Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveThe AI boom in India 2025: How young innovators are driving change

The AI boom in India 2025: How young innovators are driving change

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(January 1, 2025) In the busy streets of Bengaluru, 19-year-olds Aryan Sharma and Ayush Pathak are transforming workflow management with their startup, Induced AI. Founded in 2023, the company has already gained attention, including support from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Induced AI develops virtual AI workers that can handle complex tasks with human-like reasoning, aiming to change how businesses operate.

What makes Induced AI unique is its ability to streamline processes and reduce costs by automating tasks. From routine office work to complex decision-making, their platform offers practical solutions for modern businesses. This is just one example of how young Indians are driving a new wave of AI innovation, putting India on the global tech map.

Pranjali Awasthi | AI innovation | Global Indian

Pranjali Awasthi, the founder of Delv.ai

A Fertile Ecosystem for Innovation

India’s expanding startup ecosystem, driven by initiatives like Startup India and Digital India, is enabling young entrepreneurs to explore AI. Programs like the National AI Strategy and collaborations with companies like Microsoft and Google are helping develop AI talent early. Events like the Smart India Hackathon challenge students to solve real-world problems with AI, proving that innovation goes beyond research labs.

In addition to government support, AI-focused incubators and accelerators like NASSCOM and T-Hub offer mentorship and funding to aspiring entrepreneurs. These platforms assist young founders in turning their ideas into reality, helping startups succeed in the competitive tech industry.

Meet the Young Innovators

Pranjali Awasthi, a 17-year-old Indian entrepreneur, is making an impact in AI with her startup Delv.AI, which simplifies data extraction for businesses and researchers. Her company is now valued at over $12 million, showing how young innovators like her are solving complex problems and shaping the future of technology.

AI innovation | Kavya Kooparapu | Global Indian

Kavya Kopparapu

Meanwhile, Kavya Kopparapu, an Indian-American innovator, is using AI to improve healthcare. She created GlioVision, a tool that quickly analyses brain tumor images to help with better diagnosis and treatment, and Eyeagnosis, a smartphone system for detecting diabetic retinopathy. Named one of Time’s 25 Most Influential Teens, she also founded the Girls Computing League to encourage more young people, especially women, to explore technology. Her work shows how AI can make healthcare more accessible and effective.

Another name on the list is Sneha Revanur, an 18-year-old Indian-American, who is leading efforts in AI ethics and policy. At just 15, she founded Encode Justice, a youth-driven organisation advocating for responsible AI development and addressing issues like algorithmic bias and data privacy. Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded globally, engaging in policy advocacy and educational initiatives. Recognized for her impactful work, Sneha became the youngest person featured on TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI, further showcasing the transformative role of youth in shaping the future of AI.

Transforming Lives Through AI

Young innovators in India are not just creating businesses—they’re solving some of the country’s most pressing challenges. They are making education more accessible by creating personalized learning tools in regional languages for underprivileged students. In healthcare, startups are using AI to develop diagnostic tools that deliver affordable and accurate medical services to rural communities.

Agriculture is also benefiting from the AI boom. Young innovators are developing precision farming tools that enhance crop yields, minimize resource wastage, and provide farmers with valuable insights that were once out of reach.

Founders of Pixxel

The ripple effect of these innovations goes beyond India. Startups like Pixxel, founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal in 2019, are leveraging AI innovation to analyse hyperspectral satellite images, assisting industries worldwide in making data-driven decisions. Pixxel’s technology captures detailed images across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, providing insights that aid in sectors such as agriculture, environment, mining, and urban planning.

Their work exemplifies how young Global Indian entrepreneurs are contributing to global technological advancements.

