option to become volunteers and form ‘School of Climate Change’ clubs in their respective schools. “These student-led groups serve as a platform to deepen their knowledge, brainstorm creative solutions, and organise school-wide initiatives promoting a sustainable lifestyle.”

[caption id="attachment_37732" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Nine EnviroEd volunteers[/caption]

Nine Foundation’s ‘hands-on activities’ immerse students in environmental challenges. Interactive experiences, like planting trees, cleaning up local parks, or conducting water quality tests, connect students with the environment and its problems directly and provide them with a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. The school volunteers and their teams are made to showcase their ongoing climate efforts at the end of a three-month period. “This encourages reflection, peer learning, and collaboration, showcasing the power of individual and collective action,” Pranay tells.

The most dedicated student, chosen on the parameters of leadership, initiative, and commitment, earns the title of ‘The One Human.’ “The title empowers the student to become an ambassador for climate action within their community, inspiring others to save, conserve, and protect our planet,” tells Pranay.

Challenges and triumphs

It's not always easy to fit climate change education into packed school schedules. “Funding is another hurdle (educating one child costs around Rs. 65). But seeing the curiosity and engagement in students' eyes during our sessions makes it all worthwhile,” remarks Pranay.

The outdoor learning experiences are something that he particularly cherishes. “Connecting students with nature ﬁrsthand is incredibly powerful. It's amazing to see how connected they become when surrounded by the environment we're ﬁghting to protect,” he tells.

[caption id="attachment_37724" align="aligncenter" width="866"] Pranay Kumar at one of the sessions in Sikkim[/caption]

Future plan

So far, Pranay has impacted students in five schools of Sikkim. Very recently he has started expansion programmes in colleges of Jharkhand as he belongs to that belt being a native of Muzaffarpur. “My vision goes far beyond the schools we've already impacted in Sikkim and Jharkhand. We have a bold dream of expanding our climate change education program throughout the entire Northeast, the Himalayan belt, and eventually, the plains of India. We are on a mission to educate the whole northeast India in the next 2 years,” he shares.

Pranay even dreams of going global with Nine Foundation someday. “Charity begins at home. We're laser-focused on impacting our home country ﬁrst,” he remarks adding, “It's a long road ahead, but with education as our weapon, we can build a more sustainable future, one generation at a time.”

Follow Pranay Kumar on LinkedIn
Follow Nine Foundation at LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Threads

Reading Time: 5 mins