Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusivePodcaster Siyona Vikram’s ‘Little Mind Chats’

Podcaster Siyona Vikram’s ‘Little Mind Chats’

Written by: Amrita Priya

(March 3, 2023) Whether it’s India’s former defence secretary, Ajay Kumar, Professor Gerardo Ceballos, Mexico’s ‘guardian of the jaguar’, oceanographer Hannah Whitby, entrepreneur Bhargav Sri Prakash who is known for the Digital Vaccine Project or Kargil war veterans Brigadiers Amardeep Singh and Sushil Bhasin, the list of guests on eleven-year-old podcaster Siyona Vikram’s show is impressive.

Starting in 2020 when she was just eight, Siyona has managed to reach out to people in over 1500 cities across 91 countries with her podcast – Little Mind Chats through 123 episodes so far. “My guests agree to come to my show because it’s a unique and fascinating experience for them to be interviewed by a child,” remarks the class six student of Jain Heritage School, Bengaluru.

Siyona Vikram

Since its launch, Little Mind Chats has garnered immense appreciation and accolades. It won the Golden Crane Podcast Award by Asian American Podcasters Association (AAPA), an organisation that recognises and increases visibility of Asian and Asian-American podcasters. The show also became a final slate nominee in 2021 for the most prestigious global award in podcasting – The Podcast Awards – founded by Todd Cochrane, the US-based CEO of a podcast media company that represents more than 105,000 podcasters.

Siyona became the youngest speaker at the world’s largest podcasting event – the Podcast Movement. Since then, there has been no looking back for the youngster, who has been invited to speak at various online international platforms.

The UK-born podcaster does not just spread knowledge through her guests but also makes an impact with her ‘Little WISE’ initiative, raising awareness about hazards of plastic toys on children’s health and their negative impact on the environment when discarded. “‘WISE’ stands for Warriors Inspiring Sustainable Earth,” Siyona tells Global Indian.

Turning heads

It’s not just about connecting to global audiences. Recently, Siyona won the hearts of villagers in rural Karnataka in an All India Radio interview in her mother tongue, Kannada. “Several people reached out to us praising Siyona’s initiatives,” says her mother Geetha. “Even The Guardian covered Siyona in its story of pre-teens from different parts of the world who are already veteran hosts,” she adds.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Siyona Vikram (@siyonaslittlemindchats)

Siyona’s Little Mind Chats, now in its seventh season, revolves around ‘finance for kids’. The previous six seasons covered vital topics like health, space, education, earth and environment, and the spirit of sports.

Though Little Mind Chats’ target audience is aged between five to 15, the podcaster often receives words of praise from even parents who say they enjoy her podcasts as much as their kids.

It all started when…

“When I was seven or eight, I discovered that something is amiss in our education system,” she says adding, “I was going to school like any other kid but simultaneously, due to my quest to learn new things, I would explore things outside the school syllabus like culture, bio diversity, climate, space, technology, inventions, and much more. I realised that there is need for some conversations tailored towards children to remove the disconnect between what is taught in school and what one learns outside of it. This is how Little Mind Chats came into picture.”

The podcaster was determined to edutain people. “There were some podcasts that were entertaining because they were narrating stories, while others focused on educating kids. I wanted to combine both.”

Pollution in our oceans has a Direct impact on climate change. Listen to @copperchemist, Hannah Whitby, an Oceanographer who closely studies how oceans are affected by human activity @livunioceansci

Listen here-》https://t.co/m1SJdRQMcI #climatechange #oceanpollution #podcast pic.twitter.com/NwUUMwUBS9

— LittleMindChats (@LittleMindChats) May 1, 2021

She brushed up her interviewing skills by first inviting friends on her show and gradually scaled up, getting lucky in hosting the most seasoned professionals from India and abroad. “There have been 21,000 downloads of my podcasts so far,” she reveals.

The numbers grew organically, even with minimal efforts at marketing the show. “I am a minor and minors are not supposed to be out there in the social media without adult supervision so my parents take care of whatever little promotions we do” Siyona says.

Finding support in her mother

Supporting Siyona every step of the way is her mother, Geetha. An engineer like her husband, Geetha now works with her daughter full-time, providing complete backend support. She has also supported Siyona’s Little WISE initiative, ‘say no to plastic’.

