Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveManipur’s Martin Irengbam bags first runner-up title at the 2024 Top Model of Universe contest in Istanbul

Manipur’s Martin Irengbam bags first runner-up title at the 2024 Top Model of Universe contest in Istanbul

By: Amrita Priya

(November 17, 2024) Manipur, a picturesque state tucked away in Northeast India, is often overshadowed by the bustling metropolises of the country. However, this land of lush green landscapes has a new reason to celebrate. Martin Irengbam, hailing from Kakching Khunou, an agricultural town in Kakching district in Manipur, has emerged as an international sensation, proving that talent and perseverance know no boundaries.

At just 19 years old, Martin has made an indelible mark. As the first runner-up at the 2024 Top Model of Universe Contest held in Istanbul, Turkey, he also clinched three other coveted titles for Best Physique, Best Face, and Best Walk. His achievements are not just personal triumphs but a source of immense pride for Manipur, a state far removed from the country’s fashion capitals.

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“One of the biggest achievements of my life so far,” remarked the elated youngster talking about the feat.

The Top Model of Universe contest

An international event, The Top Model of Universe Contest is a platform for male models to showcase their talent, physical fitness, personality, and charisma. This year’s competition brought together over 50 participants from countries across the globe, making it a melting pot of culture and competition. Hosted in the city of Istanbul, the contest’s multifaceted challenges—spanning traditional attire, formal wear, and talent displays—tested each participant’s versatility. Martin’s stellar performance amid tough competition has not only brought pride to his state but also highlighted the immense potential that exists in India’s northeast.

The boy from Manipur

Martin’s roots are humble. Born to an army father, Hemchandra, and a homemaker mother, Ronibala, he was raised in a household that valued discipline and determination. He completed his schooling at St. Joseph School in Imphal West and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education at Manipur University.

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Despite the challenges of living in a region that lacks the infrastructure and exposure of India’s metropolitan cities, Martin always dreamed big. His entry into the world of pageantry began with the Manfete Manhunt 2023, where he showcased his talent and charisma. Soon after, he won the 13th edition of Set Wet Mega Mister North East, setting the stage for greater accomplishments, and becoming a role model for aspiring youth of his state.

Rising to stardom

Representing India at the Top Model of Universe Contest in Istanbul was a significant milestone for Martin. Reflecting on his journey he shared, “The competition wasn’t just about looks or charm; it was a test of resilience, adaptability, and the ability to shine on a global platform.”

Turkey, with its rich cultural heritage, was an exciting yet challenging destination for Martin. “Everything was so beautiful and lovely, but the language was a problem,” he admitted.

Martin being welcomed by family in Manipur after one of his recent victories

Acknowledging the ongoing struggles in Manipur, he sees his international achievements as a platform to draw attention to the state’s challenges, and towards the significance of health and fitness. “I’m also into health, lifestyle, and doing my best to promote it,” shared the youngster who secured the Best Physique award in the contest.

Mentorship and gratitude

Behind every successful individual lies a network of mentors and supporters. For Martin, the guidance of his coach and the encouragement from the pageant’s organizers were instrumental. “Everything was so beautiful there. Even the coach and the environment—everyone really helped me,” he noted. Martin also credited his achievements to Mega Entertainment and Abhijeet Singha, who gave him the opportunity to represent India on an international stage.

His gratitude extended to a Manipuri designer. “One of the renowned designers from Manipur—Arvon has also played a great part in my success,” Martin mentioned, highlighting the collaborative spirit of his journey.

Martin at one of the recent pageants

Inspiring the next generation

Martin believes in the importance of growth and learning. “Everyone has room to grow,” he said, emphasizing the need for constant self-improvement. His success story has already inspired many to pursue their dreams, regardless of their circumstances.

He remains humble despite his success, focusing on giving back to the community. “More than 60,000 people are homeless,” he remarked, hinting at his desire to address pressing social issues.

A future full of promise

As Martin continues to scale new heights, he remains grounded and focused on his goals. His journey from Kakching Khunou to Istanbul is a great example of determination. For a state like Manipur, which is often overshadowed by India’s metropolitan hubs, Martin’s success is a powerful reminder that talent can flourish anywhere.

