Vihaan and Nav Agarwal: Teen eco-heroes helping Delhi manage its waste
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(November 30, 2022) In 2017, two people were killed in East Delhi when a large mound of garbage in the Ghazipur landfill collapsed, sweeping people in the vicinity into a nearby canal. Spread over 70 acres, with a mountain of garbage higher than a 15-storey building, the lethal collapse was one more alarm bell in a city that was already choking. Watching the tragedy unfold on the news were Vihaan and Nav Agarwal, two siblings in Delhi. “The next day, the whole city was engulfed in a blanket of smoke. When we read about it in the newspaper, the connection between waste and air pollution became clearer,” Vihaan said. Delhi generates 11,144 tonnes of trash per day and up to 250 tonnes of municipal solid waste is burned every day, releasing 2000kg of PM10 and 1,800 kg/day of PM 2.5. Over one-third of the air pollution in Delhi is caused by burning waste in landfills.
Vihaan was 14 at the time and Nav only 11, but growing up in Delhi had already taken a toll on their health, especially as Vihaan was asthmatic. Their time outdoors was severely curtailed, for the most part, they weren’t allowed to play outside. “We had five to six air purifiers at home, and we were not allowed to play outside. We had online school even before the pandemic,” Vihaan said in an interview.
Nav and Vihaan Agarwal
Leading the way by segregating at home
Taking inspiration from icons like British naturalist David Attenborough and the storied conservationist Jane Goodall, the brothers began separating their waste at home, setting aside the recyclables. “The thought process in our mind was like, our waste shouldn’t go there, our waste shouldn’t become fodder for this fire,” Vihaan said. They collected such a mountain of trash that their grandfather told them sternly, and only half in jest, that one of them, either the boys or the trash, had to go. However, they realised that their segregated waste was being mixed again after it was collected. When they contacted recyclers, they were told that they had too small an amount to be picked up.
One Step Greener
The brothers rallied a team together through the neighbourhood WhatsApp group. In 2018, they founded One Step Greener, an organisation aimed at preventing pollution caused by waste.
It marked the start of the recycling initiative that would earn the boys one of the top awards for children – the 2021 KidsRights International Children’s Peace Prize. As they received the prize from Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, they entered an elite club of young, global changemakers, including Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. The Dutch prize includes an education grant and a cash award of 1,00,000 euros. “It’s an old saying, but everyone’s collective effort does actually make a difference,” Vihan said afterwards.
They started with 15 homes in 2018, and four years later, the organisation has grown to cover schools, offices and over 1,500 households across Delhi. They have plans to expand to Kolkata and thanks to the exposure the Global Indians received through the KidsRights award, there is a fair amount of international interest as well. The organisation also works to spread awareness about the importance of recycling.
Accolades galore
Vihaan and Nav Agarwal haven’t seen their teenage years through yet but have a long list of accolades to their credit already. Vihaan is also the First Asian to win the Children’s Climate Prize, 2019 in Sweden and is an Ashoka Youth Venturer. Fifteen-year-old Nav has shown a talent for oration, which he uses to inspire people to join his green movement. He won the Children’s Climate Prize along with his brother, was a jury member of Times of India’s Young Change Leaders Contest, was named BBC’s Earth Champion, is the winner of the Global Social Leaders Award and the Action for Nature Eco Hero Award.
(December 17, 2023) Indian-origin young women have been captivating audiences and making waves in the international pageant circuit, showcasing their exceptional talents, charm, and cultural heritage on a global platform. Combining their Indian roots with the influences of their adopted countries, these remarkable champions in pageantry have brought forward unique fusion of tradition and diversity. Their achievements not only highlight their beauty and grace but also their intelligence, resilience, and dedication to making a positive impact. Celebrating their victories Global Indian puts into spotlight four young women who got successful in the world of international pageantry in 2023, making the diaspora proud. Manvin Khera Miss Globe 2023 In a spectacular event held at Albania last month, 22-year-old Manvin Khera, a Malaysian model of Indian descent, secured the prestigious title of The Miss Globe 2023, at the world's oldest major international beauty contest held annually since 1925. Manvin’s victory stands as a remarkable milestone, as she is the first Malaysian to win the title in the renowned pageant, surpassing fifty contestants from across the globe. Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Manvin has a successful career in modelling. Last year she earned the title of Ratu Wanita Malaya 2022 at the inaugural edition
ble milestone, as she is the first Malaysian to win the title in the renowned pageant, surpassing fifty contestants from across the globe. Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Manvin has a successful career in modelling. Last year she earned the title of Ratu Wanita Malaya 2022 at the inaugural edition of the national pageant of Malaysia.
