Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveMeet Anushree Srinivasan, the bronze medal winner of the WorldSkills Competition 2022

Meet Anushree Srinivasan, the bronze medal winner of the WorldSkills Competition 2022

Written by: Amrita Priya

(December 21, 2022) It was a dream come true for 23-year-old Anushree Srinivasan when she visited her dream destination Switzerland in October to represent India in the WorldSkills competition. It was the avid traveler’s first trip abroad and that too for something as special as representing one’s nation.

The youngster brought home a bronze medal in the hotel reception category of the competition which is considered the gold standard of vocational skills.

“The hospitality standards in Europe are one of the best in the world. Winning a medal there was amazing,” tells Anushree to Global Indian.

Anushree Srinivasan

Founded in 1950 WorldSkills Competition provides youngsters from across the globe a chance to compete, experience, and excel in their chosen endeavour. This was the 46th edition of the competition, which is held every alternate year in a new country.

Originally scheduled to be held in Shanghai, this year’s competition has been referred to as a ‘special edition’ because it got postponed due to the pandemic and then got conducted in a decentralised manner across 15 countries. Indian champions participated in 50 skill categories bringing home two silvers, three bronzes, and thirteen medallions.

The joy of representing the nation

In the hotel reception category, a total of 16 countries out of 58 competed. Anushree is the first Indian to win a medal in this category. The last edition was the first one in which India forayed into this category, and ranked 11. Anushree made a good jump to bag the third position, this year, claiming the bronze.

The gold, silver and two bronze medal winners of hotel reception category at WorldSkills Competition 2022

“During the competition that lasted for four days, our phones were ceased. We used to perform, come back and spend lots of time together without being in any touch with the outside world,” tells Anushree about the wonderful time spent with fellow competitors. Indira Thakur, Anushree’s team leader travelled with her to Montreux. She was the only competitor from India whose place of competition did not match with anyone else in the Indian contingent.

“In India, it was midnight when results were announced. I video-called my family to share the news of my win. None of us had enough words to express how happy we felt about the win,” recalls Anushree. Her parents and sisters were awake watching the competition live on Instagram.

A people’s person

As part of her on-the-job training, while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in hospitality management and administration, Anushree got a chance to explore all the segments of the hospitality industry – front desk, housekeeping, food and beverage, and the kitchen. “I felt that the front desk is my true calling as I love to interact with people and solve their problems. During my training I was the first trainee who was recognised by a guest,” tells the proud youngster. Apart from the mandatory four-month internship at Oberoi Hotels and Resorts that was required to get the Bachelor’s degree, Anushree worked there for close to a year after passing out.

Anushree during a task at the WorldSkills Competition 2022

She then went on to join the management trainee programme of the ITC Group of Hotels. “In one year, I got the opportunity to work in the top five properties of ITC,” she tells. Being a part of the workforce of ITC Maratha – Mumbai, as the preopening workforce of Welcome Hotels Guntur, Sheraton New Delhi, the preopening workforce of ITC Narmada Ahmedabad, and ITC Royal Bengal Kolkata helped Anushree hone her skills.

WorldSkills by chance

“It was Ms. Annie, my front office faculty at SRM University Chennai who told me about the WorldSkills Competition and insisted that I should participate in it,” she says. “Until then I had not heard about it and did not know that it is considered the Olympics of vocational skills.” Anushree had been the vice president of the front office club of her college and had won several medals and trophies, making her teacher believe that she had the potential to represent the country in the hotel reception category.

Though Anushree was not very keen on participating, she gave in to the insistence of her teacher and is glad to have done so. “I can’t thank her enough for this,” she tells. She is also thankful to her coach Aagman Baury, general manager of the Leela Convention Centre, Shahdara, New Delhi who was assigned as the expert to help her prepare for the competition.

All the 16 participants of the hotel reception category at WorldSkills Competition 2022

Soon after clearing some rounds, there was a lockdown in Shanghai where the competition was supposed to be held followed by other parts of the world. Anushree had given up hope of participating but was overjoyed when it finally took shape.

She had already come a long way to earn a spot in the global challenge by then, leaving behind competitors first at the zonal level, followed by district, state, and finally at the nationals. Even after winning gold in National Skills Competition, Anushree had to go through two more rounds of selection procedures set by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Government of India before she was chosen to represent the nation abroad.

