Sridevi Krothapalli: Indian-American teen brings joy to hospital kids through art magazine
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(August 11, 2023) Kahani, which translates to storytelling, has found its place in hospitals in Chicago and other parts of the US. A digital arts and literary magazine that’s distributed to children’s hospitals for kindergarten to middle-school-age patients is the brainchild of Sridevi Krothapalli who turned her passion for art into a project. Growing up, she was drawn to watercolours and would end up making art that comforted her. Over the years, her interest expanded into the realm of digital art and drawing, and in 2020, she turned his love into a student-led nonprofit Kahani. Three years into it, the 17-year-old made it to Teen Vogue’s annual 21 Under 21 list of changemakers, influencers, activists, and artists who are making an impact.
Sridevi Krothapalli
“My mission with Kahani includes helping distribute art and literary magazines for kids in hospitals across the USA to inspire creativity,” she said in an interview. The 17-year-old senior at Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA), who aspires to make a career in advocacy and healthcare, has always been keen to give back to the community and “help make an impact.”
The digital magazine with its vibrant artwork, engaging stories, and playful poems, aims to ignite creativity among children during their hospital stay.
“So, they can experience outside of the hospital that gives them the opportunity to engage with this art because that’s what it’s all about. Getting children to play their own role and honestly interpret it anywhere they are,” she added. For this Indian American teen, who originally hails from Telangana, kindness, and love have served as guiding influences, encouraging her to speak from the heart and inspire positive transformation.
In these years, Kahani has been distributed in hospitals across the US including Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, and Children’s of Mississippi in Jackson. The staff and parents permit patients to access the magazine through tablets, digital devices, as well as in-house closed-circuit televisions, and websites. The influence of Kahani at Riley Hospital for Children was recently highlighted by an Indiana CBS affiliate station. A hospital spokesperson remarked that the magazine serves as a wonderful illustration of children receiving support from individuals who may be strangers to them. Such literary and artistic content helps create an opportunity for normalisation in the hospital.
Published twice a year, the magazine consists of 20 pages that encompass a diverse array of artistic expressions including poetry, short stories, paintings, and photography. Accompanying the artwork are descriptive captions, and within each edition, there are thought-provoking journaling prompts. “We try to make it as artistically compelling as possible — the most fun things that we can think of and mostly interesting things that you’d see in a nature book. But instead, it’s made by students not so far away,” she told Chicago Tribune.
Witnessing many individuals in her family and community facing illnesses that required them to visit nearby children’s hospitals prompted her to develop a form of creative arts therapy and an initiative tailored to their benefit. Recognising the scarcity of resources crafted by students specifically for this hospital-bound population, she aimed to establish a student-driven endeavour — a collective effort where all the donated creations are the result of students’ artistic endeavours.
The teenager, who is an active member of IMSA’s arts and literary magazine, Heliotrope, produces Kahani with the help of half a dozen people that include her family, friends, and IMSA students. She serves as a designer, artist, and writer, and also oversees outreach and promotion.
Along with her passion for art, she is a physics pro who wants to make scientific discoveries that would make a difference in the world. Moreover, she was selected to attend the Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics. “By applying coding skills to physics-based projects in environmental engineering and tutoring other students in physics-oriented topics in my community, I realized my ambition to break the gender gap in the field of physics and mathematics,” she told Teen Vogue.
When she is not studying algorithms or working on Kahani, Sridevi loves playing tennis or indulges in filmmaking. Moreover, she holds the position of Regional Board President for the nonprofit organization International Youth Tobacco Control in Illinois wherein she coordinates educational events, establishes connections with fellow tobacco control organisations in the state, and designs informative infographics and digital posters addressing tobacco usage for school districts across the region. “Everything that I do falls under the umbrella of what I’m interested in — the umbrella of public health crises that affect kids’ well-being.”
