Ishaan Patel: Indian-American’s nonprofit aids unprivileged kids in India & US
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(November 26, 2023) Only two percent of humanitarian aid goes towards education – this was something that Connecticut-based Ishaan Patel found out at the age of 11 after having learnt about her aunt’s volunteering to teach impoverished children in Jaipur, India. Getting to know about schools where children were eager to learn but lacked the essential tools, they needed to do their work left Ishaan shocked. “She showed me pictures and told me stories about underfunded schools. The students attended class with no desks, no pencils, and no books. I was amazed and thought about all of the things available in my school. At the private school I attend (Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut), lessons are taught on smart boards, and assignments are completed on laptops. When I saw the pictures from India, I wanted to help,” the Indian American wrote in Childhood Explorer. This passion for helping children led to the birth of Planting Pencils, a charity that raises money and collects school supplies for underserved and underfunded schools in the US, India, and Africa.
Ishaan Patel launched Planting Pencils
Growing up in Connecticut, his doctor parents who emigrated from India in their childhood told Ishaan of the hardships they faced in India as children, and always encouraged him to help others. And he found the first window of opportunity, he couldn’t help but take a leap of faith. Coming from a privileged background, he understood its meaning and knew that he needed to make an impact. “We are the next generation and I see it as the job of privileged students to help those who are not privileged,” he added.
After hearing the stories of children in impoverished schools in India from his aunt, the Global Indian was keen to help. But how was still a big question for him, as he thought he was too young to make a difference? However, a summer in 2015 spent at a leadership conference at Stanford University and a financial camp on Wall Street turned the tide for him and made him understand that he had the power to make a difference despite being young. That’s when he began researching and was surprised to find out that more than 700 million adults in the world are illiterate and do not have the skills or awareness to improve the living conditions for themselves or their families.
Ishaan Patel with his mom who helped him with the launch of Planting Pencils
The startling facts nudged the Indian American enough to start Planting Pencils in 2015. He began by designing a website, and creating a permanent collection site at a Staples store in West Hartford to ensure steady donations of pencils, pens, crayons, rulers, used calculators, and computers. His mom helped him to raise funds by setting up donation boxes in different locations and through fundraising events. “ReBoot Computers in my home town agreed to collect and refurbish donated old computers so we can give them to students who cannot afford to buy their new ones. In honor of Read Across America Day on March 2nd, we delivered the charity’s first donations to two non-profit schools in Hartford, Connecticut,” said the Indian American.
In just a year, Ishaan’s work was recognised by the Milan Cultural Organisation in Hartford, and later, the Syracuse University Graduate Student organisation chose Planting Pencils as the beneficiary for its annual weekend fundraising MBA Olympic games. In a few years, Planting Pencils have helped underprivileged children across the US, India, and Africa by providing them with supplies.
Ishaan Patel
Ishaan, who is currently an undergraduate student researcher at Baylor University, plans to build a school in India sometime where he will provide food and water. “I believe that if students are healthy and comfortable, they will benefit even more from the internet access and computers I plan to provide for them. If we provide food and water in the schools, students wouldn’t have to worry about those needs during school or back home. If people are educated, they’ll be able to be self-sufficient,” he added. The Indian American believes that the Chinese proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” illustrates that education is a priceless commodity, and gives one the power to change one’s destiny. “I believe that we can make a difference – one pencil, one book, one child at a time.”
(January 30, 2024) It was only during the lockdown of 2020, that the London based chess player Bodhna Sivanandan began learning the game, and in 2023 she made history by clinching the title of England's first World Youth Champion in 25 years, stunning the world. The chess prodigy who has caught attention of the entire chess fraternity and the worldwide media even had the opportunity to play a game of chess with British PM Rishi Sunak upon his invitation to 10 Downing Street. [caption id="attachment_35503" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Bodhna Sivanandan with Rishi Sunak[/caption] "I always try my best to win. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't,” the eight-year-old who holds the title of Woman Candidate Master said in an interview. Extraordinary feats 2023 had been full of extraordinary victories for the young player. She defeated former British chess champion Peter Lee in an exhibition match, garnering praises from all around. Impressed by her talent, International Master Lawrence Trent tweeted, "The maturity of her play, her sublime touch, it's truly breath taking…I have no doubt she will be England's greatest player and most likely one of the greatest the game has ever seen". With her phenomenal performance at the Classical, Treble
ce Trent tweeted, "The maturity of her play, her sublime touch, it's truly breath taking…I have no doubt she will be England's greatest player and most likely one of the greatest the game has ever seen".