This multi-talented youngster who excels as a model, singer, and beauty pageant winner, has established a strong international presence in modelling. Her appearances at Thailand Fashion Week, the Bali International Fashion Week, and the Rizman Ruzaini Cruise 2023 show during Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week highlight her global prominence. Manvin aspires to be a lawyer.
Manju Bangalore
Miss Oregon USA 2023
Manju Bangalore, a twenty-five-year-old, clinched the Miss Oregon USA 2023 title, becoming the first South Asian woman to achieve this distinction. For the versatile young woman, the win expanded the horizons of the meaningful work that she has been doing. Beyond her success in pageantry, Manju serves as a role model for young brown girls across the US with her astronaut training, acting, modelling, activism, writing, and non-profit. Manju’s Operation Period and Painting with Parkinson’s are two initiatives that showcase her commitment to making a positive impact in the society.
The youngster is pursuing her postgraduate studies at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences in the US after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, majoring in physics with a minor in mathematics. She has worked on five NASA internships, in addition to a White House internship focusing on science policy. Apart from modelling she has acted in television shows like ‘Black is King’, ‘Depot,’ and ‘Animal Kingdom.’ Beyond her professional endeavours, Manju is an advocate for black and transgender rights. Recently she launched her debut children’s book aptly titled ‘You Can Be All the Things You Want to Be.’
UmaSofia Srivastava
Miss Teen USA 2023
The 16-year-old teen from Parsippany, New Jersey, of Indian and Mexican descent, clinched the Miss Teen USA title at the Reno, Nevada pageant held in September of this year. Among 51 accomplished young women representing every state and the District of Columbia, UmaSofia emerged as the winner. Her journey to this victory began earlier in March when she secured the Miss New Jersey Teen USA title. She has previously been a runner-up in the pageant at the age of 14.
Currently a junior at the Academy of St. Elizabeth in Parsippany-Troy Hills, UmaSofia is a devoted humanitarian with a strong belief in ethnic diversity, cultural inclusivity, and societal equality. She co-founded a diversity and inclusion campaign at her school, and runs a popular blog 'That’s Fan Behaviour,' which delves into topics ranging from feminism to her experiences as a woman of colour, conducting interviews with influential change makers, and exploring various other issues affecting society. The youngster is also a published author who came up with her debut book ‘The White Jaguar.’
Aruna Sukhdeo
Miss India Worldwide 2023
Born to an Indian-Guyanese labourer, Aruna Sukhdeo etched her name in history by claiming victory in the Miss India Worldwide 2023 competition, becoming the second individual of Indian origin from Guyana to accomplish this feat in the pageant's 33-year legacy. Since its inception in 1990, the Miss India Worldwide pageant has attracted young women from the global Indian diaspora. Aruna also clinched the Miss Beautiful Hair title during the competition. Describing music as her 'escape’. The aspiring economist and singer captivated the judges with her singing prowess throughout the event.
Currently the youngster is in her fourth year of studies in business economics at the University of Guyana (UG), Turkeyen Campus. She looks at the win as an opportunity to work on an issue which is closest to her heart – mental health, a condition that has been affecting the younger generations like never before.