The avid traveller

Switzerland was a dream destination for more reasons than one. “I am very fond of travelling and have travelled to 15 states and five union territories in India so far,” tells the solo backpack traveller who aims to travel to every state of the country. The adventure lover had even done camping in the Himalayas alone when she was just 20.

Anushree in Himachal Pradesh

To be able to explore the beauty of Switzerland was a remarkable milestone for the youngster who has been a solo traveller since she was 18. The ability to adapt to any environment is a trait that she credits to her traveling experiences.

“Before the competition started, we got enough time to explore Montreux and nearby places. An excursion trip was organised for all the competitors. Since Montreux is at the tip of Switzerland, we were even able to see France on the other side,” reminisces Anushree fondly.

Flying high

The winner of the WorldSkills Competition credits her father for adding wings to her dreams and being very supportive of whatever she wants to do in life.

Anushree enjoying paragliding

Whether it has been riding bikes, going on solo trips, climbing mountains, or paragliding, her father who works as Chief Accounts Officer at Tamil Nadu House New Delhi has always motivated her to fly high.

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Published on 21, Dec 2022

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Shreya and Sahana Mantha: The Charlotte girls empowering single homeless mothers economically

(November 4, 2022) The last wish from their dying grandmother, who was then battling pancreatic cancer, played a catalyst for Charlotte residents Sherya Mantha and Sahana Mantha in starting Foundation for Girls (FFG) in 2014 - a nonprofit to help underprivileged girls and women. The journey into social service began early for the Mantha sisters who were raised by their mom to help those in need. "Our mom has always encouraged us to lead a purposeful life and carve our paths. She has helped us by being our brainstorming partner and always challenging us to overcome obstacles and continue forward," Shreya tells Global Indian. While FFG has impacted over 2500 homeless mothers and their girls through coaching, workshops, and care packs, it began with Shreya tutoring sex trafficking survivors and school dropouts when she was in Class 8. "Before FFG was established, every Friday evening, I was tutoring girls between the age of 13 and 15, in Math and English, along with my father. At the same time, Sahana and mom would ensure we had enough food for the girls, as it is hard to concentrate on an empty stomach. We would leave them with enough till we met them

ather. At the same time, Sahana and mom would ensure we had enough food for the girls, as it is hard to concentrate on an empty stomach. We would leave them with enough till we met them the following week. The most important thing our mom taught us was 'treat them as just regular girls your age, and barriers will break down,' and that has how it has always been. So, our foundational principles of inclusivity and equity have much to do with how we live and lead," adds the 21-year-old.

[caption id="attachment_23775" align="aligncenter" width="708"] Shreya and Sahana Mantha co-founded Foundation for Girls[/caption]

Being a teenager herself then, she learnt it takes time to gain the trust of girls who come from "traumatic backgrounds." However, Shreya says that "consistency, care, and communication play an important role" as the transformation journey isn't easy and takes a long time. "FFG invests in girls for the long term. This also means the allocation of a coaching team and resources to match the needs of every girl and child. Many of the participants of FFG were 13-14 years old when they joined, and now they are 18-19 years. Today more than 95 percent of the girls join FFG by referral," avers Shreya.

The calling

The Mantha sisters didn't have to look far for motivation as they found their role model in their mom. "She raised both my sister and me with warmth but also strength and determination. And that’s something we carry with us daily. She’s all about positivity and about doing good things for others and doing it every day. It’s not just a once-a-month thing or a once-in-a-while thing. When you do good for people, not only do you feel good but it’s impacting them in a good way too," says Shreya, who is a senior at Stanford University, adding, "More than anything, she raised us with really strong values."

[caption id="attachment_23781" align="aligncenter" width="666"] A group photo of FFG moms[/caption]

At the age of 13, Shreya began tutoring sex trafficking survivors and school dropouts in her hometown of Charlotte. The nudge to help the marginalised women and children came from the realisation that despite being one of the US's fastest-growing cities, Charlotte is at the bottom in terms of economic mobility. That's when she and her sister Sahana started exploring their community to understand the problem at the grassroots level, realising the challenges faced by the at-risk girls. "They are insufficiently prepared economically, educationally, and emotionally to support themselves. They have low incomes and experience economic hardships, particularly as many are disproportionately disadvantaged racial and ethnic minorities," adds Shreya, who understood the importance of meeting the women's needs to improve their lives as well as help them become contributing members of society.