With her phenomenal performance at the Classical, Treble Crown and the latest European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2023 held in Zagreb, Croatia, Bodhna has become one of the most loved international chess stars.
At the European Blitz Chess Championship 2023, she defeated a number of female grandmasters from across the world. In the penultimate round, she even earned victory over international master, Lorin D'Costa, the coach of the England women's chess team. The European Blitz Chess Championship had witnessed a massive number of registrations with 555 players, including 48 grandmasters and 50 international masters as participants. Bodhna managed to shine above all, winning the the best women's player award.
Early start
Bodhna was just five when she embarked on her chess journey, quickly mastering the intricacies of the game. A mere 15 months later, in March 2022 she had clinched silver in both Rapid and Blitz European under eight girls’ tournaments, establishing herself as the world No. 1 girl in Blitz for her age group with an impressive margin of 322 FIDE points. Leonard Barden, the English chess master, broadcaster and journalist described the little chess player as ‘exceptional’ then.
Later in the European Schools under eight age group championships held in Rhodes in May 2022, she won all the 24 games winning three gold medals. She was just seven then.
The same year in August, Bodhna participated in the British Chess Championship in Torquay, earning two wins and a draw defeating the then reigning U12 champion.
Talking about how she discovered chess, Bodhna shared in an interview, “One of my father’s friends was throwing away some stuff because it was Covid. Inside that there was a chess board. I was curious about the pieces and started playing.” She was just five then.
“Accidentally she started chess,” her father Sivanandan Velayutham, remarked in an another interview.
Recognising her interest in the game he started taking her around the English Chess Federation and to other people in England who play and support chess. These individuals proved to be not only friendly but also supportive of Bodhna’s endeavours.
Chess in the UK
The British government is taking lots of initiatives to promote the game. As part of a new package announced last year, the UK's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be investing GBP 500,000 in the English Chess Federation (ECF) over two years to nurture the next generation of world-class talent.
The funds will be utilised for specialised coaching, training camps, and advanced computer analysis for international competitions, providing crucial support to both established grandmasters and emerging players.
[caption id="attachment_35506" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Bodhna Sivanandan at UK Prime Minister's residence with other delegates[/caption]
In an interview given before the announcement and the multiple wins of 2023, the grade four student of St John Fisher Primary School of Harrow in London had shared, “My school has a chess club but it’s just for grade six students, so I am not allowed.”
When asked how does she think she would fare if allowed to play with sixth graders, “I think, I would probably win,” she had replied with a smile.
(April 16, 2023) "Let's clarify, we did not cause the current climate disaster, but we are facing the health effects — even if we may not have started this catastrophe, we must be the ones to resolve it. We'll demand answers from the producers of fossil fuels." That's how the 17-year-old British Indian Dev Sharma addressed the House of Commons, calling for swift action on climate change to prevent its adverse impacts on health. Being one of the 250 members of the Youth Parliament from across the UK who were invited to debate on topics related to health in the chamber, Dev took the opportunity to raise his voice against food poverty. "We look at you and ask why we don't have clean air to breathe, why huge parts of the world have drowned (and) why you don’t act,” asked Dev. The young activist has been a powerful voice for youth on issues like holiday hunger and free school meals. At age 15, the young MP for Leicestershire won the Diana Award for food activism. [caption id="attachment_29292" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Dev Sharma is young MP from Leicestershire[/caption] An active voice in the world of food poverty, he has been a vocal
/dev2.jpg" alt="Dev Sharma | Global Indian" width="720" height="480" /> Dev Sharma is young MP from Leicestershire[/caption]
An active voice in the world of food poverty, he has been a vocal campaigner on the influence of junk food advertising on young people, especially on social media. "I feel like I'm being bombarded with junk food ads on my phone and computer, and it's overwhelming. They are everywhere, popping up when we're watching videos, when I’m gaming with friends, and we don’t have an escape, especially not at the moment when we are living on our screens. It’s an overwhelming rising tide of advertising, I and every other young person need support. The health of one in three children is already at risk from the food they eat," he wrote on The Food Foundation website.