(August 23, 2024) "Resilience is the only way to survive your changemaker journey," says Vidhi Yadav, founder, Beyond the Bounds. "You're going to feel that things aren't working - take a break but don't give up. They will question you, they will question your age, ability, gender and your qualifications. But you just keep going. It's okay to not be okay but don't give up." Her organisation has had over 1000 volunteers since it was founded in 2019, and impacted many more across India, Malaysia and Australia, where she currently lives. Through workshops, awareness programmes and events, Beyond The Bounds address mental health for Gen Z. In 2022, a World Health Organisation study estimated that one in eight people around the globe suffers from a mental disorder. Indians between the ages of 15 and 24 have the highest suicide rate in India, more or less in keeping with the international rates for the same age group. In India, that accounts for 35 percent of recorded suicides. It propelled Vidhi Yadav to address the problem and found Beyond The Bounds, an organisation that provides advice on mental health and well-being to the increasingly stressed out Gen Z. "I'm a shy person,"
"I'm a shy person," Vidhi says. It's surprising to hear, all things considered - she's active in the advocacy scene and the cause she supports through BTB involves interaction and communication by default. "I was very quiet growing up, quite a nerd, actually. I would go to school, come back home and study. My aunt noticed that I was shy, that I had a point of view but wouldn't speak up. After that, my teachers nurtured me, and I was put into public speaking events, until I went on to win an election and become school captain." In an interview with Global Indian, she recalls her nervousness in those days, every time she was due on stage. "Over time, I learned how to hide my nervousness. I struggled but once I learned, I became unstoppable."
[caption id="attachment_29579" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Vidhi Yadav, founder, Beyond The Bounds[/caption]
Getting past schoolyard bullies
In tenth grade, she encountered her first big pitfall - and this one would transform her life. As board exams approached, she struggled to juggle school work with extra-curricular activities. Her family was always supportive, as were her friends, but still, the anxiety was overwhelming. "My grades slipped, and that was a terrible thing to happen because my school was academically rigorous. I also put on a lot of weight because i was neglecting my mind and body, so I faced body shaming too."
It was a culture of toxicity that had pervaded into daily life. Nobody questioned the rampant bullying, the bullies couldn't see the harm they were causing and the victims had nowhere to turn. Vidhi recalls an old classmate, who had just moved back to India from the US after his father lost his job. "He had clinical depression and was on therapy and medication. He was bullied so much, people refused to help him and made fun of his accent." Although the school had a counsellor, there was no conversation around bullying, or mental health.
In 2018, Vidhi graduated with top grades, earning herself a place at the prestigious D.G. Ruparel College of Arts, Science and Commerce, one of Mumbai's most critically acclaimed colleges. A year later, in 2019 she began building Beyond The Bounds, holding the organisation's first event that June. "I decided it was time to stop overthinking my problems and to think of others instead. What about all those who didn't have support from school or at home? There aren't many organisations that focus on youth mental health and there are so many myths surrounding the matter."
Building BTB
After conversations with counsellors in her college, her Psychology teachers and other mental health organisations, she decided on an advocacy programme. "I was rejected from 50 places," Vidhi says. "I still remember that number. She was told she was too young, and not qualified enough. "Focus on your studies," she was told, dismissively. Vidhi even heard things like, "You're too smart and too pretty to do this kind of work." Finally, it was her Psychology teacher who came to her aid, connecting her with a counsellor who agreed to help.
As she did her research, Vidhi realized that Gen Z needed help. People weren't able to find the right support, and were cowed down by societal, relationship and family pressures." Those who dared to speak up were quickly dissuaded from talking about it. Conversations were slowly starting up on social media, but these were very nascent.
Vidhi began by reaching out to her peers, asking them to volunteer. There, the idea was very well-received. Students looking to enhance their CVs took to the cause, its uniqueness appealed to them. So, every day after class, BTB members would reach out to schools in Mumbai - it often meant visiting them in person. They requested permission to conduct workshops and seminars. "Those are formative years, when the personality develops. That's where we wanted to extend our efforts," Vidhi explains. Schools were on board with this, asking Vidhi's team to conduct workshops on how to manage stress and anxiety for students gearing up for tough competitive exams.
Mental health during the pandemic
A year later, the pandemic hit and the lockdown was imposed. That year transformed society and people suddenly understood the importance of mental health. It was around the time they received their first round of funding from Kids Rights, an organisation in the Netherlands. “We used the funding to expand our online reach, build a website and use technology to conduct our workshops online,” she says.