The Global Impact of AI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and lives not just in India but across the globe. In healthcare, it is driving breakthroughs like early disease detection and precision medicine, leading to better patient outcomes. In education, AI-powered platforms are tailoring learning experiences for millions, bridging gaps in access and quality. On a global scale, AI tools are helping scientists combat climate change by predicting weather patterns and promoting sustainable practices. From autonomous vehicles to advanced robotics, AI is shaping a future where technology and humanity collaborate to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

The Future of AI in India: 2025 and Beyond

As we enter 2025, India’s position in the global AI ecosystem is taking shape. The country is harnessing its immense tech talent and entrepreneurial energy to develop AI solutions that tackle both local and global challenges. From predictive diagnostics in healthcare to personalised learning tools in education, AI is becoming an integral part of daily life in India.

Sneha Revanur

Startups are breaking new ground, especially in agriculture and sustainability. AI is helping create climate-resilient farming methods and giving farmers tools to adapt to changing weather. In healthcare, telemedicine and AI are closing the gap between urban and rural areas by providing affordable solutions to millions.

India’s youth continues to lead the way, supported by a stronger focus on AI innovation in education and more opportunities for research and innovation. The growth of quantum computing in India is boosting AI’s potential, enabling breakthroughs that were once impossible.

Despite the progress, significant challenges remain. Issues like data privacy, algorithmic biases, and the risk of job loss are pressing concerns. To ensure AI develops ethically and sustainably, collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders, and young innovators will be essential.

Looking ahead, India’s AI landscape is a story of progress and possibility. Young entrepreneurs are not just creating cutting-edge technologies but are also redefining what AI can achieve for communities across the nation and beyond.

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Published on 01, Jan 2025

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Meet Aaryani Sahay, the young changemaker turning the spotlight on mental health among adolescents

(April 17, 2022) At 17, Aaryani Sahay knows a thing or two about mental health awareness. The young changemaker became a social entrepreneur after she launched Project Let’s Talk in 2018 in a bid to break the stigma around mental health and to create awareness among adolescents. Started in partnership with counselling skills assets, the project conducts sessions across rural and urban schools in Karnataka, and currently has an 18-member team apart from 200 volunteers. The team has so far conducted more than 180 awareness sessions and impacted over 20,000 people. [caption id="attachment_14888" align="aligncenter" width="633"] Aaryani Sahay, founder, Let's Talk[/caption] This has earned the Bengaluru resident several awards, including the Diana Award, the Karamveer Chakra, the Indian Achiever’s Award, and the Young Leaders Creating a Better World for All award by the Women’s Economic Forum. However, not without her share of challenges. “It took me a long time to disclose to my parents, teachers, and friends about my mental health issues. When I did, I found many adolescents around me opening up about their mental health issues too. This inspired me to start Let’s Talk,” the young changemaker and social entrepreneur, who finished her IB Diploma from The International School

When I did, I found many adolescents around me opening up about their mental health issues too. This inspired me to start Let’s Talk,” the young changemaker and social entrepreneur, who finished her IB Diploma from The International School Bangalore, says.

From darkness to light

Today, this young changemaker is full of joy. However, this was not the case five years ago when she was battling mental health issues herself, curled up in bed, frequently missing school, and unable to sleep. Her panic attacks and resultant breathing troubles were initially diagnosed as a seasonal bronchitis attack. But the teenager knew it wasn’t bronchitis but a mental health issue. She finally summoned the courage to confide in her parents. A year of therapy later, she was finally better and ready to embrace life as a teen.

Today, her mother, a businesswoman, is her biggest support system. Given her own struggles with mental health, Aaryani is determined to create a world where nobody hesitates to seek support.

Domestic violence, academic pressure, bullying, low self-esteem, uncertainty about the future, and financial constraints are some of the topics openly discussed during the sessions. Focusing on taking care of one’s mental health in such scenarios, dealing with vulnerability, and being comfortable in talking about their emotions is a priority. Since volunteers are of the same age group, inhibitions are usually shed easily and connections fostered.