[caption id="attachment_23779" align="aligncenter" width="840"] Shreya and Sahana Mantha with FFG mother and daughter[/caption]

"Women who span the approximate ages of 15 to 26 are in a critical period of development, with long-lasting implications for their economic security, health, and well-being. Without deliberate action, however, this period of development is likely to magnify inequality, with lasting effects through adulthood. There needed to be intentional and thoughtful approaches to provide them with the resources, relationships and recommendations needed on their journey to independence," explains the Diana Award recipient, who launched Foundation for Girls to play its part in "empowering homeless single mothers to become financially savvy, digitally capable, career confident, and socially connected for multi-generational change."

Making an impact

Till now, the Mantha sisters have impacted over 2500 homeless single mothers and their children through Foundation for Girls, which now has nine chapters including California, Iowa, Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Maryland, and DC, under the leadership of Sahana, who is a sophomore in high school at Providence Day School. She dipped her toes into the world of social service eight years ago when she "sourced and provided fresh food for girls who were being tutored" and later moved to teaching digital skills to FFG participants.

[caption id="attachment_23780" align="aligncenter" width="785"] Sahana Mantha with FFG moms[/caption]

Currently, the 16-year-old works on the strategy aspect to "meet the ever-expanding needs of the FFG community to maximise the multi-generational impact." The implementation of FFG technological solutions during the pandemic, enabled girls from nine states to work with coaches, regardless of their geographic location. Moreover, the teenager leads the Circle of Care program wherein she looks into the sourcing and assembly of care packages that are delivered to the moms every week.

With a team of over 75 volunteer coaches and 150 plus volunteers, FFG coaches build bridges and human connections through one-on-one coaching for transformative impact and multi-generational change. With a mission to empower homeless single and support their children, FFG "invests in women to be financially savvy, career confident, digitally capable, and socially connected."

Every challenge is an opportunity

Shreya and Sahana, who have come a long way, call FFG a learning curve. Funding to setting partnerships in new states during expansion were some of the hurdles that they had to go through together. Since the girls were still in school, getting funds for FFG was a challenge. "Our parents gave us our seed money to get everything started. Later, we learned how to write grants and get funding," reminisces Shreya, adding that FFG currently raises money from corporate sponsorships, grants, community foundations, and family-based foundations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JsgLOFccoE

The Mantha sisters call every challenge an equal opportunity to learn. The hardships made them better at every step of the journey. "Persistence and the power of collaboration are key. Having the right team and values-aligned individuals have made the impact possible," add the changemakers for whom FFG will always be their way of giving back to the society. "We hope to continue to drive long-term systemic, sustainable change for homeless single mothers and their children," chimes in Sahana.

Though they share the same goal in terms of FFG, the Mantha sisters enjoy diverse interests. While Sahana, a competitive golfer, loves exploring new cuisines, her older sister loves "listening to podcasts, watching movies, and hiking."

The sisters, who are making an impact in society with FFG, say understanding the problems in the community and identifying your role in problem-solving is the first step towards making an impact. "Begin small and take small steps every day," says Shreya while Sahana signs off adding, "Identify your partners and build your team along the way."

Follow Shreya Mantha on Linkedin
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How ‘Jalsa’ star Surya Kasibhatla brought about Bollywood’s big leap

(October 31, 2022) In the opening scene of Jalsa, a neurodivergent, teenage boy makes a video on how to bowl. Inspiration had come from Surya Kasibhatla himself, who plays the role of Ayush and is the first actor with cerebral palsy to be in a Bollywood film. Surya, who liked to post videos of his own on YouTube, made one with cricket tips. Auditions and a serendipitous discovery Ultimately, the video would lead the Jalsa team to him. After over two months of auditions, where over 150 Indian kids with cerebral palsy were put through rounds of specially-designed auditions, they zeroed in on Surya Kasibhatla. The actor was flown down from America, with precautions made all through the journey, both on and off the sets. [caption id="attachment_23630" align="aligncenter" width="728"] Surya Kasibhatla and Vidya Balan in Jalsa[/caption] Jalsa has received acclaim the world over, with Kasibhatla's performance singled out for praise. It's the first time a person with cerebral palsy has acted in a Hindi movie. "Whether that is me or not, is a secondary aspect," Kasibhatla told Forbes Magazine. Much of this was driven by casting director Anmol Ahuja, who had Kasibhatla flown down from America. Ahuja's early brief had

ed in a Hindi movie. "Whether that is me or not, is a secondary aspect," Kasibhatla told Forbes Magazine.