Martin at the traditional costume round of one of the recent pageants

With dreams of participating in more international competitions like Mr. World and Super Mr. International, Martin is well on his way to becoming a global icon. “Three to four years—I will be on Mr. World and Mr. Super International stage,” he said, talking about his aspirations.

Martin Irengbam’s story is not just about a young man’s rise to fame; it’s about breaking barriers, inspiring others, and proving that even the most distant corners of the world can produce stars. His journey serves as a shining example of how dedication and passion can turn dreams into reality.

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Published on 17, Nov 2024

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When Indian kids say the ‘earnest’ things on Ted Talks, they inspire

(February 15, 2022) Ideas are everywhere. And the world is nurtured through them. The confidence and power to unleash those ideas into reality is something few possess. One of the best ways to spread the power of these ideas is through speeches and talks; TED talks is among the most recognised and celebrated platforms. From inspiring people to changing lives and perspectives, each talk coaxes one to step out of their comfort zone. A whole crop of young Global Indian children are unleashing the power of their ideas through these TED talks. Times Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao, innovator Neha Shukla, achiever Ishita Katyal and others, there is no dearth of confident young Indian-origin children taking to the stage to create awareness, and get the world to sit up and take notice. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1kV3NQ87FY[/embed] Young and raring to go Recently, five-year-old Indian American child Kiara Kaur became the world’s youngest TEDx Speaker on Unboxing Curiosity at a TEDx event in Maharashtra on November 2021. Before that, it was 10-year-old Ishita Katyal, who held the distinction of being the youngest Indian to deliver a TED talk. Her topic: Why you don’t have to wait till you grow up. [caption id="attachment_10868" align="aligncenter"

[caption id="attachment_10868" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Gitanjali Rao[/caption]

It’s true. These young ones aren’t waiting for adulthood to make a difference. Their time to act (… or speak) is now, and they’re grabbing every opportunity to make a difference. Age is not a factor when it comes to initiating change too. Gitanjali Rao’s TED Talks, India Nayi Baat in 2019 witnessed the young leader expound these very ideas. “I don't think there should be an age barrier to solving problems. I hope that with the right focus and approach to continuous learning, we can all be superheroes, saving lives," she had told Shah Rukh Khan at the event.

In fact, several of these teens are quite enamoured by the entire platform and are adding to it through Indian TED Talks. Manasi Patil, a young author and STEM enthusiast avers, “TED talks display diverse perspectives of people all over the world. Bringing forward crucial messages and breaking stereotypes, I love the power every single TED talk has. Moreover, gaining insights into how people think and present themselves is an added bonus. TED talks are a cocktail of excitement, inspiration, changemaking ecosystem and simply a powerhouse for thinking beyond the box.”

Influencing minds, one talk at a time

[caption id="attachment_10869" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Neha Shukla[/caption]

Stressing on the importance of getting young people to innovate was Global Teen Leader Neha Shukla when she took the stage at TEDx Atlanta. “Our generation has just begun to embrace innovation. Gen Z already knows what challenges to care about; they just don’t know how to channelise their passion into tangible solutions,” she said during her Indian TED talk, adding, “Now more than ever we have the power to harness cutting edge science and technology to create positive change in our communities. With more people involved in the innovation process, the more problems we can solve, the faster we can do it.” Incidentally, Neha has impacted over 22,000 students and industry leaders through her talks and workshops. She was also honoured by NASDAQ.

An entire generation of thinkers and innovators are getting inspired. For instance, Yathaarth Murthy, a two-time Limca Book of Records holder for singing the highest number of anthems in the world, said that he loved watching TEDx videos as a young child. He wanted to be on the hallowed platform himself and his dream came true when he was invited to give his first TED talk at age 12 on being an anthemologist. His fourth talk was in 2020 when he spoke about pursuing one’s dreams.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IVIcvIMKhU[/embed]

For Tamil Nadu’s Young Nutrition Ambassador and YouTuber, TED turned out to be a dream platform. The 13-year-old motivational speaker had for long been a fan of the platform and drawn inspiration from it and its speakers. So, when she was invited to speak twice on TED, she considered it a huge milestone in her young life. “Being able to speak on TED has been very special for me,” says the teen, who also talks about the kind of hard work that goes into delivering what might seem like a simple talk. “On the face of it, it might just look like a simple 20-minute talk, but there’s so much planning and preparation involved. It took me six months to be able to shape my speech and prepare for my talk.”