That's when he began the campaign to ban junk food advertising online, starting an online open letter campaign to Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock so that young people in his community could choose the food they wanted without the nonstop corporate pressure. After a few years of campaigning which he found the support of celebrities like Jamie Oliver, he was successful in getting the government to ban junk food advertising online in June 2021. Dev, who is from the Rushey Mead area of Leicester, currently works as the chair of Bite Back 2030, a youth-led movement, working towards fighting for children's health and revolutionising the food industry.
[caption id="attachment_29293" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Dev Sharma won the UK Parliament Award[/caption]
It was while studying for his GCSE exams in 2021 that Dev recognised that he was being bombarded with fast food advertisements on YouTube, promoting unhealthy eating habits. This inspired him to liaise with his team at Bite Back to launch a national campaign to put an end to the adverts. "After research found that 15 billion ads were being seen by children and young people, there was a consultation launched by the Government to ban junk food. The Government asked for the public's opinion on the matter. But I felt like the voices of young people weren’t really being heard. So, I wanted to do something about it," he said in an interview.
He wrote to the then health secretary Matt Hancock requesting a ban on such advertising. "Each time a member of the public signed the letter, an automatic email would be sent directly to the Health Secretary. Because we got so many signatures, Mr. Hancock's emails were flooded with emails supporting our cause," he said, adding, "This led to the Government agreeing to meet with us and our campaign reached the House of Commons. The government agreed that these adverts were harmful. And so, they agreed to ban junk food adverts."
Even during the pandemic, he put his campaigning skills to use when the UK was under lockdown and the schools were closed and children went without their free school meals. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he shared his views with the media, met with Government Ministers, and even supported footballer and campaigner Marcus Rashford in his advocacy campaign to end child food poverty. Thanks to these efforts, more than one million people signed the petition to support the cause, and it led to some important policy changes - the UK government extended free school meals over the holidays.
Recently, he spoke at the UN Food Systems Summit, and Global Obesity Summit in New York and switched on Leicester’s Diwali Lights, the largest celebration of Diwali outside India.
(February 10, 2024) When Omishka Hirachund was a child, her grandmother suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and was admitted to the ICU. At that tender age, she was extremely frightened to enter the ICU, and her heart shattered when her grandmother passed away. "But it sparked a passion in me to become a doctor and make a difference in patients' lives,'' Omishka shared. Omishka, who is of Indian descent and living in Africa, went on to study medicine, viewing it not just as a career but as a means to serve society. Having completed her MBBCH at the University of Witwatersrand in 2019 and her Masters in Medical Sciences at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2023, she has been serving as the medical officer, internal medicine in the Department of Health, South Africa. She has also now aligned herself as a volunteer doctor with the #keready project – an initiative of DGMT, a South African foundation that uses mobile units to provide free health services in underdeveloped, rural communities of South Africa to promote primary healthcare. [caption id="attachment_35742" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Dr Omishka Hirachund[/caption] For her selfless service for the #keready project and other voluntary initiatives to promote healthcare and wellbeing,
ces in underdeveloped, rural communities of South Africa to promote primary healthcare.
[caption id="attachment_35742" align="aligncenter" width="599"] Dr Omishka Hirachund[/caption]
For her selfless service for the #keready project and other voluntary initiatives to promote healthcare and wellbeing, Omishka Hirachund was named in the annual Mail and Guardian's ‘200 Young South Africans’ list of 2023. She was one of the 18 Indian origin changemakers to be named in the list.
The #keready initiative
The #keready mobile clinic project has been made possible through a grant from the Department of Health of the Federal Republic of Germany that DGMT received. The project is making healthcare accessible, affordable, and relatable. With her goal of making South Africa a safer place, especially for children and women, Omishka has played a vital role in the movement.
The #keready is being carried forward in association with the provincial departments of health in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape areas of South Africa. Durban based Omishka provides voluntary services in the eThekwini and the Umgungundlovu districts.
With the help of young doctors and nurses #keready is not just focussed in providing free healthcare but also uses social media channels, and podcasts to help people find the right health information. Since social media and podcasts are platforms that attract more young people,this demographic segment is receiving healthcare tips and advice, which they tend to overlook.