Much of this was driven by casting director Anmol Ahuja, who had Kasibhatla flown down from America. Ahuja's early brief had been to cast a neurodivergent actor and he began a hunt for actors along with Deepak Agarwal, another member of the team. They spotted actors in Doha, South Africa and Mumbai. At the same time, they also looked for kids with a background in theatre, a reluctant back-up plan. Eventually, they knew they had found what they were looking for in Surya Kasibhatla. Precautions were in place on and off the sets, to ensure that the young Global Indian felt at home.

The debutant who made history

Surya's newfound stardom does little to hide the excited, star struck 13-year-old, for whom working with Vidya Balan was one of the highlights of the experience.

"I have always loved Vidya ma'am's acting," he told the Hindustan Times in an interview. "Working with Vidya ma'am was more than a dream come true and absolutely delightful. She was very loving and caring and I had a gala time working with her. She is my favourite actress."

Dreams of the silver screen

Surya was four years old when he first decided he wanted to be an actor. Born in Hyderabad, Surya and his parents faced the immediate challenges of a raising a neurodivergent child. "There is a long way for societies to become completely exclusive," he said, in the HT interview. There are schools, however, which make the effort. Daksha School in Hyderabad, where Surya studied, is one of them and for that he is always grateful.

Growing up, his parents ensured that their son was never treated differently. His father, who is an IT professional, migrated to the United States when Surya was still young, although he was, by then, a big fan of Bollywood and Telegu cinema. Surya told the BBC he lives in a "happy and engaged family environment at home and is part of all decision-making on important matters pertaining to him."

By the age of 13, when he was chosen for the role, Surya was doing software development, having shown an early talent for computer programming, music, movies and sports. Word of the role in Jalsa came from his physiotherapists in India, who reached out to his parents.

In the Maximum City

It was the cricket video that did the trick. "The moment we saw that video, we knew we had to get him," Ahuja told Film Companion. He then got on a video call with director Suresh Triveni before being cast in the role.

The film team also re-visited Ayush's character, re-working the script to establish as many similarities as they could between him and Kasibhatla. Long dialogues were removed - they were not in keeping with the typical style of speech for someone with cerebral palsy.

The making of Jalsa was a complex and layered process. Acting, Surya found, harder than he had imagined. When he arrived in Mumbai, he was started off with film workshops and working through the role with director Suresh Triveni, who has a neurodivergent family member himself.

Learning on the job

"The best and toughest part of the film was doing justice to the role... Being in the scene is harder than many people think, but the pre-shoot workshops as well as the team on the sets made me comfortable." Among them was his co-star Vidya Balan, he taught him the art of emoting in every scene.

Kasibhatla himself was more than happy to do the work.

Inclusivity on the sets

"Nobody from the team treated me differently," Surya said. "I was one among them. I was absolutely comfortable while shooting for Jalsa. Right from my travel logistics to the accommodation, food, local travel, everything was a seamless experience."

Follow Surya Kasibhatla on Instagram.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Madhalasa Iyer: The Princeton student merging literature and science to change mindsets

(March 15, 2024) Indian-origin, Texas-based Madhalasa Iyer was appalled when she learned that in her district, a 13-year-old African-American boy was forced by his peers to drink his own urine. They even recorded the inhuman incident while yelling racial slurs at the victim. As she read the news and discussed the hate crime with her friends, Madhalasa learned of many more instances of discrimination and racism in her own district. In 2019, to help change societal mindsets, she founded Team Motley, an initiative emphasising the importance of solidarity for human equality. As part of her drive, she wrote a book titled 'Motley' to drive home the message of social equality. Later, the scope of her organisation expanded to include advocacy for environmental action. In addition to her work on social discrimination and the environment crisis, Madhalasa is working on a manuscript on phytomedicine to emphasise the benefits of ancient medicinal techniques. [caption id="attachment_36623" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Madhalasa Iyer[/caption] The author, researcher, speaker, and environmentalist has received several awards for her multifaceted talent, including recognition for her writing by the Alliance for Artists and Writers and the New York Life Foundation, as one of the six teen artists and writers chosen across

| Global Indian" width="539" height="539" /> Madhalasa Iyer[/caption]

The author, researcher, speaker, and environmentalist has received several awards for her multifaceted talent, including recognition for her writing by the Alliance for Artists and Writers and the New York Life Foundation, as one of the six teen artists and writers chosen across the US.