Leading by example

[caption id="attachment_10556" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Manasi Patil[/caption]

The fact that platforms like TED also afford these young speakers’ visibility and leverage is an added bonus. Manasi, who herself has enjoyed watching several TED talks by Shashi Tharoor, Tim Urban, and Rohini Godbole, says, “I have always believed that once you are on the stage, in the spotlight, you have this undefined power to get people on board with your dreams, your vision. The TED platform is one of the most powerful ways out there to do this. It's fascinating how your voice, from one part of the world, can be heard throughout the world through a video that is never more than 18 minutes. I intend to reach many GenZers and ‘reinforce the GenZ potential’ in a much wider sense through my TED talks.”

Top 5 Indian TED talks to watch

Motivational: Sparsh Shah on How a 13-year-old changed Impossible to I’m Possible
Life: Ishita Katyal on Experiences of a 12-year-old author
Invention: Deepika Kurup on A Young Scientist’s Quest for Clean Water
Positive Thinking: Manoj Dora on Never Give Up
Innovation: Anwesha Das on The role and Opportunities of child innovators

Reading Time: 8 mins

Revolutionising healthcare globally: Young scholar Tanishq Abraham launches AI-based research organisation

(March 2, 2023) The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the healthcare system across the world, forcing professionals to come up with unique solutions to ensure the delivery of essential health services. Working on the next frontier of medicine, 19-year-old Indian-American scholar Tanishq Mathew Abraham has launched a cutting-edge artificial intelligence research organisation, Medical AI Research Center (MedARC), focused on an open, and collaborative approach to healthcare AI research. Tanishq, a fifth-year Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. candidate at the University of California Davis researching applications of AI to pathology and microscopy, has teamed up with renowned data scientist and medical AI researcher, Jeremy Howard. "MedARC’s focus on open-source research and foundation model development will fill two of the biggest gaps currently holding back AI from achieving its full potential in medicine," Tanishq recently informed in an interview. Only last year the two-hundred-year-old Dutch publishing house, Elsevier, printed copies of their latest book on artificial intelligence and deep learning in pathology, with a 30-page chapter written by the 19-year-old scholar. And it is not his first contribution to the scientific world. The young scholar has been writing journals and authoring scientific papers since he was merely ten years old. He is

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Only last year the two-hundred-year-old Dutch publishing house, Elsevier, printed copies of their latest book on artificial intelligence and deep learning in pathology, with a 30-page chapter written by the 19-year-old scholar. And it is not his first contribution to the scientific world. The young scholar has been writing journals and authoring scientific papers since he was merely ten years old. He is also responsible for discovering a supernova, an exoplanet, and a solar storm while going through hundreds of images from NASA's Long-Range Observatory and Kepler projects - just when he was eight. Global Indian takes a look at the marvellous journey of this child prodigy, who is revolutionising the world of biomedical engineering.

Child Genius

With their roots in Kerala, Tanishq's parents, veterinary doctor Dr. Taji Abraham and techie Bijou Abraham, moved to the United States in search of better career opportunities. A few years into his birth, his mother knew that her son was a special kid as he could solve basic mathematics problems at the age of two, a feat not many can achieve. Two years later, he took the Mensa exam and scored a brilliant 99.9 percent.