Life wasn’t easy but tech-savvy urban kids had it easier, Vidhi believed. What had become of India’s villages, and the children who lived there? She wanted to explore rural India, and approached another youth organisation, Global Changemakers, asking them to fund an offline programme. That led to the launch of BTB's Rural India Programme, in November 2020. Three members went to rural Haryana, to conduct a series of workshops there, tiptoeing past Covid-19 restrictions. The first camp was for kids who were due to appear for board exams. The second camp was on self-reliance during the pandemic and was held for women. The third workshop was for men, many of whom had lost their jobs in the heavily agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana.
The experience taught her a valuable lesson. If she had pictured a society weakened by circumstance, she found the opposite. "People told me, the pandemic doesn't matter. There will always be hardships in life, so you need to be resilient. And you need a family who will support you. These people had a lot to be stressed about but they were content." These people living quietly in the rural hinterlands understood that life is full of ups and downs, that our ability to deal with it matters most of all. "My grandmother would always tell me that to some people, an idol meant a piece of art. To others, it was about faith. I understood her words after I spent time in these village communities."
Expanding abroad
As restrictions eased, Vidhi, who was doing her master’s course online through Curtin University, already found there was no mental health club on campus, or in any university in Australia, for that matter. In fact, there wasn’t a single one on any university campus. She started a BTB chapter in Malaysia, where she moved in 2022, to study at their Curtin University campus. "I spent time with advisors, teammates and learned a lot about Malaysian culture through that experience," she says. When she eventually got to Australia, she began BTB’s operations there too. Her efforts earned her a Curtin Extra Recognition, a very select campus award.
"Our aim is to bridge the gap between students and counselling services," Vidhi says. "And we want to do this through unconventional events." This includes a pet therapy session in Malaysia, where they collaborated with an animal shelter and allowed participants to adopt an animal with which they felt a connection. Art therapy, with activities like mindful drawing and painting are also right up their alley. "We try to keep it light-hearted because our academics can be very heavy," she says.
With over 1000 volunteers so far, BTB has also released a self-help guide, which they released online as a resource to UNHCR. "A student from Kenya reached out to me through Kids Rights and we made the guide accessible to UNHCR and students living in refugee camps in Kenya," she says. In Indonesia, they did awareness workshops on the negative effects that social media can have on mental health. Vidhi was also chosen to present her work at Act2Impact, an initiative by Harvard University.
Vidhi’s takeaways for young changemakers:
"Don't start a cause just because you're a wannabe founder," Vidhi says. "Only do it if you really believe in it.
Resilience, she believes, is the only way to survive the changemaking journey. People will question your age, ability, gender and qualifications. But you just keep going.
Understand the meaning of leadership - it's not about dictating. If you can address a problem and solve it as part of a community, you're a leader.
"I'm not a work-life balance person," Vidhi admits. "But it's okay to take breaks. After I moved away from home, I learned how important it is to take care of one's mental and physical health."
Finally, she remembers her grandmothers' words of wisdom through the years. "Always respect people around you. Show courage and kindness, even to those who don't respect you."
(June 12, 2024) “As a kid, it was all about curiosity for me,” Rupal Jain says. This curiosity led her on a journey from Bhilai to Singapore and then to the US, where she made her mark in the semiconductor and microchip manufacturing industry as a young engineer, innovator, and author. In her short career, Rupal has worked with American IT corporations, AMD and Micron, published three books and earned five patents for her innovative product ideas. Her accomplishments have earned her early recognition within her industry. Recently, she received the Asia Leadership Award at an event in Mumbai. “Technology should enhance the quality of life for people and demonstrate practical and humanitarian impact," she believes. [caption id="attachment_38204" align="aligncenter" width="467"] Rupal Jain[/caption] Talking about semiconductors (basic materials needed to make microchips and integrated circuits) around which her career and achievements revolve, Rupal tells Global Indian, “Semiconductors play a critical role in artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Advanced processing microchips are the backbone of AI systems, enabling complex computations and data analysis at unprecedented speeds. These microchips are vital for AI-driven technologies used in various fields, from simple gadgets like smart home devices to sophisticated applications in
span style="font-weight: 400;">Global Indian, “Semiconductors play a critical role in artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Advanced processing microchips are the backbone of AI systems, enabling complex computations and data analysis at unprecedented speeds. These microchips are vital for AI-driven technologies used in various fields, from simple gadgets like smart home devices to sophisticated applications in aviation and military systems.”