In 2023, as one of the Coca-Cola Scholars, Madhalasa Iyer was awarded a $20,000 college scholarship for her contributions to bring positive change in her community. She is currently pursuing neuroscience at Princeton University.

“I work on things that I am genuinely passionate about and this keeps me motivated,” Madhalasa tells Global Indian.

What does Team Motley do?

As an international initiative, Team Motley distributes books, stories, and artworks promoting acceptance, inclusion, and biodiversity to children and youth worldwide. These materials are created by teenagers who aim to share positive messages on these themes with children across the globe.

“We started by publishing our own children’s book, Motley, which discusses discrimination on a broader level, seeking to combat racism and bias in our society,” Madhalasa shares.

She and her team have successfully established Team Motley’s chapters in Texas and Washington State in the US, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Ismailia and Cairo in Egypt.

Talking about Motley’s other branch, environmental advocacy, Madhalasa remarks, “It was already a big part of my life considering I grew up watching my grandmother build our own greenhouse. I have participated in environmental advocacy since 2018 but added it to Team Motley in 2022.”

[caption id="attachment_36605" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cover image of Madhalasa Iyer's book Motley[/caption]

Supported by grants from nonprofits such as Discovery Education, American Service Alliance, the Hershey Foundation, USC Shoah, and the National Century Foundation, as well as through community fundraising, Team Motley now has more than 2,500 participants in five countries.

Emphasising on changing mindsets for making life of youngsters easier, Madhalasa remarks, “Children are often the most susceptible to society’s opinions and social influences. Therefore, building a community of acceptance will promote inclusion for future generations, regardless of their skin colour or ethnic background.”

For its impactful work, her Team Motley has received several awards and recognition from organisations such as the Plano ISD Diversity and Inclusion Board.

Madhalasa attributes the success of her initiatives to her team members at Team Motley.

Merging science with writing

Although Madhalasa is currently pursuing Neuroscience at Princeton, she is passionate about creative writing as well. She has attended the Iowa Young Writers Studio and the Sarah Lawrence Writing Camp (sponsored by the National Anthony Quinn Foundation with a merit-based scholarship). In these programmes, the budding writer got an opportunity to develop her writing skills by garnering tips and advice from the luminaries from the world of writing.

Merging her interest in science and her passion for writing, Madhalasa Iyer has published scientific work at IEEE, Journal of Student Research, Mentoring in Medicine Journal, and the Curieux Academic Journal.

[caption id="attachment_36611" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Madhalasa Iyer while receiving an award[/caption]

With the purpose of bringing the benefits of phytomedicine (herbal medicine with therapeutic and healing properties) to the fore; she is working on a manuscript on the subject. “It explores use of phytomedicine techniques in the ancient Chinese traditional medicinal practices, Vedic Indian scriptures, Native American treatments and mediaeval medicine practices,” she mentions.

An avid researcher, Madhalasa has presented her scientific research findings at esteemed platforms like the International SusTech Conference, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Southern California Undergraduate Conference (SCCUR), the Harvard Research Club at NYC, the Harvard Science Research Conference, and the Texas Science and Humanities Symposium. She has also given talks at TEDx and EarthX (world's largest green gathering held annually around Earth Day in Dallas, Texas).

ALSO READ | Sejal Akerkar: The Seattle poetess who donates her books’ royalties to the needy

Writing for change

For her work as an author, environmentalist and social justice advocate Madhalasa has been recognised by national organisations of the US like the Discovery Education, YoungArts, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Leyla Beban Author’s Foundation, Anthony Quinn Foundation, Century Foundation, University of Washington, New York Life Foundation, National Rifle Association (NRA), the Coca-Cola Foundation, and Elks Organization among others.

Her literary works (prose and poetry) have been published in journals like the Cathartic Literary Magazine, The Weight Journal, Scars Publications, Literary Yard, Poetry Nation, Plain View Magazine, Bluefire Magazine, amongst others.

The numerous awards and recognition that she received for writing, has motivated Madhalasa in using the power of the pen to cultivate change. “Each of us have the ability to use our words or work of art to illustrate positive messages and ideas to our community and we should use it” she mentions.