[caption id="attachment_28004" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Nine year old Tanishq, presenting his first research project at the NASA Lunar Science Forum[/caption]

Realising that it would be difficult for any school to match their son's genius, the couple decided to home-school Tanishq. At five, the child prodigy cracked Stanford University’s math course, offered under their Education Programme for Gifted Youth, in just six months. Owing to the need that he had to socialise with other people, Tanishq was enrolled at the local community college, while he prepared rigorously for his high school exams at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq3FopGY6Fc

At nine, Tanishq became the youngest person to speak at NASA’s Ames conferences in 2012, after he discovered a supernova, an exoplanet, and a solar storm while going through hundreds of images from NASA's Long-Range Observatory and Kepler projects. Just a few months before his 11th birthday, the scholar earned his high school degree, making him the youngest to do so in the US. Interestingly, Tanishq's younger sister, Tiara, is no different. The 16-year-old musical prodigy recently received the Young Arts award in Classical Voice 2022.

Changing the course of biomedical engineering

A 10-year-old armed with a high school degree, Tanishq's next stop was American River College, where he graduated junior college with three associate degrees. Motivated to pursue a career in medicine, the scholar joined the University of California to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering. “I decided to go into biomedical engineering because it’s interdisciplinary and at the forefront of medical research. It’s a field with the potential for positive impact on society," Tanishq said during an interview with the UC Davis Magazine.

[caption id="attachment_20253" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Tiara and Tanishq Abraham[/caption]

However, the journey was tougher than he imagined. While the curriculum was a cakewalk for the child genius, he had to deal with bullying at the hands of his peers and unsupportive faculty. So much so that many professors refused to take him seriously and even barred him from taking up their courses. However, his love for learning kept him going, and he was able to earn his undergraduate degree summa cum laude.

At 15, Tanishq decided to join the University of California's Ph.D. programme in biomedical engineering, which he is still pursuing. Under the able supervision of Dr. Richard Levenson, the scholar is researching the application of deep learning (especially generative networks) to novel microscopy techniques for digital pathology. "Through deep learning, we should soon be able to enhance images from microscopes to make them easier for pathologists to interpret. Radiology and pathology are already suited for the integration of AI technology as these areas of medicine involve sets of digitised images," he informed UC Davis Magazine.

Inspiring others

A STEM educator on Twitter, Tanishq has been inspiring young minds to follow their passion through TEDx Talks. Recently, the scholar also wrote a 30-page chapter titled, Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Image Enhancement in Pathology, as an author. The book, which focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Pathology, is a multi-author book. The scholar is a member of the Levenson Lab at UC Davis, where he is working on understanding the application of deep learning for digital pathology. In the running for the Global Student Prize 2022, the young scholar is the youngest-ever member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic society in the United States of America.

But it’s the funding that’s keeping him at a hand’s distance from his goal. Urging the society and governments to fund research facilities, the scholar told UC Davis Magazine, “It’s amazing that science accomplishes as much as it does when research receives so little funding in comparison to other budget priorities, such as the military. We need to fund the NSF and the NIH, and cash from them trickles down to many labs, including those at UC Davis. And you never know when science will make a huge discovery that changes lives and helps many people."

Follow Tanishq Abraham on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and his website

Reading Time: 7 mins

Aisha Nazia: The only Indian woman to be selected for FIFA Master course

One of Aisha Nazia's fondest memories is of her standing in a crowd and watching a football match with bated breath. As her favorite team scored the perfect goal, the Kozhikode-born football fan was euphoric. Her hometown is a mecca for football and it wasn't long before love for the game rubbed off on Nazia, who has now been selected for the prestigious FIFA Master program. She is the only Indian woman out of the 32 people that were selected from across the world for the program. Chosen out of 700 applicants, Nazia has become an inspiration for dreamers as well as go-getters. A postgraduate sports executive program, organized in partnership with De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchatel (Switzerland), the FIFA Master course is nothing short of an Ivy league program. The 26-year-old Indian has made the cut this year, but not without her share of struggles and challenges. As she quit a lucrative job to pursue her dreams, Nazia didn't find many supporters, but she was determined to follow through on her plan. How a childhood dream found wings Born in Kozhikode to Malayalam Muslim parents, Nazia found herself

im parents, Nazia found herself attracted to the game even as a child. After her parents' divorce when she was five, Nazia moved to Chennai with her mother who was then a teacher. But summer vacations took her back to her hometown each year where she fell in love with football. "I loved the way football brought the entire town together and it was the best show of secularism. It was at this tender age that my affinity towards football began to grow," she tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview from London where she has kick started the first leg of her course.