(November 4, 2023) In 2019, as a part of a college project, Sanya Sharma came across several articles and studies about issues like forced marriages, honour killing, and female genital cutting. After several sleepless nights and researching extensively about these issues, the young activist decided to do something about it. "I wanted to raise awareness– I spoke to my father about starting a global youth-led organisation to do this. He said, 'Be the change you wish to see', she said in an interview, adding, "With his words, I founded 'Scarlet Udaan' and got on board eight other students from across the globe to work towards ending FGC." Established in July 2020, Sanya's international youth organisation strives to promote awareness about female genital mutilation (FGC). With team members from various parts of world - including India, the UK, Indonesia, the US, and Canada - the activist wishes to bring awareness on female genital mutilation and the impact it has on the lives of females belonging to different communities all around the world. "It is estimated by the World Health Organisation that 200 million females around the world have undergone FGM. In the organisation's name, 'Scarlet' stands for the strength of womanhood,
ent communities all around the world. "It is estimated by the World Health Organisation that 200 million females around the world have undergone FGM. In the organisation's name, 'Scarlet' stands for the strength of womanhood, and 'Udaan' is a Hindi word that means 'to soar' or 'to fly'. It symbolises freedom and the limitless possibilities that exist for an individual," said the 21-year-old activist, who recently won the prestigious Diana Award for her humanitarian efforts.
Digital activism
A student of Delhi Public School, Hyderabad, Sanya wasn't just a meticulous student, but she also volunteered for various causes and organisation growing up - including the National Service Scheme and Reap Benefit. After finishing her school education, the young activist got enrolled at Durham University in the United Kingdom to pursue a bachelor's of law. It was here that she first was introduced to the issue of female genital mutilation.
"In my first year at university, I was part of a project that worked on women’s issues," the activist said, "This was the first time I heard about FGC and it was baffling. I had no idea what it was. I started having conversations with friends and family members about this and they had no idea either. Everyone was like ‘What is FGC?’ This just proved to me how inaccessible that information was. FGC is a major global concern. It affects 200 million people. Academia, governments, and international organisations that address the issue do not provide enough nuance, they’re disconnected. They’re also gatekept. They use language that people do not understand, so crucial information gets lost in jargon."
And that’s where Scarlet Udaan stemmed from. While she knew she had to do something about the issue, the activist was still figuring out a way to spread the message. Speeches, meetings, and posters would have only gotten her so far, so she turned to the digital space to talk about the issue. "The digital space is accessible and really expands the possibilities of what creating change could look like. It lets us create a safe space for people having such conversations, ones that may be considered taboo, or that people do not know much about. Our team members are from eight different countries around the world. We were able to come together and work together for a common cause, which might not have been possible offline. We also have regional expertise. This creates very nuanced views of culture and tradition and the complexity of the issues we focus on. The online space has opened up a whole new realm of having access to other organizations and youth activists with similar goals," the activist said.
Miles to go before she sleeps...
Using various social media to promote our cause, including videos and podcasts, the Global Indian has been able to reach out to a broad audience. "We have different tools at our disposal to create change, which allows us to make the information accessible to more people. We have social media posts for a quick introduction to the office, a podcast for a deep dive, detailed Zoom sessions, and live streams for more targeted information. It lets us organise creative ways to make change and have an impact," she said.
The activist plans to take a few of the organisation's activities offline very soon. "As a young person, getting to work with so many other young people and survivors across the world is great. But we’re all also people on the frontlines, both online and offline. Having both brings a community together and we can push for change across the world. Especially during the pandemic, when other channels are closed off," she explained.
Currently pursuing a master's at the Duke University School of Law in the USA, Sanya is on her way to building an organisation that can be a platform for young advocates like her to voice and spread awareness about various issues across the globe. "This will not only allow for different regional and local perspectives to be expressed but create a safe space for people to have conversations about topics that are underreported," the activist expressed.