[caption id="attachment_36610" align="aligncenter" width="423"] Madhalasa Iyer after receiving one of her awards[/caption]

Stronger than Hate Challenge

In 2021 when Madhalasa was still in high school, she bagged first place and won a $6000 scholarship in the ‘Stronger Than Hate Challenge’. Created to inspire middle school and high school students, the annual competition is conducted for students aged 13 and up in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Since the event emphasises the role of social-emotional learning in empowering students to overcome hate, and encourages young people to use their voices to connect with the community, Madhalasa had got interested in participating.

Inspired by, Madhalasa had created the multimedia poem titled ‘Where Were You’ emphasising the significance of standing up for what’s right in order to stop history from repeating itself.

“If we can all speak out against discrimination, our war on division the holocaust survivor Tamara Branitsky is won and acts such as genocide and atrocities would only be present in the pages of history,” Madhalasa believes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n0s0fmVH-s

Rising above odds

Although the Texas-based youngster has written several literary pieces and scientific research papers, and given talks at platforms like EarthX and TEDx, her journey of developing into a confident communicator has not been a smooth ride.

She was born in California but spent the first eight years of her life in Nepal and India. As an eight-year-old with a strong Indian accent, when Madhalasa moved to the US, she was looked down upon for her cadence and tone. “During my early schooling years, I struggled at grammar and writing tests. It took me years of continual accent therapy to rebuild the confidence that I had lost,” Madhalasa shares. But a creative bent of mind, dedication towards self-improvement, and love for reading kept her going in her self-enhancement initiatives.

“A combination of determination and support from my parents, family, and friends enabled me to overcome my speech and writing challenges, ultimately paving a way for me to become an author and a speaker,” she remarks.

[caption id="attachment_36609" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Madhalasa Iyer with Scholastic Art and Writing Awards[/caption]

With the attitude and experience of rising above challenges, Madhalasa Iyer aspires to create a world ‘where equality isn’t a question and where people sow the seeds of environmental action for the betterment of the future generation’. “As a citizen of the world, I wish to be an active contributor towards these changes.” She signs off.

Follow Madhalasa Iyer on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

A ‘voter-gait’ to create true democracy: Lawyer-activist Chaitanya Prabhu raps for rights

(April 1, 2022) In 2018 while searching the internet for a new (coloured) voter id, Chaitanya Prabhu discovered that all the processes to register and upgrade were simple and swift. Yet, enquiring if his friends had their new and improved voter id, he was shocked to learn that many had not even registered to vote, and thus were unaware of the simple online process. It left him flabbergasted. Determined to help his friends get a voter id done, he started a movement. “What started as a small action slowly took the shape of the Mark Your Presence campaign. By word of mouth the information spread, and many people started approaching me for their voter ids,” says Chaitanya in a conversation with Global Indian. The campaign evolved as a result of what people wanted. The need came from the masses and his movement gained impetus. It became so impactful that the Mumbai-based 23-year-old advocate at the Bombay High Court was awarded the UN India Award and Diana Award 2021 for his humanitarian efforts. For the then law student starting such a campaign in 2018, has reaped great rewards. [caption id="attachment_13871" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Chaitanya Prabhu, lawyer-activist, founder of Mark Your Presence[/caption] Lighting

13871" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Chaitanya Prabhu, lawyer-activist, founder of Mark Your Presence[/caption]

Lighting up young minds

His dedication didn’t escape the notice of the chief electoral officer, state election commission of Maharashtra and chief electoral officer of Delhi. They offered full support to Chaitanya’s non-profit and non-partisan organisation. Currently doing a master’s in public policy at St Xavier’s College, Chaitanya gained an insight into how policies are framed. The lawyer-activist addresses his two awards as “extreme light in the darkness.” Since he began, he has mobilised more than 26,000 youngsters to take their first steps towards being responsible citizens of a democracy. Today, Mark Your Presence has 430 volunteers, and 25 core team members.

[embed]https://twitter.com/chaitanyavotes/status/1409537501304217600?s=20&t=HTxDyXwfQFVfwJHAl_-FIA[/embed]

“Mark your Presence also offers a leadership fellowship, where we train young people (between 16 and 22) to take part in strengthening the Indian democratic system, and turn every institution into a voter-friendly campus. Selected after diligent screening, they become part of our forum - a certificate and letter of recommendation from the election commission of Maharashtra,” says Chaitanya.