[caption id="attachment_10971" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Aisha Nazia at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester[/caption]

While the soccer field made Nazia quite happy, she was equally ecstatic nestled between her pile of books. After securing the eighth rank in mechanical engineering at University of Kerala, she found herself working with the Indian Oil-Adani Group Pvt Ltd in Kochi in 2017. Two years before she entered the corporate world though, Nazia had volunteered as a football facilitator for the 2015 National Games that were held in Kerala. Then a third year student at TKM College of Engineering, she heard about the games being held in her city and couldn't let the opportunity slip by. "It gave me the perfect exposure to the sporting industry and the workings of it," she adds.

The turning point

Though her job at Indian Oil kept her happy, she would often find herself drawn to the varied sporting events taking place in the country. So when the FIFA Under 17 World Cup was set to make its debut on Indian soil, Nazia found herself looking for volunteer opportunities on their website. Despite the fact that she didn't have a sports management degree, Nazia rolled the dice of fate and applied for the role of a workforce manager. Luck was on her side, and the 26-year-old found herself at one of the biggest sporting spectacles. Those months with FIFA turned out to be a game changer for this young woman as she learnt the tricks of the trade and found her true calling in sports management. In 2018, she quit her job to chase her dream and moved to Bengaluru.

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Since sporting events in India happen only once every few months, Nazia took up jobs as a consultant with startups to keep her stable financially. In between, she worked on two seasons of the Indian Super League.

When NBA found itself playing in India for the first time ever in 2019, the organizers got in touch with Nazia after reading a feature on her on FIFA. The conversation soon translated into an operations role in logistics.

A chance meeting

After working with the best for a few years and gaining valuable insights into the world of sports management, Nazia knew she was ready to take it a notch higher with the FIFA Master course, something she had heard about six years ago. "While volunteering at the National Games in 2015, a referee from Tamil Nadu who had trained under the Premiere League saw potential in me and encouraged me to take up the FIFA Master course," adds Nazia. But she wanted to give herself four years after her graduation before taking a plunge into any Masters program.

[caption id="attachment_10974" align="aligncenter" width="395"] Aisha Nazia at NBA matches in India.[/caption]

So when the entire world came to a standstill in 2020 and sporting events became a rarity, Nazia knew it was the right time to pursue her FIFA Master dream. "The selection process for this course is like it would be for an Ivy league school. This year 32 students were selected from a pool of 700 applicants across 29+ countries," adds the Kozhikode native. The one year course will have Nazia travel to three countries (England, Italy and Switzerland) to complete her Masters in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport.

Crowdfunding, not charity

If securing a seat among 700 students wasn't a rigorous process, Nazia found herself raising 22,000 CHF (approximately ₹28 lakh) for the course. She is one among the three students to have secured a merit scholarship which has halved her course fee, but the amount is still heavy on her pocket. "In a country like India, you can apply for an education loan against mortgage of property or gold, and I had nothing as security. Crowdfunding seemed like a wise decision to raise money for my education," says Nazia.

It was her mentor Gautham Chattopadhaya, who works with NASA, who advised her to opt for crowdfund. "Abroad, it's a very common concept to raise money for education, but in India, it's still at its nascent stage. I weighed my options for a long time and even posted on LinkedIn to get some feedback. Many encouraged me to go for it as they couldn't pursue their dreams owing to financial constraints. The stories of people on the post made me take it up as a social cause to empower people to follow their dreams. Education is a basic necessity and I decided to go forward with it to raise money and also inspire others to follow their dreams," adds Nazia.

[caption id="attachment_10977" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Aisha Nazia at Indian Super League 2019-2020[/caption]

With GoFundMe inaccessible to Indians, Nazia opted for Ketto to raise money for her education. "In India, crowdfunding is mostly restricted to medical emergencies, so my plea to raise money for education falls a little short in comparison to their issues."