The mother-daughter duo approach schools to get students to join the club and also organise on-campus collection drives once a month. The collected plastic is sent to a Pollution Board approved recycler who recycles the plastics into agricultural pipes.

Siyona with her mother Geetha

More than 400 school children from Bengaluru are associated with the initiative. “We have gamified the entire system so that our eco warriors find the whole process interesting and are motivated to return,” shares Siyona, who plans to engage more children in the cause. “Our minds are little, but not our thoughts,” she signs off.

Tune in to Little Mind Chats’ Podcasts
Follow Siyona Vikram on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and her website

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 03, Mar 2023

Share with

ALSO READ

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."

Follow Ishaan Patel on Linkedin

Reading Time: 4 min

Decoding finance: How content creator Sharan Hegde is simplifying money matters for all

(February 23, 2024) When he first started making YouTube videos about managing one's finances and investing money, Sharan B Hegde's vision was to impart the knowledge he had gained over the years. Over the years, however, this 28-year-old established his name in the digital space by explaining new, complex terms such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the metaverse, the result being that he has 1.6 million followers on Instagram, 300k+ YouTube subscribers, and over 65k followers on LinkedIn. "I never realised that my videos would become so popular, I was working as a management consultant for PWC, and during the pandemic ended up having a lot of time on my hands and that's when I began making the content. I create engaging personal finance content with a blend of comedic flavour and cosplay on Instagram and YouTube. I also write down highly action-oriented posts on LinkedIn and Twitter for those who prefer to read it instead," said the content creator, who recently made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sharan Hegde (@financewithsharan) Not just a content creator, Sharan is also the founder of The 1% Club. "It

to read it instead," said the content creator, who recently made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sharan Hegde (@financewithsharan)

Not just a content creator, Sharan is also the founder of The 1% Club. "It is an exclusive members-only community to help people achieve financial independence and become the top one percent. I believe that financial independence is a superpower to never be controlled by money, and less than one percent of the people can achieve it in their lifetime. Even Kaun Banega Crorepati winners end up bankrupt. Clearly, there is a massive need for us to learn what our schools never taught us and my platform is the solution to this problem," the Global Indian expressed.

Starting young

Born in Mangaluru to a well-off family, Sharan's interest in personal finance and investment began from when he was just a little boy. "My mother taught me and my sister Shreya about the monthly budget of the family, and the opportunity cost of everything that was bought for the house. Whenever my dad would take me to a toy store, he used to say, ‘You can’t buy anything more than Rs 100'. They made me understand the value of money. Every time I asked for money, they made me think about whether I needed it," the content creator shared. In fact, for birthdays and special events, Sharan received money from his grandparents, but he never used it. By the time he turned 18, the total had grown to an impressive Rs 50,000. "Money has been a very big motivator for me since childhood to be the best version of myself,” he added.

A bright student, Sharan pursued a mechanical engineering degree from Bengaluru, and it was here that it first occurred to him that he should make a career in the finances. Shared the content creator, "I was a part of the academic club at my college, and I could manage the funds better than most of the lot. We actually saved a lot and were able to afford many equipment. Eventually, I was promoted to be the Chief Financial Officer of the club. Interestingly, managing the money and strategising how to invest or spend it wasn't really 'work' for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, I decided to pursue a career in that field." Thus, the content creator started his corporate career at KPMG India as a Management Consultant.

Focussing on finance

During the pandemic, Sharan discovered that even those who didn't lose their jobs were worried about maintaining their finances. And that gave him the thought to start his own channel to impart the knowledge he has acquired over the years. "It’s so important to learn about maintaining finances - and how to invest or spend it - it’s such an essential life skill. But when I researched, I found that the content available online back then was so dull that most people were not going to watch it. Schools are not teaching it, and people are not gonna learn about it even after they start working, and sometimes not even after that," the content creator said.

And thus in December 2020, he started making engaging YouTube videos on his channel, 'Finance with Sharan'. "Initially, I thought that a few hundred might watch it, but the reach and speed of the channel really surprised me. Eventually, I started making witty and enlightening Instagram reels and they took off almost immediately," he shared.