Using technology to address real world challenges
Rupal believes that her patents for innovative products across interdisciplinary fields such as microchip manufacturing, AI, and IoT are significant as they contribute to advancements in electronics, agriculture, and medical devices.
“All my patents collectively contribute to improving both the technological landscape and the quality of life,” says the innovator, who is actively seeking partnerships with organisations to take these innovations forward. “While these processes are typically time-consuming, I am hopeful that I will be able to bring these technologies into real services soon,” she adds.
One of her standout patents focuses on an intelligent sleep system designed to alleviate conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic neck pain, spine issues, and back pain. Her solution integrates sensors and adaptive materials to provide personalised support and comfort, significantly improving the quality of life for individuals suffering from these chronic conditions.
Another patent involves an AI-IoT design to prevent defects in semiconductor manufacturing. "This innovation is particularly relevant given the governments' worldwide focus on semiconductor missions, whether in India, the USA, or the UK,” Rupal highlights.
[caption id="attachment_38206" align="aligncenter" width="861"] Rupal Jain at Asian Leadership Awards ceremony at Mumbai[/caption]
Whether it was working independently or in collaborative teams for her five patents, the engineer and author worked on the guiding principle of using technology to address real-world challenges.
Sharing knowledge as a mentor
After graduating from Bhilai Institute of Technology and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Rupal’s career as an engineer led her to work at organisations like AMD and Micron in both Singapore and the USA. She has worked on projects encompassing the regions of the USA, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and India.
Based in Greater New York, Rupal shares her knowledge as a member of many professional organisations in her field, such as the International Society for Service Innovation Professionals (ISSIP), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Educational Society (IEEE EDSOC), and Sigma Xi, an international scientific research honour society of science and engineering. “I have always been enthusiastic about roles that allow me to contribute to the growth and dissemination of knowledge in my area of interest to inspire and support young innovators globally,” she says.
As an Ambassador for ISSIP and a Lead in IEEE Young Professionals Education Society, as well as in other roles with Sigma Xi and the IEEE Technical Committee on immersive learning, her responsibilities involve promoting service innovation and strengthening collaboration among professionals from various industries and academic disciplines. “I work to bridge the gap between technology and its practical applications, ensuring that innovations positively impact businesses and society. This includes organising conferences, workshops, and seminars to disseminate the latest research and technological developments,” she tells.
[caption id="attachment_38207" align="aligncenter" width="566"]Hybrid IEEE event conducted by Rupal Jain for UICT Nakawa, Uganda[/caption]
Recently Rupal had the opportunity to be a guest mentor and speaker at a hybrid IEEE event at UICT Nakawa in Uganda. “This event, initiated under the IEEE YP and IEEE Mentoring-Meet program, was an enjoyable experience where I interacted with a large group of professionals about strategies in goal setting in the semiconductor industry. There was a lot of interest and many questions regarding advancing Uganda's growth in the microchip industry,” she shares.
Rupal has also had engaging experiences as speaker and mentor at other events, such as the Nile University and the IEEE Meet in Nigeria, where she addressed topics related to microchip excellence, quality management using AI-IoT, and more.
Exploring technology as an author
With a knack for multitasking, Rupal is also a prolific author whose works aim to empower professionals in her field with practical knowledge and innovative insights. Rupal’s book ‘Mastering Project Management: PMP and Agile for Leaders’, published by BEP, USA, addresses aspiring and current project managers. It imparts transferable skills applicable across industries such as semiconductor, engineering, IT, and construction in a global context, covering critical topics like Agile, CSM, and leadership development.
Her second book, ‘Advancements in AI and IoT for Chip Manufacturing and Defect Prevention’, published by River Publishers, Denmark, addresses the dynamic landscape of semiconductor fabrication and chip manufacturing. It explores the significance of defect prevention and the transformative potential of AI and IoT technologies in optimising manufacturing processes. “It's tailored for semiconductor professionals, interdisciplinary researchers in chip development, and electrical, electronics, and AI-ML professionals seeking knowledge and industry practices for IC (chip) manufacturing fabrication processes,” she explains.