Going strong

Aaryani lists empathy, integrity, authenticity, and leading with kindness as her core values and enjoys exploring the intersection between psychology, anthropology, economics, and political science. Adept at public speaking and advocacy, she has been reaching out to people through events, sessions, posters, and the project’s portal so that they can access hotlines and learn about mental illness, including its symptoms and treatments options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO3p-suKFNA

As an Ashoka Young Changemaker, who was selected as one of the top 19 from over 1,800 candidates, Aaryani works with Ashoka Innovators to empower youth through national and international projects. The smart orator has given insights on her advocacy on reputed platforms like TEDx, the women’s initiative for social entrepreneurship summit at IIM Kozhikode, the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania and 1M1B Activate Impact Summit, United Nations, New York. She also spoke at the UN summit that had representatives from 11 other projects in attendance; Let’s Talk was voted the number one project by panelists.

A good start

The Bengaluru teen launched Project Let’s Talk with co-founder Kashish Singh in 2018 after attending a course ‘Future Leaders’ by the 1M1B Foundation. The project works towards creating safe spaces for students and the content which is delivered is created in collaboration with experts.

[caption id="attachment_14895" align="aligncenter" width="799"] Aaryani with Let's Talk's co founder, Kashish in an interactive session[/caption]

Initially, the duo faced challenges in terms of resistance from schools as they could not trust such young girls discussing a sensitive topic with their students. However, with persistence, the situation began to change. The other challenge was language: with Kannada being the language of communication in government schools, the duo roped in translators to bridge the gap.

Pandemic and mental health

With mental health ailments going up during the pandemic, Let’s Talk pioneered a nationwide webinar, chapter, and mental health brochures to promote mental well-being. More than 1,000 mental health brochures have been distributed and 35 chapters have been launched across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “We have a replicable model, and we provide mentorship to chapter heads with our insights,” informs the young changemaker.

She also co-authored The Book of Wellness with mental and physical health experts. Proceeds of ₹1 lakh raised from the sale of the book were sent to MCKS Food for The Hungry Foundation to provide over 7,000 meals.

Action, reaction and intervention

Aaryani has also developed the ARI (Action, Reaction, and Intervention) framework. “Schools need to take action and conduct regular mental health classes just like physical fitness classes with a focus on normalising the sharing of emotions. Since students spend most of their time with teachers, there should be empathy from their end. Schools need to know how to intervene and provide an environment where students know where to go on a bad day,” says the youngster, who loves to unwind with a good book, painting, and yoga.

Follow Aaryani Sahay on Linkedin

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Sai Hitesh Vavilapalli: Indian-American teen’s nonprofit empowers the visually impaired

(November 17, 2023) He was just 14 when Portland-based Sai Hitesh Vavilapalli embarked on a journey to cultivate his interest in social justice and human rights, especially focussed on advocating for the visually impaired. It began when he flew down to India for his Christmas break, and visited a blind school in a quaint little town of Kakinada where his parents volunteered. "It was then I realised I should also do my best to give something back to society, and do something for the underprivileged," he said in an interview. Upon his return to the US, the Indian-American, whose parents migrated from Vishakapatnam, was keen to make a change and soon organised a cultural night. From this, he raised $4200 which he used to start a non-profit The I Mission in 2016. Explaining the mission of the NGO, he said, "What we do is we gather many patients together and we do screening examines and we have eye camps to test whether they are ready to go through the cataract and retinal surgeries that our partners and the people that we work with offer." [caption id="attachment_34153" align="aligncenter" width="723"] Sai Hitesh Vavilapalli is an Indian-American changemaker[/caption] The next year, he returned

p-content/uploads/2023/11/vali2.jpg" alt="Sai Hitesh Vavilapalli | Global Indian" width="723" height="502" /> Sai Hitesh Vavilapalli is an Indian-American changemaker[/caption]

The next year, he returned to India with a vision to help the poor. It was with the help of Sankar Foundation Eye Hospital that he organised a couple of free eye camps in Vishakhapatnam, and also helped perform about 500 free cataract surgeries. Moreover, The I Mission also donated two Perkins mechanical braillers to a rural south Indian school in order to provide support for visually impaired female students in their pursuit of reading.