Currently focussed on his organization, Sharan aims to better other people's lives by spreading financial knowledge. "My mission to spread financial literacy and make it fun for others saw growth in leaps and bounds. Over the last three years, I have realised that there is a need to make finance simple and effective, and that is exactly what I am here to do," said the content creator, adding, "There are so many people who are better than you, the world is a tough place and sometimes even if you put all your hard work into it, you might still not come first and that is difficult to accept."

Follow Sharan Hegde on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube

Reading Time: 5 mins

Indian teen racing champ Atharva eyes Formula 3

Atharva Desai was eight-years-old when he watched his first Formula 1 race on TV, at his Virginia home. He was enchanted. He ran and pressed his face up against the screen. Today, at 19, the US-born Indian-origin racer is testing for Formula 3 in the UK with Arden Motorsports Team, Banbury. Now the Indian teen racing champ’s sights are set on a Formula 1 seat, and hopefully even a world championship. In early February, Atharva and a small group of drivers headed out to the Young Racing Drivers’ Academy racetrack at the Anglesey Circuit to test Arden Motorsports’ F3 cars – all whetted through a series of simulation rounds. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day - the track lay wet and glistening - hardly ideal for a racer. “I had never spent an entire day driving in the rain,” he recalls, in an exclusive interview with Global Indian. “But I kept it under control. I kept it fast and it went well,” said the Indian teen racing champ. A chance to sign on as an F3 driver and make headway to the coveted Formula 1, Desai is hopeful. [caption id="attachment_11211" align="aligncenter" width="875"] Atharva Desai at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales[/caption]

e to sign on as an F3 driver and make headway to the coveted Formula 1, Desai is hopeful.

[caption id="attachment_11211" align="aligncenter" width="875"] Atharva Desai at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales[/caption]

A Brit Indian with a need for speed

Atharva entered racing before he hit his teens. A cutthroat world that required emotional stability far beyond his years, just as much as talent and skill, he says, “Attitude and confidence are important. You never know who is watching you. While talent is the first thing scouts look for, the second round involves testing a person’s confidence and approach to life. They want someone who can endorse them, who will bring their team a good name.”

Soon after he watched that first race on TV, his obliging parents took the excited eight-year-old to a go-karting track called the Allsports Grand Prix in Northern Virginia. He failed to meet the height requirements but was back the following year, determined to practice on his own. He was noticed by the track owner, Francois, who remarked to Atharva’s father that the boy “drives like a young Sir Jackie Stewart” and began teaching him the fundamentals of racing.

“I was 10 when I entered my first junior league,” says the Indian teen racing champ. A rookie, going up against opponents far more experienced than himself, he went on to win the championship, levelling up, and emerging victorious the next year too. “There was the last level left to compete at but my teacher stopped me. He thought I would beat everyone. My adult opponents wouldn’t have been happy about that,” he smiles.

After finishing second at the ROTAX National Race, Atharva was invited to test Formula 4 cars. And he impressed all. “I got blazing times. It got me noticed,” says the Indian teen racing champ who, in search of a good school to study engineering, chose Oxford Brookes College in the UK due to its motorsports curriculum.

At the Young Racing Driver Academy in Virginia, he met Jamie Horner, director, an established name, Horner’s brother, Christian, the British team principal for team Redbull Formula 1. “I became a developing driver to improve my skills, and hopefully race for them in the future,” says the 19-year-old. At the academy in Anglesey, drivers were put on simulators, chosen based on skills and timing. Atharva found out soon enough that F4 cars in the UK are quite different from those in the US. “The American cars are digital, less rigid. They’re not meant for aggressive racing. In the UK, they’re built for aggressive drivers – which is what I am,” says the Indian teen racing champ who re-honed his skills, leaving his mentors impressed.

How Nikki Lauda inspired him

Committed and driven, Atharva is up before 6 am, starting with an hour at the gym. Back home, he cooks breakfast, and heads to class. Unwavering discipline, born of mental fortitude, he explains, “I don’t get angry often. Motorsports, especially, the earlier phases are competitive and full of aggression. You’re getting attacked both on and off the track. So, you learn. If someone provokes me, I think, my goal is to be in F1. My goal is not to meddle with the guy.”

Even his choice of idols is unusual – Nikki Lauda, the legendary Austrian Formula One and three-time F1 World Drivers’ Champion, the only driver in history to be champion for both Ferrari and McLaren. In 1976, Lauda’s Ferrari swerved off the track and burst into flames. “He was pulled out of the car with half his face on fire. He didn’t give up, with dedication and mental strength, he made it through. Nothing could stand in his way,” says the Indian teen racing champ.