However, this reality check has inspired Nazia to launch an education crowdfunding platform for Indian students soon. "I want to start a platform for people who dream of studying in India or abroad but are unable to do so due to financial constraints. My priority would be to get meritorious students their due through this crowdfunding platform," she explains.

[caption id="attachment_10979" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Aisha Nazia at a sporting event.[/caption]

The future

Nazia, who is currently at De Montfort University in Leicester, is excited for the program. "It will be an enriching experience with lots of learning and field trips. After completing three months in the UK, we will move to Italy for the next quarter. And the last six months will be in Switzerland, which is also the headquarters of FIFA. Getting to work with their management will be exciting. Also, at the end of course, FIFA selects three people for employment," reveals Nazia.

Being an advocate of sustainability, Nazia plans to work for the development of the Indian sports ecosystem after the completion of her course. "I want to focus on inclusion, youth development and come up with solutions to reduce carbon footprint during a sports event," signs off Nazia.

Reading Time: 7 min

How international youth awards are creating global teen leaders, spearheading innovation

(January 19, 2022) Come February, the world will witness two Indian child prodigies - young innovator Vinisha Umashankar and teen golfer Avani Prashanth gracing the stage in Dubai to receive the Global Child Prodigy Award 2022. If one is an activist to protect green cover, the other teen wonder is India’s number one amateur golfer. It’s their contribution to the world of innovation and sports that’s made them stand tall among the 100 child prodigies from across the globe. https://twitter.com/Vinisha27738476/status/1470675490134388739 With their passion, dynamism, and appetite to learn and adapt fast, the youth of today is bringing an incremental change in society, and putting India on the global map. While their work is attracting global attention, their efforts are being lauded and recognised too, helping catapult them into the league of future leaders. Be it social activist Devanshi Ranjan who has won the Diana Award 2021 for her work to uplift marginalised groups in highly sensitive rural areas in India or teenage brothers Vihaan and Nav Agarwal who received the Children’s Peace Prize 2021 for tackling pollution in their home city by recycling household waste - these youngsters are making the right noise with their work and the well-deserved recognition.

l-deserved recognition.

Finding their tribe

It's these laurels and accolades that has made these youngsters a name to reckon with, and helped them find their tribe. Bengaluru's Sia Godika was a regular teenager working for a social cause until she found herself in London brushing shoulders with the bigwigs while receiving the Diana Legacy Award 2021. The girl behind Sole Warriors initiative that collects used shoes, refurbishes them, and donates them to the needy, has found an army of supporters and mentors, thanks to the accolades bestowed on her.

“The recognition which ensues is extremely helpful as it allows me to build a network of volunteers, supporters, and mentors. During the Diana Legacy Award, I connected with many international do-gooders. I met a co-awardee from Liberia who was so impressed with my initiative that he is helping me expand Sole Warriors to his country,” Sia shares with Global Indian.

Amplifying the impact through guidance

The awards ceremonies often work as the perfect platform for young minds to meet mentors, exchange ideas, and find healthy support systems. This synergy helps amplify the impact multifold. STEM innovator Niharika Shukla, whose ASD device helps detect autism, agrees, “The support and mentorship I’ve received from companies through awards, scholarships, and programmes have enabled me to learn more about technology and increase my impact through creating innovations to solve problems.”

The 2021 Science Fair Grand Champion and Broadcom MASTERS Top 300, Niharika is finding solutions to global issues, and believes that the support paves a way for better prospects. “Even though I’m only 14-years-old, and in middle school, support and mentorship from companies encouraging youth innovators goes a long way in helping me pave a way for my future in STEM careers and studies in college in technology and innovation,” adds the 14-year-old researcher.

Sia, too, believes in the power of such opportunities as they open the floor for interaction and knowledge dissemination. “During the Diana Legacy Award ceremony, I had the opportunity to meet CEOs, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and influencers who have their social ventures. They taught us how to manage stress, set SMART goals for ourselves, deal with the mental challenges which come with working in a challenging sector at a young age,” adds Sia, the recipient of APJ Abdul Kalam Social Volunteer Award 2021. She informs that she will be a part of a two-year mentorship programme where awardees like her are helped by mentors in their initiatives.