[caption id="attachment_35743" align="aligncenter" width="831"] #keready mobile clinic[/caption]
Passionate about making South Africa better
“I would like the healthcare system to support primary healthcare initiatives and ensure equitable access to healthcare for all,” remarked Omishka after being named in the ‘200 Young South Africans’ list. Minimisation of discrimination against people living with HIV, more accessible and acceptable obstetric healthcare to pregnant women, and menstrual hygiene are some of the issues that she deeply cares about.
“The gender-based violence rates and the repercussions of the violence on our society and healthcare systems are devastating. I would like South Africans to remember who they are and what we fought so hard for — equality,” says Omishka who has started the anti-substance abuse project in the Wentworth area for teenagers, in coordination with Dr Daniel Kocks and the Department of Social Development, Government of South Africa.
The young doctor serves as a volunteer Subject Matter Expert on a medical talk show aired by Megazone Radio, aiming to educate people about common diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Additionally, she contributes articles on healthcare to scholarly journals.
Volunteering – a passion
Since her school days, Omishka has had a passion for volunteering. She actively participated in feeding schemes and donation campaigns organised by the Seva Bhakti Foundation in Durban and neighbouring areas. Additionally, she contributed to regular feeding and baking initiatives at the social service organisation, Aryan Benevolent Homes. Her involvement as a volunteer with St. Thomas Children’s Centre in Durban dates back to her growing up years. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the then medical student had dedicated herself to assisting people in various ways. “I was part of the mask drive organised by the department of paediatrics, King Edward Hospital, Durban,” she shared. The youngster was also part of the sanitary pad drive by Kerr House Women's Hospice in 2021.
Driven by her life’s mission to empower disadvantaged women, Omishka has been providing donations, assistance, lectures and educational counselling workshops at the Open Door Crisis Centre supporting abused women and children. She is also a member of the Umhlanga Women's Association which works for food relief in destitute areas.
Life beyond healthcare and future plans
Born and brought up in Durban, Omishka was a very dedicated student right from her school days. She was selected as the head girl of her school and vice house captain of the school house, and had passed the International Benchmark Tests with distinction in Mathematics, Science and English.
Although she is armed with a bachelors and master’s degree in medicine along with diploma in primary emergency care and diploma in HIV Management Omishka’s educational goals are far from over. She aspires to specialise in cardiology or endocrinology.
Beyond the world of healthcare Omishka’s passions include travel, running and reading.
(July 30, 2023) Over one-third of children and adolescents with disabilities have little or no accessibility to sports and physical education, according to a UNICEF study, although the majority have them access to medical, transportation and cultural services. In 2021, a report by the American College of Sports Medicine showed that physical activity among children with disabilities is four-times lower than their non-disabled counterparts. It is a gap that Indian-origin teen Rakshith Srinivasan hopes to fill by creating an enabling ecosystem through research and innovation, to increase access and make people aware of the role sports medicine can play in bettering the lives of children with disabilities. His non-profit, Unlimited Potential (UP), has achieved many milestones in a short span of time, and has raised $100,000 from community donors. [caption id="attachment_32239" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Rakshith Srinivasan[/caption] The change maker envisions an inclusive world where children facing physical challenges have the necessary tools to overcome them and can actively participate in school sports. His focus is also on adults who can lead a more fulfilling life with sports despite their disabilities. “We believe that accelerating research and improving affordability will ultimately lead to fulfilling our vision of a world without wheelchairs by
The change maker envisions an inclusive world where children facing physical challenges have the necessary tools to overcome them and can actively participate in school sports. His focus is also on adults who can lead a more fulfilling life with sports despite their disabilities. “We believe that accelerating research and improving affordability will ultimately lead to fulfilling our vision of a world without wheelchairs by 2050," remarks Rakshith.
The multifaceted teen has also published a book titled ‘Overcoming Obstacles’ and has secured first place in Washington State Science and Engineering Fair 2023.
Passionate about making a difference
UP operates as a network of passionate high school students who are actively involved in sports and have a strong interest in science and research. These student volunteers collaborate with doctors and medical researchers from institutions like Seattle Children’s Orthopaedic Research Lab, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Special Olympics of Washington, and the University of Washington’s Institute of Sports Medicine.
Through these partnerships, the volunteers gain insights into the research, understand its impact, and spread awareness about the gained information, raising funds in the process.