All about motorsport

Doing engineering in motorsport technology at Oxford, Atharva is uncommonly mature. “I was raised with Indian values. I understand that a little competition can go a long way,” he adds.

This year, he hopes to join a Formula 3 team in the US. “I have built good relationships there, and they are willing to give me an F3 seat,” says the racer whose connection with Arden Motorsports will continue alongside. “Next year, I start negotiating with Formula 2 teams. I also have to work at getting sponsors to back me,” says the Indian teen racing champ.

The chequered flag beckons

Much of his success, the Indian teen racing champ attributes to his unwavering resolve. “Attitude, confidence and general likeability all count for a lot. Being a race driver requires huge mental fortitude,” says the boy whose daily regimen involves mental training, “I do reaction time testing and I juggle - for balance and skill.”

Racing is an expensive sport, and staying on the track is thanks to the unflinching support by his parents. “I'm motivated by the fact they trust me and know I'm working hard,” says Atharva. He practices on iRacing, a simulation software. “There are actual drivers and scouts on it, so I practice and register for races,” says the teen, who loves to skateboard or decipher the Rubic's Cubes. Music is also a pet passion, “When I have time to spare, I make electronic music on my laptop,” he adds. The Indian teen racing champ’s 3,420 followers on Instagram are fondly called A4Rians, and he regularly updates them on race day highs.

As Youth Ambassador for Quench 66 by AquaKraft Pvt. Ltd, an initiative by the government of Maharashtra, he is also moving forward the mission to provide 50 million litres of drinking water across 500 schools in the state.

Follow Atharva on Instagram or visit his website, https://www.atharva4racing.com/

Reading Time: 6 min

Bollywood to Broadway: Actress Mahnaz Damania’s journey to ‘Life of Pi’

(May 9, 2023) The world of Broadway is experiencing an ingenious work of art at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York. The Broadway house is currently home to a mesmerizing adaptation of Yann Martel's Booker Prize-winning novel, Life of Pi. Directed by Max Webster and adapted by playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, the stage comes alive with various lighting, video, sound, and set elements that shift and transform throughout the performance, creating a magical world that captivates the audience. And in the middle of the ocean, with a diverse cast of 24 actors and puppeteers, is an Indian actress, Mahnaz Damania who has impressed audiences from the production's first show. The Indian stage actress has come a long way since her beginnings in the world of theater. "Sometimes I wonder to myself when we’re at the theatre, ‘Man! How did I get here?!’ And when I look back at a decade of my work I realise I’ve been so fortunate in India too to train under Faezeh Jalali working on her productions — 07/07/07 and Shikhandi – The Story of the In-Betweens — and with Rajit Kapur (Rage Productions). I feel ready as an actress because of these chances that I’m

How did I get here?!’ And when I look back at a decade of my work I realise I’ve been so fortunate in India too to train under Faezeh Jalali working on her productions — 07/07/07 and Shikhandi – The Story of the In-Betweens — and with Rajit Kapur (Rage Productions). I feel ready as an actress because of these chances that I’m very grateful for," the Global Indian said in an interview. With an unwavering passion for her craft, the actress continues to break boundaries and captivate audiences, solidifying her place as a rising star in the theater world.

The world's a stage

Currently based out of New York City, Mahnaz was born in Ahmedabad into a Parsi family. Always wanting to be an actress since a young age, she was an active part of her school and college drama societies. The actress completed her Master's in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, and soon landed a job as a flight attendant with Jet Airways. However, her dream of being on stage and performing a part never left her bedside.

Eventually, the actress left her job and left for New York, to do an acting course at Stella Adler Studio of Acting. And it was here that a chance meeting with Indian actor, Irrfan Khan affirmed her belief in her dreams. "I bumped into Irrfan Khan outside my acting school in NY years ago in 2010 or 2011, and I was thrilled! I exclaimed, “Oh My God It’s You!” And he goes, “Yes it is!” I told him that this is the building I study in and he’s like ‘Oh, this is where the Stella Adler acting studio is.’ And then (I don’t know why) but I asked “can I hug you?” And he said, “of course!” We continued to talk about the pros and cons of studying outside of India for the craft and then we said bye. I’ve always loved his work and wanted to work with him. Being a part of this play is the closest I’ve come so far in my career to being associated with his splendor. This is a very cherished experience for me," the actress shared. After returning to India, the actress took part as a contestant in the TV reality show Kingfisher Supermodel 2, and was later seen playing a lead part in Dharma Production's Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania.