.Seeing the impact that his work was creating, he continued returning to India every year to help visually impaired people. On his next trip, The I Mission coordinated and funded a total of 48 cataract surgeries for underprivileged individuals, in addition to one retinal surgery. They also took on the responsibility of supporting three blind schools in the region. Initially, individuals in need of cataract or retinal surgery were identified through comprehensive screening tests conducted during eye-checking camps.

[caption id="attachment_34152" align="aligncenter" width="488"] Sai Hitesh Vavilapali is an Indian-American changemaker[/caption]

Beyond providing essential eye health check-ups and surgical interventions for visually impaired individuals in rural India, The I Mission also conducts educational workshops. These workshops are designed to empower students, enhance their mathematical skills for competitive platforms like MathCounts, improve their public speaking abilities, and develop their reading comprehension. The workshops are structured to be both enjoyable and educational, offering engaging activities tailored to the varying levels of receptivity among the students.

In the last few years, The I Mission has supported over 5,000 free eye screenings, 1,719 cataract surgeries, and 13 retinal detachment surgeries, besides adopting three blind schools in India. "To fund the camps, we not only conduct cultural events but have also tied up with brands like Nike and Intel. We intend to approach some more corporate firms in the coming years," he added.

Hitesh, who plans to become a doctor, is working with a professor as a research intern at Oregon Health Science University, with a focus on discovering potential remedies for cataract and other eye-related issues prevalent among the tribal communities residing in the Eastern Ghats of India. He plans to take the nonprofit to the next level in the coming years by spreading its wings across the world.

Photographer of the Year 2021, Pubarun Basu’s lens evokes emotions, creates stellar imagery

(March 16, 2022) Crammed into a narrow alleyway in the backstreets of Kumortuli in North Kolkata, a sculptor is sculpting the face of goddess Durga ahead of Pujo. That stunning photo by young photographer Pubarun Basu speaks volumes of his love for the craft. Yet, it’s only one among his many stellar photographs. Another photo turned the tide for this muse-seeking shutterbug – a 2020 photo titled No Escape from Reality that won him the Youth Photographer of the Year 2021 at the Sony World Photography Awards. Basu was the first Indian to achieve the feat. “My photo was selected among 3,30,000 entries from around 29 countries. It was a very humbling experience,” the 20-year-old tells Global Indian in an interview. [caption id="attachment_12664" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Pubarun Basu[/caption] Snapshot happy The 2001-born Kolkata lad got inclined towards photography at age four when he picked his first camera, thanks to his photographer father. Being in the company of the best of gadgets, the Bengali boy was fascinated by the dynamics of photography. That first DSLR camera he held, and the photo he clicked seemed to activate a passion that has only embellished itself. “I vividly remember my father handing me his camera.

picked his first camera, thanks to his photographer father. Being in the company of the best of gadgets, the Bengali boy was fascinated by the dynamics of photography. That first DSLR camera he held, and the photo he clicked seemed to activate a passion that has only embellished itself. “I vividly remember my father handing me his camera. Since I had seen my dad click photos, I somehow managed to take a picture by imitation,” says Pubarun who took his first photo at the Khoai Fair in Shantiniketan.

Seeing his father “in action all the time,” he learnt the tricks of the trade. Getting access to a good DSLR so early, was a blessing that proved fortuitous. “I understood the tonality, correct exposure and framing. My father had a home lab where he would develop. In time, my taste evolved and so did my understanding of photography,” says the English literature student at the University of Calcutta.

At age nine, he was gifted a Nikon point and shoot camera. “I began clicking photos of the birds in our vicinity – bulbuls, tailor birds, kingfishers, I’d capture them all on my lens,” reminisces Pubarun who later got fascinated by street photography. “I love capturing sunsets and portraits. Over the years, I developed this style of photography, which has now become my signature," adds Pubarun.