With a team of ten dedicated full-time volunteers and over 600 part-time volunteers spanning United States, Rakshith’s non-profit has achieved a remarkable feat. Since its inception in 2021, UP's campaigns have been instrumental in raising $100,000 for research through generous contributions from community donors whom the volunteers approached within their respective school districts.
[caption id="attachment_32256" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Rakshit Srinivasan at Seattle Children's Hospital[/caption]
The raised amount is enabling the funding of eight research programs in crucial areas such as prosthetics, bionics, muscular dystrophy, skeletal dysplasia, limb deformities, bone cancer, athlete mental health, and human-centred design.
Bringing community together
Team Unlimited Potential has not only garnered support from more than 500 donors but has also formed a dedicated advisory board comprising like-minded leaders with experience in the field of sports medicine.
The experts provide valuable mentorship to the volunteers. The advisory team assists in research selection, engages in donor discussions, plans fundraising campaigns, and facilitates connections with researchers and doctors.
It started when…
Rakhshith has always been interested in medicine, biology and sports. Three years ago, he suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain. “It was the varsity basketball season, and the sprain took me out of the playoffs. I really missed the time I was away from the team. I was frustrated for being away from sports – which is something what I love to do,” he said adding, “It was an eye-opening experience for me. It led me to think about how a lot of children might be missing sports due to their permanent disabilities.
Recognising that sports is one of the biggest unifiers and hobbies of everyone around the world, the youngster devoted his recuperation time in learning about sports medicine. He did extensive research on what's being done in the field to help the people who cannot play sports due to their disabilities or deformities and made up his mind to do his own bit.
Empathy for social change
Rakshith’s dedication not just comes from personal experience of being confined but also from empathy that he developed during a volunteering activity. As a ninth-grade student, he had volunteered to tutor the displaced children of refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine - an initiative of the non-profit, World Relief . Getting involved in the initiative changed his whole perspective of how he looked at life.
[caption id="attachment_32243" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Rakshith with Kids[/caption]
“The kids in the refugee base here were in an awkward situation, where they were attending school in a very different education system without even knowing the language properly,” he said.
“Apart from tutoring, just being with them, showing support and talking to them during their hard times gave me a sort of empathy towards others and helped me introspect how I’m fortunate enough but there are lots of people who are not, and I should use what I have been given to help others,” he remarked.
Overcoming obstacles
“While fund raising, we hear more ‘No’s’ than ‘Yeses’ says the youngster, but we keep going.’ Wearing many hats, the teen is not just passionate about sports medicine research and creating STEM awareness but is also an author and basketball enthusiast. His debut book ‘Overcoming Obstacles,’ delves into the cutting-edge research taking place in the field of sports science and research. “All proceeds from book sales would be directed towards the fundraising campaigns conducted by Unlimited Potential,” he says.
Aspiring to be an orthopaedic doctor, the teen has published scientific research papers about muscle soreness and lateral ligament ankle injuries in basketball. He has worked for several medical internships and plays varsity basketball at district level.
In March this year, he was thrilled to win the first prize in the 66th Washington State Science and Engineering Fair. “I was judged 1st amongst highly amazingly talented Washingtonians who participated in the state science fair. My research was about leveraging BC Amino acids compounds to increase energy in muscles lower micro-raptures thus preventing injuries in elite athletes,” he shared.
As part of LEAP (Leadership through Education, Activities, and Personal Development), a student leadership group of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), he is involved with WIAA events, meetings and community projects, and gets opportunity to be the voice of Washington’s more than 225,000 student-participants.
Born in India Rakshith is thankful for his parents' support in all his endeavours and is very close to his grandparents who live in India. “I feel that everyone has potential inside them, and I want to unlock that potential through my initiatives,” he says.