An activist soul

The lawyer-activist has visited top schools and colleges in Mumbai and Delhi for seminars and speeches to empower the youth to become politically aware voters, and choose representatives well – echoing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “I want to reduce the huge gap that lies between the young population and the people’s representatives so they make informed choices to make our country leap ahead with the right leadership,” says Chaitanya who is also a national level athlete.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOcjO7U7dZY

Winning mantra

An athlete, winning is ingrained in him, and so is perseverance. His sporty side played a large role in shaping this young activist. “I might be seen as a young person with full access to the election commission of Maharashtra but that has come after four years of slogging to prove my mettle,” smiles the young activist, adding, “Wading through bureaucracy hasn’t been easy.”

The founder of Mark Your Presence has represented Maharashtra in track and field events (400 meters) at nationals, and has won DSO national, open national and AISM national championships.

[caption id="attachment_13876" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Chaitanya with his grand-father[/caption]

Incidentally, Chaitanya’s grandfather, MH Prabhu, who passed away a couple of months ago at the age of 101, has been his biggest inspiration. “He was a freedom fighter. My passion to make people aware of democracy and be conscious about their rights comes from him. Having grown up in his presence, it was impossible to remain untouched by the values he stood for, that led him to fight for our Independence; playing a crucial role in the nation’s history. I learned about rights from him,” says the doting grandson.

The extra mile…

“After having helped thousands register, I have come to see that it’s not enough. It led me to start educating the youth about the basics of the Constitution and how they cannot ignore their duty,” Chaitanya explains. Though he is compelled to admit that there is much more to be done.

His Youth Manifesto movement stems from this believe - to ignite young minds and encourage collaboration among long-time youth advocates, environmentalists, activists and emerging leaders. “We want the voices of the young people to be heard by those who matter,” Chaitanya remarks. Rampant discussion on topics that matter, Chaitanya helps these ideas reach changemakers. The team has been working on the manifesto for the past six months and expects it to be ready by May. The movement gained further momentum when Navya Naveli Nanda, the entrepreneur granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan, and Malhar Kamble, founder of Beach Please joined Chaitanya.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by chaitanya prabhu (@chaitanya_prabhu)

His idea is that the youth manifesto reaches relevant ministries, BMC commissioner and CM of Maharashtra. From working on the ground, reaching slums, high-rises, he feels everyone wants their aspirations addressed, "We as voters are given manifestoes but not asked about ours. My idea is to involve youth in creating a list of expectations and putting it forward," he adds.

His larger aim is to increase the number of voter registrations, educate voters, and soar up the voter turnout. “I intend to keep scaling the initiatives,” says the idealist who inadvertently created micro-targeted campaigns like “art for right,” “rap for rights,” “speak for rights” and “she votes.” “Convincing is a difficult job, it requires patience but I never give up on this path of fighting unawareness,” Chaitanya signs off.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

For students, by students: Teen changemaker Aryan Maggo’s mission is to help young people discover their potential

(May 10, 2022) A 250-member team and 1,50,000 students impacted from around the world, all in under two years. The teen changemaker Aryan Maggo founded Optiverse in August 2020, when he was a tenth-grade student at Laxmi Public School, Delhi. Now, at 18, he's gearing up to write his twelfth-grade exams and carve out his own path as an entrepreneur, like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, his two big inspirations. Aryan won the Young Achievers' Award 2021 and was named a Harvard Innovation Fellow that same year. In the summer of 2022, he will participate in LaunchX, touted as the world's top acceleration programme for students, founded by alumni of the Harvard Business School. "My interests? Oh, photography, theatre, reading and writing, entrepreneurship, I have my own YouTube channel and have been doing theatre for the last few years." Aryan rattles of a long list of hobbies without pause. Evidently, he likes to explore new things, from "basketball to tennis, I have tried it all." His desire for discovery is constant, even if he doesn't always excel at everything he does. It's all part of the journey of self-awareness - in Aryan's mind, understanding the self is the most important part of all.

ab="" data-ogsc="" data-ogsb="">Aryan rattles of a long list of hobbies without pause. Evidently, he likes to explore new things, from "basketball to tennis, I have tried it all." His desire for discovery is constant, even if he doesn't always excel at everything he does. It's all part of the journey of self-awareness - in Aryan's mind, understanding the self is the most important part of all. It's also why he founded Optiverse, as a means to help students from all over the world find themselves and realise their potential.