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When he won the Youth Photographer of the Year 2021, it augured more acclaim. In July 2020, Pubarun submitted his award-winning photo - No Escape from Reality – (theme composition and design). “The brief was to look for an unfamiliar setting within a familiar setting, and what better place could it be than our home (during lockdown). One evening, I was in my parents’ bedroom when I noticed sunlight seeping through the windows, and the iron rails created quite a stunning shadow. It gave the illusion of a cage. I asked my mom to stand behind the curtain, stretch out her hands to touch the curtain. The idea was to represent the feeling of being trapped in a moment, or in one’s reality,” says Pubarun who used a Nikon D800E for the shot.

[caption id="attachment_12665" align="aligncenter" width="858"] No Escape from Reality by Pubarun Basu[/caption]

All this gave his photography career a major boost. “Winning that title remains unmatched. It took me a while to let it sink in. Many aspiring photographers started approaching me to inquire about the process of selection for the title and my technique,” gushes the young photographer who is “still in disbelief” that Sony exhibited his photo across the globe.

The urge to explore

The award-winning photo was exhibited in Japan, France, Switzerland, and Italy. Later, he bagged the Indica cultural photography grant 2021 to work on a project on the tribal communities of North-East India. “I pitched the idea as northeast is a hidden treasure and the tribes of that region haven’t been explored much. Eight photographers from the country were selected for the project. I was the youngest,” says Pubarun whose project will be published as a coffee table book soon.

The young photographer is keen to capture stories that create an impact. “I want my voice to be heard through my art. My photography has evolved with time, and I wish to put forth a constructive narrative,” says the documentary filmmaker who took up online photography course from the Museum of Modern Art, New York during the lockdown, which he says was “an enriching experience.”

A father’s legacy

Basu loves Steve McCurry, Dorothea Lange, and Raghu Rai’s oeuvre, yet, it’s his father Pranab Basu who is his mentor. “I have learnt everything from him. Whatever I create, he is often the first person I show my work to. He is my biggest cheerleader and biggest critique,” reveals Pubarun who has an equal support system in his homemaker mother. “She has been a shield, protecting me against the taunts of my relatives who questioned my unconventional line of work,” says the young photographer.

Today, Pubarun, still so young, is a photographer to reckon with. “The idea to be original” he feels helped him set sail. He adds, “When you are young, you love to imitate the works of people you admire. But in the process, you start to live in their shadow. Creativity thrives when you have an individualistic style.” Which he sure does.

[caption id="attachment_12668" align="aligncenter" width="762"] Pubarun Basu[/caption]

For aspiring shutterbugs, he advices, “be open-minded and keep experimenting different styles before settling for one,” yet he cautions not to get influenced by social media.

A movie buff, his creative spirit meanders into tabla playing, which he has been practising since he was six. Now, he plans to study photography abroad after graduation. “Photography is my passion and I want to pursue it as a career. My vision is to create a community of artists who do projects that speak about contemporary issues,” adds Pubarun who is currently in Varanasi to shoot a musical documentary on the holy city.

Follow Pubarun Basu on Twitter and Instagram

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Speech matters: Scholar Nathan Mallipeddi is revolutionising the support system for stutterers

(June 6, 2023) It was 2015, and a young Nathan V. Mallipeddi was standing in a bowl-shaped auditorium, in front of an assembly of esteemed professors, teachers, and peers, awaiting his momentous science project presentation. As he stood there, the weight of expectation pressing upon his shoulders, he took a deep breath, ready to present the culmination of his intellectual prowess. But, when the scholar opened his mouth, he couldn't even speak his name. "I just froze," Nathan said in an interview. As the minutes ticked by, an intense silence hung in the air. However, the scholar shared, "Eventually, I got it out and then the rest of the presentation was a little bit tough." And this became a turning point in Nathan's life, who took matters into his own hand, to not just help himself but all those who struggle with a stutter. In 2017, the Global Indian is the Founder and CEO of Myspeech, a global nonprofit organisation that uses technology to group people who stutter into treatment groups. Recognising his work and that of his organisation's, President Joe Biden quite recently wrote a letter to the Harvard Medical School, stating, "Growing up, I stuttered. I remember the

ss=" wp-image-30794 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2023/06/DSC_1648.jpg" alt="Scholar | Nathan Mallipeddi | Global Indian" width="602" height="902" />

Recognising his work and that of his organisation's, President Joe Biden quite recently wrote a letter to the Harvard Medical School, stating, "Growing up, I stuttered. I remember the pain, dread, and fear of speaking in front of a group or even to another person, but I also learned that when you persevere in the face of struggle, you will be stronger for it. And the efforts of Myspeech will help so many people persevere. You will help change people’s lives for the better."