(March 17, 2022) On a sunny day in 2016, a bored Shah Huzaib casually stepped out of his home in Charar-e-Shareef in central Kashmir's Budgam district when he spotted three friends playing football. They asked him to fill in as a goalkeeper. It was a time when Kashmir was witnessing violence following the Burhan Wani killing which led to the closure of schools, internet shut down and several restrictions. [caption id="attachment_12737" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Shah Huzaib, footballer and trick-shot artiste[/caption] A few kicks and playing goalkeeper later, Huzaib felt drawn towards the sport. Before he knew it, the sport had become a passion. For the next two years, he fine-tuned his skills and built a reputation as a football trick-short artiste. Over a period of time, the Kashmiri lad mastered 400 different types of trick-shots, which won hearts across the internet. His mind boggling trickery took him to newer heights after the freestyle footballer got shoutouts from Indian football team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, sports minister Kiren Rijiju, Bollywood star Suniel Shetty and more recently, from Real Madrid and Germany footballer Toni Kroos, who shared a video of Huzaib's trick-shots. Amazing Trick Shots; Keep up the good work Shah! #keepgoing pic.twitter.com/zKaTWnH9Et —
"My aim is to make trick-shots popular in India. I will be seeking help from the Indian Army to take trick-shots to every nook and corner of the country. I want to represent Kashmir and India on the international level someday," Huzaib tells Global Indian. The most recent feather in his cap was when he was selected for India's Got Talent season 9, for which he travelled to Delhi. "All the appreciation made me work harder," he says.
[caption id="attachment_12736" align="aligncenter" width="819"] Shah Huzaib, trick-shot artiste[/caption]
Footie, and its beautiful shots
Before the football bug bit him, Huzaib, like a majority of Indians, was a die-hard cricket fan. Born in January 2002, his love affair with cricket began as a kindergartner. "I used to watch a lot of matches on TV, and watching Virat Kohli play led me to play cricket. I used to go to the local stadium every Friday and Sunday for matches," informs the 20-year-old, whose father is in the fruit business, and mother a homemaker.
[caption id="attachment_12734" align="aligncenter" width="853"] Shah Huzaib, trick-shot artiste[/caption]
As he switched to football in 2016 after his chance introduction to the sport, Huzaib took the game a notch higher. Watching Cristiano Ronaldo on YouTube and other trick-shots videos, he was quick to buy a pair of football shoes, and practice rigorously. Thereafter, it was trick-shots all the way. "Of the 400 trick-shots I've mastered, some are very difficult, requiring focus and regular practice," smiles the youngster, who schooled at Life School Kashmir and later at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Charar-e-Sharif.
As he first burst onto the scene with his trick-shots, Huzaib received a lot of attention from Kashmiris. Soon the Kashmiri media took note of his talent and the resultant exposure motivated him to further hone his skills. Huzaib then got featured on a popular YouTube page, wherein his trick shots fetched him five million views. He went on to be featured on several other platforms including Oh My Goal, Sportskeeda, and Wion, etc.
Religious with his practice, Huzaib ensures he gets in one hour of practice each day. “For each trick-shot, the skills required are different. The sport requires patience and hardwork and no one can learn or perform them overnight," says the young lad, who hopes to get government support take up football as a full-time profession.
Trick-shots, says Huzaib, connected him with the world too. "The government needs to work more on sportspersons and provide them with the facilities to encourage and promote their talent. Only then can many here take up sports and do something meaningful, especially in Kashmir," feels the youngster. "For now, my family and friends support me and share my work," says Huzaib, who was preparing for his class 10 examinations when the Centre abrogated Article 370, which plunged Kashmir into chaos and uncertainty.
The talent to kick-off
When Huzaib got a call from India's Got Talent team, he was on cloud nine. "I travelled to Delhi in October 2021 for auditions. I got an opportunity to interact with immensely talented people from across the country. Delhi has a lot of opportunities for talented people when compared to Kashmir," says the trick-shot artiste, who likes to watch movies in his free time.
"Early on in life, I was often confused whether I should become a cricketer or a doctor. But now, my life revolves around football," smiles the trick-shot artiste, who aims to make it big in the sport.
While Huzaib continues to make waves with his skills, the youngster has had to face quite a few challenges. He now hopes for far more recognition. "Government support apart, even society does not appreciate or support what I do. Even the footballing scenario is not very developed," he rues.
Bodhna Sivanandan[/caption]
Bodhna Sivanandan[/caption]
Bodhna Sivanandan at UK Prime Minister's residence with other delegates[/caption]
Dev Sharma won the UK Parliament Award[/caption]
Dr Omishka Hirachund[/caption]
#keready mobile clinic[/caption]
Rakshit Srinivasan at Seattle Children's Hospital[/caption]
Rakshith with Kids[/caption]
Rakshith Srinivasan[/caption]
Shah Huzaib, trick-shot artiste[/caption]
Shah Huzaib, trick-shot artiste[/caption]