Motivation is the key

For some youth, motivation is the driving force to keep up the good work, and Feeding India founder Ankit Kawatra is the perfect example of it. After being selected as the United National Young Leader for Sustainable Development Goals in 2016 for tackling the issue of food waste in India, he received the Queen Young Leaders Award in 2017 for his contribution to solving India’s hunger crisis. His exceptional work has helped serve over 15.3 crore meals as of September 2021, and he takes every award as a guiding light towards fulfilling his mission.

Sharing a picture with Queen Elizabeth II, he tweeted, “Throwback to the day I was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen of England at the Buckingham Palace for my work at @FeedingIndia. Thank you @queenscomtrust and my fellow @QueensLeaders for motivating me to always work harder!”

Throwback to the day I was honoured by Her majesty the Queen of England at the Bukingham Palace for my work at @FeedingIndia. Thank you @queenscomtrust and my fellow @QueensLeaders for motivating me to always work harder! #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/22Z0eiDzTp

— Ankit Kawatra (@ankit_kawatra) January 3, 2019

Vinisha, who designed solar ironing cart, found her moment in the sun after she received the Children's Climate Prize 2020 and was the finalist for The Earthshot Prize 2021. Calling the award a stepping stone,she says, "I was happy that environmental innovations like a solar ironing cart got due recognition. It can play a crucial role in reducing environmental damage and climate change. I hope my innovation motivates students to innovate on products that could help protect the environment for future generations. I am happy that the solar ironing cart is my little contribution towards an ambitious goal.”

Paving the future

But more than anything, these honours are helping young minds carve a bright future for themselves. For the Indian American 2021 Global Teen Leader Jeeva Senthilnathan, such recognition has helped her in building trust within the community. The Chicago-based teenager, who is hoping to create change through leadership and mental health awareness, calls it the perfect validation for her work.

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A post shared by Jeeva Senthilnathan (@jeeva.senthilnathan)

“I want people to know that I am a trusted leader, and with these recognitions, I think that I know it will pave the way for me when I am older to gain other powerful political positions. We need more women in the office writing policies and leading the government. I hope to run for US Congress in the House of Representatives one day, and I want people to remember my name. These recognitions give me an opening into future college pursuits,” adds the winner of the Philanthropic Education Organization STAR Scholarship who ran for Parker Town Council.

Empowering youngsters

Awards are often a way of celebrating youngsters and turning on the spotlight on their work. Luke Tester, a judge for the Diana Award said in a statement, “Recognising young change makers can empower them, and those around them, to continue the good work – to let them know that the world has noticed and wants to say thank you. They may not be doing the task for recognition, but that certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve it.”

If the International Eco-Hero awards honour the work of young environmentalists, Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar recognises children with exceptional abilities and achievements and Jefferson Awards praise the local unsung heroes who are making the world a better place through volunteering. The recognition not just helps them spread their wings but also makes them confident leaders.

“International awards and recognition give a lot of exposure to the children which eventually supports them in building a better career. It also enables them to indulge in creative innovations. Not only this, these awards encourage youngsters to think and act as global citizens,” says Vibha Suri, a teacher at Bhai Parmanand Vidya Mandir School, Delhi.

As more and more Indian-origin youngsters are coming into their own as entrepreneurs, innovators, and activists, the recognition is helping them find the courage to continue their initiatives and keep creating a change in society.

(With inputs from Team Global Indian)

Ishaan Patel: Indian-American’s nonprofit aids unprivileged kids in India & US

(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. [caption id="attachment_25046" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Ishaan Patel launched Planting Pencils[/caption] Growing up in Connecticut, his doctor parents who emigrated from India in their childhood

width="720"] Ishaan Patel launched Planting Pencils[/caption]

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.

[caption id="attachment_25047" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Ishaan Patel with his mom who helped him with the launch of Planting Pencils[/caption]

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.

[caption id="attachment_25048" align="aligncenter" width="438"] Ishaan Patel[/caption]

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."

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