(March 31, 2022) The last few days have seen GATE 2022 topper T Mani Sandeep Reddy receive a flurry of phone calls and congratulatory messages. Among them, he was pleasantly surprised to discover, was Telangana minister E Dayakara Rao. Meanwhile, the soft-spoken engineering student from NIT-Warangal is perplexed by the adulation. His achievement - topping the chemical engineering section, is tremendous. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the country's most competitive exams, deciding admissions to various IITs and to the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. "I am satisfied with my performance. Is it a great achievement? I don’t know. But I did not expect this kind of response. I feel people are blowing it out of proportion," smiles the 22-year-old, whose gentle demeanour and simplicity are hard to miss. [caption id="attachment_22309" align="aligncenter" width="536"] The GATE 2022 topper outside his alma mater, NIT-Warangal[/caption] Mission: Stay focussed In an exclusive chat with Global Indian from his hostel at NIT, Sandeep says that it was general preparation that helped him secure the first rank. Unlike scores of students across the country, he didn't head to the array of coaching centres. Instead, the GATE 2022 topper decided to
thGlobal Indianfrom his hostel at NIT, Sandeep says that it was general preparation that helped him secure the first rank. Unlike scores of students across the country, he didn't head to the array of coaching centres. Instead, the GATE 2022 topper decided to keep it simple, preparing on his own at home. “I started preparing for GATE about six months ago. The plan was simple – dedicate three to four hours every day to all the subjects with complete concentration," says the chemical engineering student. Staying focussed in his classes helped him cope with the syllabus.
Incidentally, most students opt for formal coaching ahead of the exams, but Sandeep chose to arm himself with his professors’ lessons, a few guides, and determination. This year’s GATE results were declared by the Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur on March 17. The exams decide admissions into the Masters programmes at various IITs and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, as well as for recruitment by some public sector companies.
"I was expecting a rank below 50 and the paper was tough this year," he says when asked whether he’d had any inkling that he would secure the first rank. This year, over nine lakh students had applied for GATE 2022, of which a little over seven lakh appeared for the exams in early February. Sandeep emerged as the GATE topper 2022, securing the AIR Rank 1 in the chemical engineering stream.
Mr. T Mani Sandeep Reddy, final year BTech Chemical student secured AIR 1 in GATE 2022. pic.twitter.com/uGZBMab3VJ
This is Sandeep’s second attempt at GATE. He’d taken the exam in 2021 too when he ranked 229. "That (rank) was good enough and I wrote the exams just to gain some experience," he says. In hope of pushing his limits even more, he decided to retake the exam.
"I had a solid conceptual understanding of my subjects," says Sandeep, adding, "Paying attention in class helped me a great deal." His professors, who guided him throughout, were very happy with his performance. When the GATE 2022 results were declared, he was congratulated by NIT director NV Ramana Rao, chemical engineering HOD Dr Srinath and professor Shireesh Sonewane.
Humble beginnings
Born in a tiny hamlet in Vedurupaka village in Andhra Pradhesh’s East Godavari district, Sandeep attended a local school for four years before his family moved to Hyderabad. There, he studied at Johnson Grammar School, Nacharam. "I was always interested in physics and chemistry applications. Luckily, I got a good score in JEE (mains) and got into NIT Warangal," says Sandeep, whose father, T Rama Gopala Reddy is an electrical engineer. His mother Iswarya Bhagya Laxmi is a homemaker while Sandeep's younger brother Varun Kumar Reddy is in class 12.
[caption id="attachment_22306" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Sandeep with his family[/caption]
The youngster considers his father as his idol. "He comes from a family of farmers and has faced innumerable challenges. My father used to work in the fields and still make the time to study. He completed his degree and then engineering through his efforts and determination. He knows the value of education," smiles Sandeep, who says that coming from a humble background is what has helped him as well. Needless to say, his parents were thrilled with the news.
Sandeep wants to work in a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) to gain experience. Then, he will decide whether he wants to continue with it or switch to a private company. The final-year engineering student has already received an offer from GAIL through campus placements. With his recent achievement, more offers are likely to come his way.
From badminton to numismatics
[caption id="attachment_22305" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Sandeep is passionate about numismatics and has over 700 old coins[/caption]
Believing in striking a balance, Sandeep is not just about academics all the way. "I like to unwind over a game of badminton and also play online games. But my major hobby is numismatics," he informs. Collecting old coins from India and abroad has been a hobby since he was in school. "I like the old Indian coins, especially the commemorative ones. I have about 700 coins in my collection," says the young lad, who is also part of his college’s chemical engineering association.