[caption id="attachment_29881" align="aligncenter" width="632"] Mahnaz getting ready for the show Shikhandi – The Story of the In-Betweens[/caption]

However, a turning point in her journey came in 2022, when her manager approached her with an interesting role in New York. While she didn't get the part she was aiming for, she landed an opportunity of a lifetime. "My manager Sana Hanible submitted my tapes for the casting call for the part of Rani, Pi’s sister in the play but originally written as his brother in the book. On the day of the call back, the director Max Webster, playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, and casting director Duncan Stewart were in," the actress said, adding, "After my audition for Rani, I was about to leave, but they called me back into the room to read for the character of Mrs. BK who plays a family friend and teacher. There was a second call back after this one and about a month or so later I got the offer letter to be in the ensemble and understudy the two characters. I was over the moon. Of course, actors mostly want to book the principal part they test for but being an understudy comes with its levels of responsibilities and challenges."

An unforgettable journey on stage

Describing her time with The American Repertory Theatre as a "great learning experience", Mahnaz shared that she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn puppeteering from experts like Fred Davis and Scarlet Wilderink under the guidance of puppetry and movement director Finn Caldwell, which was essential for her role in the Broadway production.

[caption id="attachment_29883" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Mahnaz on the set Life of Pi[/caption]

"It’s been such a great learning experience for me since this is my first regional theatre stint with The American Repertory Theatre which is, oh my god, a great way to start my stage career in the US," the actress said, adding, "I also have the opportunity with this play to learn puppeteering from the likes of Fred Davis and Scarlet Wilderink under the expert puppetry and movement direction from Finn Caldwell."

But that is not all. The actress also voiced that being a part of this South Asian cast ensemble on the set, has put a huge responsibility on her shoulders. "This story tells such a fantastic tale of survival and resilience of the human spirit, how far we can come with what we tell ourselves to cope – to get through hardship in our lives. Having so many South Asians in the cast is a testament to this survival in a way. Being in the room with so many faces that I identify with, that know what language I’m speaking, that know the struggle of living as an immigrant and more so finding a stage and story that takes you into that world," the actress expressed.

[caption id="attachment_29884" align="aligncenter" width="634"] Mahnaz with the cast of Life of Pi[/caption]

"Sometimes, I’d look around the rehearsal space and I couldn’t believe I was actually there with so many talented people that were all experiencing the same strange but familiar feeling. I’m so proud to be a part of this unraveling of sorts of the narrative we’ve been fed all our lives (be it stage or TV) and changing it to look like the actual world we live in. The wardrobe department also extended a consulting role for me on the play which I am so happy to be assisting with," said the actress, who is skimming through scripts for her next project.

Follow Mahnaz Damania Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Reading Time: 6 mins

Anya Gupta: Protecting penguins and battling e-waste in Florida

(October 13, 2023) In 2022, Boca Raton, a city in Southern Palm Beach Country, Florida, announced that October 14 would be E-Waste Day. It was a triumph for Anya Gupta, the pre-teen environment advocate, and her efforts to protect the planet by addressing the elephant in the room – e-waste. Mayor Scott Singer passed the proclamation, helping Anya spread awareness about the harm caused by electronic waste on the environment. Anya has gathered over 1,000 pounds of electronic waste through her e-waste collection drives, ensuring that the e-waste generated by Boca Raton’s 100,000 inhabitants is reused or recycled, rather than ending up in a landfill. At just 12 years of age, Anya Gupta is creating a significant impact as a passionate champion with a mission to safeguard the environment. Her cause has inspired other cities in Florida, like Stuart and Miami Beach, which have also declared October 14 as Electronic Waste Recycling Day. “I realised that while pollution and plastic hazards are commonly discussed, the environmental threats from electronic waste aren’t. I want to add momentum in addressing the issue,” Anya remarked. [caption id="attachment_33525" align="aligncenter" width="442"] Anya Gupta[/caption] E-waste is not the only cause that Anya is concerned about. The

er" width="442"] Anya Gupta[/caption]

E-waste is not the only cause that Anya is concerned about. The young environmentalist is the founder of the non-profit ‘Pennies for Penguins' which she started with the purpose of ocean wildlife protection when she was barely five. This year, the author of three books has founded GLCS Youth Leadership Council and has been doing tremendous work for environmental conservation, earning awards and accolades along the way. One significant award that she earned in 2023 is the Everyday Young Hero Award by Youth Service America for her committment to finding her voice, taking an action and creating an impact in her community.