Rising above the challenges

Nathan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to parents who had immigrated from India, in search of better job prospects. However, the family had to make a tough decision to send the scholar to live with his grandparents in Andhra Pradesh for three years. Upon reuniting with his parents in the San Jose Bay Area, Nathan developed a profound admiration for their unwavering courage and the strength of thriving immigrant communities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku0um7gVGPQ

While the scholar managed to stay at the top of his class in every written examination, his stuttering issues got in the way of his academic success. However, what troubled him more was his father's own journey with stuttering. "He never accepted it," Nathan said, adding, "He was always focused on trying to hide it and trying to overcome it. He spent his whole life ignoring and treating his stutter as an enemy. So, when I was stuttering growing up, he would constantly tell me, ‘Stop stuttering, stop stuttering."

Speaking about the challenges he faced, the scholar shared, "It’s an invisible disability. What’s unique about these kinds of conditions is that when people slip up, they’re automatically attributed to being nervous or stupid or something. And that mistake is not attributed to their disability." Nathan got help with his stuttering in school from speech therapists, who he thought lacked proper training in dealing with the issue. "They mainly focused on teaching techniques to speak fluently and measuring how often the stuttering was visible. However, they didn't address the emotions and feelings that often make stuttering challenging to cope with, which is an important aspect of the stuttering experience," he said.

Finding his voice

Braving the odds, the scholar went on to join the University of California, where he earned the undergraduate degree in 2020 Summa Cum Laude. However, during his time at UCLA, Nathan couldn't resist the urge to build a platform to help more students, who also struggle with stuttering. And after months of research, the scholar developed the Stuttering Scholarship Alliance (SSA), which eventually led to him establishing, MySpeech. "I grew anxious, depressed, and silent," shared Nathan, adding, "Over the years, I learned to embrace my stutter and devoted long hours to finding my voice. I would not be where I am today without the support from speech therapists and peers; however, many who stutter lack stable support networks. I founded Myspeech to build that support system—empowering millions to reach their full potential."

[caption id="attachment_30795" align="aligncenter" width="633"] Nathan receiving the Social Impact Track at Harvard[/caption]

Myspeech uses technology to group people who stutter into treatment groups. The platform provides personalised speech therapy, important community resources, and connections with others. So far, Myspeech has helped over 30,000 people who stutter in more than 25 countries. The services they offer have shown a 90 percent improvement in the quality of life and a 15 times decrease in costs. Since its inception, SSA has assisted approximately 20,000 individuals in over 25 countries and partnered with companies like Google and Microsoft.

"Society places premium value on communication, and there are millions of people who stutter and feel that there is no place for them in the world. The Myspeech platform provides people who stutter with the tools to improve their quality of life. We match a network of patients with stuttering-focused resources, including visits with expert therapists, educational content, mobile applications to practice speaking techniques; and community resources," the scholar shared.

From struggle to strength

Currently an MD/MBA student at Harvard Medical School and Stanford Graduate School of Business, Nathan's focus lies in finding solutions that positively affect the lives of individuals with communication disorders. The scholar has also earlier contributed to various projects related to biology and public policy, including the discovery of a new role for histone proteins as copper reductase enzymes, constructing a framework to comprehend the definition and implementation of disabilities, and creating public policy initiatives aimed at fostering employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Los Angeles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49zNPEEaTYg

The scholar, who recently received the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, is passionate about investing but also actively conducts research. He played a key role as a founding investor at VANA Capital, where he identified and secured several investments in the biotechnology field. He has also made significant contributions as an author, having published 10 research papers in esteemed academic journals such as Science, Science Advances, Nature Biotechnology, Journal of Fluency Disorders, and Autism in Adulthood. "I aspire to make a career as a healthcare operator and investor focused on transforming the delivery of healthcare services for people with communication disorders," the scholar shared.