(May 31, 2023) Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) conducts Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) within Japan as well as in select countries outside the country to evaluate and certify language proficiency for non-native speakers. Brajraj, a native of Bodh Gaya in Bihar, with no exposure to the language and lack of training facilities in the small town was able to clear the foundation level of JLPT assessment. He attributes his success to Puraskaar’s initiative - to make knowledge accessible free of cost in far flung areas. Just like him, Pammy too tasted success. She was able to crack the JNU entrance test crediting her feat to Puraskaar. Like Brajraj and Pammy, there are 1500 learners across India who are registered with the NCR based non-profit which is helping them fulfill their life goals. "I can proudly say that the volunteers, who devote their time to Puraskaar’s initiatives helping learners in diverse subjects, are the reason behind the non-profit’s exponential growth,” remarks its founder Gautam Kumar in an interview with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_30586" align="aligncenter" width="758"] Gautam Kumar, founder, Puraskaar[/caption] The 150 volunteers, who teach at Puraskaar, are students of top Indian academic institutions including the IIMs, DU,
The 150 volunteers, who teach at Puraskaar, are students of top Indian academic institutions including the IIMs, DU, JNU, Amity, and Punjab University as well as senior professionals working in MNCs and also homemakers wanting to do their bit for the society. Together they impart education in close to 25 subjects which are both academic as well as non-academic in nature.
How is Puraskaar helping
Puraskaar provides free coaching facilities in a wide array of subjects starting with science and math to painting, yoga, dance, music and more. Regular interactive sessions and group discussions, career counseling, motivational webinars, quizzes and personality development sessions are also organised.
Since Gautam holds a five-year integrated degree from JNU in Japanese, he takes care of the foreign languages department of the non-profit. “Today we are imparting training in seven languages - Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Korean and English,” he says.
“I believe that learning a foreign language makes students more confident in life. Learners from financially-weaker sections especially love the concept because they cannot afford learning such languages like students studying in private schools.”
Though the main focus is on providing support to the underprivileged, in the peer learning model of Puraskaar anyone who wants to be associated with the non-profit is welcomed. "Learners of Puraskaar are as young as primary school kids to as old as fifty-year-olds," reveals Gautam. While 80 volunteers teach academic subjects, 70 are engaged in imparting knowledge in non-academic subjects.
[caption id="attachment_30587" align="aligncenter" width="1166"] Gautam celebrating his birthday with underprivileged children at DLF mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi[/caption]
The classes are held mostly in the evenings and the volunteers are more like mentors. “They teach just like any ‘bhaiya’ or a ‘didi’ would teach in a home environment.” Though the classes are largely conducted online, offline classes have been started in some places in Delhi and Patna’s slum areas. “The volunteers of Puraskaar are a wonderful set of people who use novel techniques to keep learners’ interests intact. Perhaps this is the reason why an initiative that was taken during the pandemic is still in momentum,” says the founder for whom Puraskaar is a 'dream project'.
The non-profit also dedicates a campaign every month to topics like women and hygiene to spread awareness in society on vital issues.
How did it start…
After passing out of JNU, Gautam worked in one of the corporate houses as a translator and then switched to teaching optional Japanese language courses in institutions like Amity University Gurgaon and Manav Rachna University. When the pandemic struck, seeing him teach online, his maid requested him to teach her kids as well.
One of her children was in class nine while the other studied in class eleven. Her request gave Gautam an impetus to turn online teaching into a social work project, involving his students. Together they decided to teach a group of underprivileged children instead of just the maid’s kids.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kho6XCeyi9U
Over the course of time, LinkedIn and WhatsApp played a crucial role in spreading awareness about their initiative, attracting both learners and volunteer teachers. Later, Gautam and his team formally registered Puraskaar as a non-profit organisation.
“The designation of the ‘founder’ is just for the namesake. My core team members who have been there with Puraskaar since the beginning have played an equal role in making the initiative reach where it is today,” remarks Gautam who received Indian Achievers' Forum's Shiksha Bharthi Award for the year 2021-2022. “Starting with a handful of students and four volunteers the exponential growth in the number of learners and volunteers is all thanks to them,” he adds. “It’s a collaborative effort.”