A whiteboard stands behind him and Aryan often pauses during the conversation to make a note or two, handwritten into a book on the table beside him. "People ask me how I balance school and work and everything else. I always say, there is so much time and we waste it without realising we're doing so," he says, adding, "I have a bunch of books for different things."

How it began

Aryan had just finished his 10th grade exams and, "felt there was something missing in the students around me." The pandemic had just begun and Aryan found himself cut off from his old friends. "My peers were always talking about the things that got them down - terms like depression and anxiety were part of daily use." Pointing out that Optiverse does not in any way deal with mental health or psychological therapy, Aryan explains, "There was a lot of focus on the negative things in life. And I thought, why don't I do something to help?"

He also recalls a short composition by a junior in school, was asked to write a paragraph describing himself. The boy had written his name, his favourite food, his age and his favourite sports. "I thought, this kid probably has a good idea of who he is but he never shows it nor applies that potential. There's more to life than just academics, after all," he tells Global Indian.

This is where he returns to the Socratic idea of self-awareness. Optiverse is run by students, for students and provides mentees with a six-hour course, divided equally into six sessions. They are put through a set of activities, discussions and questionnaires, acquainted with life maps and design thinking, identity building, decision making and the other parameters "necessary for character development."

Finding recognition

A group of students not yet out of high school are bound to have a hard time proving themselves - a challenge Aryan and the Optiverse team have faced many times. "A lot of our work involves making organisational pitches to potential stakeholders," says the teen changemaker. They have networked with organisations, schools, colleges and NGOs around the world. This includes Lady Gaga's The Way Foundation and a George H.W. Bush Points of Lights Awards.

Recognition comes from all over the world not just because Aryan works with students in foreign countries. Instead, the idea that is the essence of Optiverse, has merit and application that far transcends conventional borders. "Run by students, for students, we give our mentees a better perspective of their skills, strengths and talents," Aryan explains. While most of their mentees are teenagers, they do meet the occasional thirty-something too. "It's about gaining insights positively," he remarks. Optimism and positivity are their core values - baked right into the organisation's name. "We believe it's the foundation of whatever you dream of achieving," he adds.

The system itself is completely free and an advantage, Aryan says, is that the mentor and mentee are almost the same age. "Usually, you have adults counselling children and there is a sense of a gap there. With Optiverse, that is not the case - students feel safe and are willing to open up to someone their own age," he proffers. The mentor and the mentee usually do the course together, too. "The students who have benefited from us promote our work," he explains.

Collaborations are the backbone of what Optiverse does, as is training young people to put the programme forth. Trainers are brought on board by Aryan, after a month-long selection process. "They do the course themselves during that time. By the end of it, they know what question to ask and when. They know how to respond to the questions that come their way," says the entrepreneur. Through this method, the team has grown to a strength of 250, compounding the number of those who have been impacted. "We don't keep track of how many mentees we have," Aryan explains, adding, "We make note of those who were happy with the programme."

Optiverse will always be part of his life. "I see so many students starting up organisations and closing them after school or college. I don't want to do that. 30 years from now, Optiverse will remain part of my secondary life, if not my primary life," adds the teen changemaker.

What the future holds

“The biography of Steve Jobs was the first big book I read," Aryan smiles. That happened soon after his tenth grade, around the time he started Optiverse. "He is a visionary." Then there's Elon Musk, the unpredictable billionaire who dabbles in everything from space to social media - a maverick quality that Aryan no doubt admires. "Entrepreneurship is where I see myself," the teen changemaker speaks with great conviction. "I see myself being part of many startups which also work on the UN Sustainable Development Goals."

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Finding recognition

This summer, he will head off to LaunchX to build a startup from scratch. "I have a 100 percent scholarship," adds the teen changemaker. During the programme, he will begin with a business pitch and have a business that's ready to launch by the end of the month-long programme. With mentorship from experts all through.

OptiverseX is his latest endeavour, an ambitious bid to bring 50 student organisations together around the same table, fighting for all SDGs under one proverbial roof. "Lots of people and businesses focus on one or more SDGs. Here, will be working with all at the same time," he concludes.

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Reading Time: 8 mins