Follow Nathan V. Mallipeddi on LinkedIn and Twitter
Follow MySpeech on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Karina Samuel: Indian-American activist helping bid adieu to plastic bags

(August 6, 2023) While many countries are feeling the heat from climate change, Florida in the US has irreversibly changed by the climate emergency, which has affected coral reefs, led to higher property values and increasing inequality for vulnerable populations in the state. The chronic coastal flooding and increased storms due to global warming left the 17-year-old Indian American activist Karina Samuel appalled, who then decided to launch the Florida chapter of Bye Bye Plastic Bags in 2019. Solution for plastic menace Bye Bye Plastic Bags is a youth-led, global organisation on a mission to reduce the amount of plastic on the planet. The initiative, which has so far mobilised more than 1000 volunteers to join over 175 coastal cleanups across the state, led Karina to win the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for making a positive difference in the people's lives, their communities, and the environment. "I’ve always been invested in climate justice, and living in Florida, I’ve seen the effects of inequalities and how they disproportionately affect poorer communities," she told Point of Light. The Indian American teen activist, who is pursuing her Bachelor of Science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is working with

org/awards/saying-bye-bye-to-plastic-pollution-teen-volunteers-to-help-underserved-communities/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Point of Light.

The Indian American teen activist, who is pursuing her Bachelor of Science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is working with her team of volunteers across Miami, Tampa and Key West to make the Florida coast healthier. "I’ve been serving as the president of the Florida chapter of Bye Bye Plastic Bags, which is an international non-profit. It’s actually based in Bali, [Indonesia], but they have chapters all over the world. So, I founded my chapter in 2019 and I’ve been doing all sorts of different environmental projects," she told Sun Sentinel.

Impact

In the last three years, they have raised several thousand dollars to donate to different environmental organisations. Moreover, they have been focused on passing pro-environment policy reforms, banning plastic bags, organising coastal cleanups and educating the community about climate change. "We’ve done lobbying with certain candidates for the 2020 election in support of the Green New Deal, educational webinars at different schools and campuses across the state and, of course, cleanups all over the state of Florida," the Global Indian added.

[caption id="attachment_22901" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Karina Samuel is an Indian American teen activist.[/caption]

The cleanups are a constant reminder that the activist needs to continue marching forward with her volunteers. "Every time we go out for clean-ups, we see the trash and negative impact people make when they are careless. We always see plastic water bottles during the cleanups. Also, soda cans and plastic wrapping from food containers and take out," she told Point of Light.

Why giving back is important

Karina, who has been championing the cause of climate change, believes that it's important to give back to the society, and knows that the power to make the change lies with youngsters like her. "I’m not the person who will feel the majority of the negative implications from climate change, and that’s why climate justice is so important. It disproportionately affects poorer communities, people who can’t go out and volunteer for change. Those who are capable of volunteering have the responsibility to go out and address these different community problems," she added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwO8Wz_EThA

Moreover, she is the vice president of Beyond Resolved, a national student-run non-profit that aims to increase diversity and inclusivity in the high school speech and debate community. Her efforts have been recognised by the Points of Light Network, Children’s Environmental Health Network and the Earth Island Institute.

Karina, who is changing her community, one plastic bag at a time, loves to play volleyball and tennis. For someone who has been volunteering for years now, she finds "satisfaction" through her work. "It’s a very satisfying feeling to know we worked together to accomplish a goal and that it went well."

Follow Karina Samuel on Linkedin

Reading Time: 4 min

The AI boom in India 2025: How young innovators are driving change

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

A Fertile Ecosystem for Innovation

Meet the Young Innovators

Transforming Lives Through AI

The Global Impact of AI

The Future of AI in India: 2025 and Beyond

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