Love for Japanese
Growing up in Bihar, Gautam was fascinated by the story of a cousin’s friend who had studied Japanese and was earning well after completing his studies. Inspired, he too dreamt of studying Japanese to afford a comfortable life. After passing out of school, much to his happiness, he was able to crack JNU’s entrance exam for a five-year integrated course.
Gautam still considers himself a learner who is picking up nuances of Japanese culture through its language. “It’s a lifelong process,” tells the Puraskaar founder who is nurturing his next dream - to present Puraskaar’s initiatives at the august platform of UNESCO someday. As far as earning a living is concerned, Gautam is now into interpretation and consultancy.
(July 23, 2023) When the wheels of the world came to a screeching halt in 2020, people saw themselves adapt to changes that the pandemic brought with itself. Amid the uncertainty and fear, a family in Bengaluru found that their 9-year-old son Surya has Type 1 diabetes. The news left his 12-year-old sister Divaa Uthkarsha shell shocked. "I had no idea what Type 1 diabetes was. My first reaction was he is just a child, how can he get Type 1 diabetes? I was shocked at my brother's diagnosis and my lack of awareness on the chronic condition," Divaa tells Global Indian. It was this knowledge deficit that prompted her to start Project Surya in 2021 to help create awareness and provide assistance to underprivileged children living with Type 1 diabetes. The initiative won her the Diana Award 2023. "It was a moment of pride because I have been putting my heart and soul into Project Surya. It is an inspiration and motivation to work harder and help more people and save more lives," adds the 15-year-old. [caption id="attachment_32064" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Divaa Uthkarsha is the founder of Project Surya[/caption] When life turned upside down In 2020, Divaa's life took a
wp-image-32064" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_1465.jpg" alt="Divaa Uthkarsha | Global Indian " width="726" height="662" /> Divaa Uthkarsha is the founder of Project Surya[/caption]
When life turned upside down
In 2020, Divaa's life took a significant turn when her younger brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition where the body stops producing insulin. Fortunately, their doctor parents provided valuable support, guiding her to comprehend the complexities of the illness. The family as a collective took time to adjust to the new reality. "Eventually within a few months, he became independent and could manage himself," adds the teenager who accompanied her brother on all doctor visits. "I would ask them all sorts of questions and read the manuals and diet chart in detail to understand the subject. Previously, I thought diabetes only affected adults." Together, the family embarked on a journey of lifestyle changes, altering their diets and habits to accommodate Surya's needs. "It isn't just a lifestyle change but also takes a toll on mental health."
Having witnessed the challenges firsthand, Divaa gained a profound insight into the resources required and the considerable expenses associated with managing Type 1 diabetes. less privileged children lacking access to essential resources, knowledge, and proper healthcare facilities. This prompted her to contemplate the plight of the less privileged kids lacking access to essential resources, knowledge, and proper healthcare facilities. Motivated by her experiences, she founded Project Surya in June 2021, aiming to improve the quality of life for underprivileged Type 1 diabetic children residing in Karnataka.
The beginning of Project Surya
Upon joining the Future Leaders Program by 1M1B, which aims to cultivate one million young leaders impacting one billion people, Divaa embarked on her journey of conceptualising Project Surya. "After identifying our problem statement and target audience, we started working on our plan of action. We came up with solutions that were very effective, sustainable, and impacted Type 1 diabetic children in a significant way," adds the National Public School student.
Her journey in developing Project Surya involved a meticulous process of gathering insights through 30 interviews with key stakeholders, such as doctors, dieticians, and Type 1 diabetic children, alongside conducting over 500 surveys involving teenagers and ASHA workers. "It was through Samatvam Endocrinology For Science and Welfare Trust that we conducted online sessions, awareness workshops, Q & A sessions, and interactive counselling sessions with the help of an endocrinologist and raised awareness about Type 1 diabetes in a concise and scientific manner, covering essential aspects such as dietary considerations, the importance of exercise, and adjustments to insulin dosage when eating outside." Divaa discovered that many teenagers and ASHA workers lacked awareness and had misconceptions, often confusing Type 1 diabetes with general diabetes affecting older individuals." However, the sessions conducted by Project Surya helped dispel myths and equip them with the knowledge to manage diabetes effectively."