Pennies for Penguins

Anya’s town Boca Raton is famously centred around luxury beach culture. When Anya was just four, she developed an interest in ocean studies and learned about the environmental threats to her favourite animals – penguins, and started a non-profit to protect them. Her non-profit has successfully spearheaded the 'Cup Revolution' campaign, which is dedicated to combating plastic straw waste and has effectively engaged young people on a global scale.

Anya has been frequently organising community clean-up events in her nearby beaches and neighbourhoods. She inspires children of all age groups to take a similar initiative in their respective communities. “Cleaning up our planet is a collective global endeavour,” she believes.

[caption id="attachment_33521" align="aligncenter" width="569"] Anya Gupta, few years back[/caption]

Leveraging the power of youth

Anya collaborated with the Gumbo Limbo Nature Centre in Florida to establish a youth council with the aim of empowering local children to engage in conversations about the environmental issues that are important to them, and to coordinate events that raise awareness about these matters. As the founder and president she makes all efforts to leverage the power of youth volunteers to achieve the council’s goals.

Since its inception this year the youth council has done impactful work leading to praise by many including John Holloway, the president of Coastal Stewards who remarked that the solutions of the future are rooted in the experiences and values held by young individuals like Anya and her team.

Love for words and causes

So deep is her interest in the cause of ocean conservation that the eight grader has authored three children's books on the topic. The narrative of her latest book revolves around a penguin family experiencing the consequences of toxic runoff from electronic waste contaminating the fish they rely on for food. This story serves as a lesson for children to learn about interconnectedness of living beings and the significance of responsible waste disposal.

The youngster, who is passionate about penguins, climate change and human impact, works tirelessly to find resolutions to conflicts between modern lifestyles of humans and the conducive environment required by ocean animals.

[caption id="attachment_33523" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Cover image of Anya's latest book[/caption]

“When we throw away used electronic products, it ends up in the landfills and then when it rains, toxic chemicals from the e-waste find their way to our oceans and seep into the water. I work to ensure that all our e-waste ends up in the right place and not in the landfills,” she remarked.

Awards and accolades

This year the president of Youth Service America recognised Anya as the ‘Youth Service America Everyday Young Hero’ for her commitment to take action and make an impact in the community.

Anya also achieved recognition in the 2023 Regional Science Fair, earning two special awards and one placement award for her project, which delved into the effects of electronic waste on the survival rates of Daphnia magna, a commonly studied zooplankton species.

She secured second place in the Environmental Sciences Category overall and garnered an Honourable Mention for the Pollution Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County award.

Anya was also selected as one of the top 300 Junior Innovators, and was one of the only seven representatives from Florida for her project submission in the 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge organised by the Society for Science.

In the National Toshiba NTSA Exploravision Science Competition 2021, Anya was selected as one of the 24 regional winners for problem solving through STEM. She went on to secure second position in the national round winning a $5,000 scholarship for her college education, a chrome book and a banner for her school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOAhpd3N7PU

As part of the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS) grant recipient the young ocean steward was provided assistance with tools and resources to fund her own conservation project within her community.

In 2020, the young environmentalist won the Youth Environmental Excellence Award by SeaWorld & Busch Gardens in recognition of her environmental conservation work. As part of the award Anya had got the opportunity to spend an entire weekend exploring the behind-the-scenes experience, hosted by SeaWorld's conservation team. “The best part of it was that they had even arranged a penguin for me to pet,” she remarked.

The youngster loves reading, dancing, singing, music, and cooking. But what’s most important to her is her passion for advocating for the environment and ocean wildlife that are in need of persistent safeguarding.

Follow Anya Gupta on Facebook and YouTube
To know more about Anya's initiatives visit Pennies for Penguin's website

Reading Time: 5 mins