Crowdfunding and Samatvam - the helplines
Project Surya has adopted crowdfunding as its approach, successfully raising ₹1,50,000 till now. "Additionally, we are receiving $5000 from a corporate based in the US. We are also in talks with corporates for grants and CSR funding," reveals the teenager. The initiative aims to support underprivileged children with Type 1 diabetes by donating both funds and insulin syringes to Samatvam, who then distributes them.
Despite government healthcare facilities not providing free insulin, Divaa, and her team stepped in to offer low-cost insulins to these children through Samatavam. Their goal is to raise more funds to provide insulin pens, a less painful alternative to syringes, further enhancing the quality of life for these young patients.
Despite being passionate about Project Surya, many questioned her credibility initially owing to her age. "The major stakeholders that I pitched my project to initially didn't believe me. As I was only 13, many thought that this was some school project that I would get over within a few weeks. But I had to convince them how passionate I am about the cause." Fundraising, too, posed difficulties as the appreciation for the project did not always translate into donations. "Initially not many people showed up at fundraising events but then we were successful when almost 8000 people were in attendance. Right now, we are looking at accelerating the funding of the project."
Throughout the two-year journey of Project Surya, Divaa has experienced both successes and setbacks, but she has come to realise the impact that even a small step can have on someone's life. A passionate individual who enjoys playing basketball and engaging in debates, she firmly believes in seizing every opportunity that comes her way.
The impact
With the vision of making a significant impact, Project Surya took a deliberate approach, focusing on one-on-one interactions and targeting a smaller support group of 100 diabetic families over the last two years. "Directly, we have impacted 150 children and indirectly, we have impacted so many people as these children educated other children and families, thus creating a ripple effect," adds Divaa. To raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes among the masses, the initiative organized rallies, school sessions, and engaged with ASHA workers. The result was far-reaching, impacting over 2000 students through sessions held in seven schools, and creating a Domino effect of awareness as volunteers initiated drives in their schools and ASHA workers spread the word in their community. Passionate about the cause, Divaa has actively advocated for insulin tax bans and the inclusion of Type 1 diabetes in the Disabilities Act, furthering her commitment to creating a positive change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faokCq8SsMM&t=2s
Looking towards greater sustainability, Divaa envisions implementing an "adopt a child" plan as a funding option for Project Surya, where individuals can commit to supporting a child's insulin needs for a specified period, ranging from 5 to 10 years or until the child reaches adulthood. Alongside, she plans to secure additional funds from corporates and continue fundraising efforts. "We want to provide insulin pens and more effective diabetes management resources to these kids because the resources they currently have are limited and painful."
With 95,600 cases of Type 1 diabetes affecting children under 14 years of age in India, Project Surya is determined to make a positive impact on these young lives. "From creating awareness where people under what Type 1 diabetes is, its symptoms, and the lifestyle changes they can make to keep it under check, we also focus on the mental health aspect where we talk about the stigma surrounding diabetes. The right approach and information can go a long way. And that's what we are doing," she signs off.
(April 26, 2022) Akarsh Shroff’s journey into volunteering started in school. As president of the social welfare committee, National Public School, RNR, Bengaluru, he visited orphanages and schools meant for the visually impaired. Appalled by the conditions, this changemaker decided to be proactive. Upon discussions with friends, he realised that they all wanted to do something for a social cause but lacked clarity on how to go about it. So, in 2018, the class 12 student started the NGO, Spark (socially productive and responsible Karnatakans) with an aim to address the gap and help the youth bring about progressive change. [caption id="attachment_15524" align="aligncenter" width="571"] Akarsh Shroff, founder and president, Yuva Spark[/caption] The young changemaker’s NGO has already impacted 82 lakh people in eight districts of Karnataka, raised ₹43 lakh, and rallied support in the form of medical equipment (oxygen concentrators etc) worth ₹17 lakh. In a conversation with Global Indian, the 21-year-old, who is now a final year computer science student of BITS Pilani, says, “My purpose has been to empower young adults to exhibit leadership skills for the welfare of others.” The initiatives earned him awards and titles galore - Forbes Teenpreneur ’20, Diana Award ’21, and an Ashoka
">Global Indian, the 21-year-old, who is now a final year computer science student of BITS Pilani, says, “My purpose has been to empower young adults to exhibit leadership skills for the welfare of others.” The initiatives earned him awards and titles galore - Forbes Teenpreneur ’20, Diana Award ’21, and an Ashoka Young Changemaker.
Leveraging social media’s power
Akarsh and his core team of nine members, leveraged the power of social media to activate youngsters as impact makers. Through his micro-influencer strategy, he has built a team of more than 600 volunteers from 35 institutions helming several youth-led projects.
The student-driven crowd funding organisation has partnered with communities and clubs in schools and colleges, and raised funds through events and social media campaigns. “In a span of 15 months during the first and second wave, we were able to raise ₹43 lakh,” smiles Akarsh.
Projects of impact
NGO Spark was renamed Yuva Spark, and it focuses on library enrichment and development initiatives to improve the quality of libraries in government schools with book collection drives through its project Lead Initiative. Its other projects, Utsaaha is a linguistic skill development initiative with weekend volunteering to develop presentation. Project Ullaasa is meant to develop communication and comprehension skills, while project Vineeta is a weekend volunteering programme at orphanages to provide academic mentorship and a support network.
Focusing on child welfare Yuva Spark has come up with an orphanage in Bengaluru for 26 children in partnership with an organisation that takes care of day-to-day running.
“We have also recently signed an MOU with government of Karnataka for designing scalable digital education solution for 1,600 aganwadi centres,” informs Akarsh.
Statistically updated
Talking statistics, the young changemaker mentions, “Yuva Spark has impacted 5,000 plus through education projects, 11,000 when Covid was at its peak by means of ration, masks, sanitisers and other essentials, and 66,000 through medical equipment during the second wave. Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur Kuldeep Dantewadia of Reap Benefit helped me design impact assessment metrics,” says Akarsh.
Dream accomplished
The core team has very good representation from high school students, and with this, Akarsh’s aim to develop leadership in youngsters has seen fruition. All smiles, Akarsh mentions, “Our volunteer recruitment head has been a student of class 9 taking interviews of MBA-level students applying for internships. A class 11 student is the head of external relation and collaboration, while the head of finance has been a class 12 student who practically managed ₹43 lakh of our campaign!”
The final year student has learned to manage time with experience admitting that his third semester was difficult, as he was multi-tasking - a startup that closed, raising funds for his nonprofit, a research internship along with academics. However, he learned to manage time. “By the fifth semester, things started falling in place. I am able to manage my academics and non-profit with active participation of the NGO’s vice-president, Akarshan Mazumdar,” adds the social entrepreneur.
[caption id="attachment_15576" align="aligncenter" width="746"] Akarsh with BITS Pilani friends[/caption]
The young changemaker’s father is a former senior manager (HP), while his mother is a manager at Apple. His parents have been very involved with their non-profit which looks into healthcare in rural areas, making dialysis more affordable. “Right from the time I was eight, I was exposed to the social development sector. I got an opportunity to meet community workers and understand social impact because of my parents,” says Akarsh.
Yashveer Singh, founder of Ashoka Young Changemakers, and a school alumnus is hugely supportive, and helps Akarsh with ideation and networking.
The youngster sees himself immersed in social entrepreneurship, and upliftment of people in the future. He is all set to pursue a master’s in non-profit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania (he already has admission). The social leader, and development sector enthusiast finds Netflix, cricket and occasional badminton his go to if at all time permits.
Sandeep with his family[/caption]
Sandeep is passionate about numismatics and has over 700 old coins[/caption]
Gautam Kumar, founder, Puraskaar[/caption]
Gautam celebrating his birthday with underprivileged children at DLF mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi[/caption]
Akarsh with BITS Pilani friends[/caption]