Her third book, ‘Semiconductor Essentials: A Leader's Express Reference to Electronics Concepts’, serves as a comprehensive reference. “It condenses essential topics and equations crucial for device concepts, semiconductor development, and design into accessible formats,” she mentions. “This book is particularly useful for quick access to support research and innovation across various fields such as electronics, applied physics, photonics, and material science.”
Looking ahead
The engineer, innovator and writer aspires to further drive innovation and excellence within the microchip manufacturing and electronics industry. She aims to lead initiatives that push technological boundaries while cultivating a collaborative and inclusive work environment. Her goal is to mentor the next generation of leaders, ensuring a sustainable and forward-thinking future for the field. “The microchip and semiconductor industry has a great impact on society as it powers the technology that underpins modern life,” she remarks.
She is consistently attuned to these aspects, motivating herself to make contributions in the ever-changing technological landscape. Reading books on technology, leadership, and personal development is one of her favourite pastimes. Rupal also loves exploring new places, spending time with family and friends, and staying active.
(August 14, 2022) While people of the country were busy fighting over various problems, the youth have been working quietly behind the scenes, away from the noise, to find answers. In the last 75 years, India has witnessed many young minds who have played an instrumental role in finding the solutions to some of the biggest issues plaguing our society. From space technology to artificial intelligence, and environment to social issues, these innovators have earned global recognition in various fields. Global Indian puts the spotlight on five young prodigies, whose research and innovations are making a positive impact - not just in India, but across the world. Self-powered freezer to keep vaccines cool When he was 15 years old, Anurudh Ganesan invented VAXXWAGON, a portable refrigeration system to transport vaccines safely and effectively. The invention won him a slew of awards, including the LEGO Education Builder Award and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The VAXXWAGON runs on a "no ice, no electricity" system and is very cost-effective (less than $100). It can also keep the temperature consistent for several hours at a stretch. When he was an infant, his grandparents carried him ten miles in rural South India
When he was an infant, his grandparents carried him ten miles in rural South India to get him his routine polio vaccination. When they finally arrived, they found the vaccines were useless after having not been refrigerated for an extended period.
Always given to questions and innovation, he recalls asking his father when he was five years old, about inventing a vehicle that doesn't need gas. The innovator didn't stop there. He went on to research the subject, learning everything he could about self-generating power. In keeping with this, VAXXWAGON works with "wheel-powered refrigeration". As the wheel turns, mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy and can keep vaccines cold for up to 16 hours after being powered for only half that time.
Back in 2019, Pravin Nagendran, a student of Biotechnology at Bannari Amman Engineering College in Erode, began working on a plant-based, flame-resistant alternative to materials like glass fibre. To minimise damage caused by impact, aircraft and other vehicles are built using a composite material, like glass fibre, to add tensile strength. The flip side is that they are flammable.
Working out of his lab in college as soon as the lockdown was lifted, the innovator developed a prototype, made by extracting nanoparticles from the ash of the plant, he told Better India. This came after one year of research, during which he worked with members of the faculty to identify a suitable biomaterial. They tested the material at high temperatures and found it completely resistant to fire. It is also biodegradable.
The invention won him third place from over 65,000 entries at the Defence Research and Development Organisation's contest, Dare to Dream 2.0. He hopes to commercialise it after he graduates from college.
The girl who has a planet named after her in the Milky Way
Growing up in Bengaluru, the city of lakes, Sahithi Pingali had come across many infamous incidents of the Bellandur, Arthur, and Agara lakes bursting into flames from the heaps of garbage around them. Worried about the pollution in the water bodies, the innovator came up with an award-winning paper – ‘An Innovative Crowdsourcing Approach to Monitoring Freshwater Bodies', and presented it at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
Her work was based on the insights she had gathered through a lake monitoring app and a monitoring kit that she had created to collect the crowdsourced data on the issue. The 16-year-old not only won the second prize at ISEF 2017 but also bagged additional three special prizes there. The talented innovator was pleasantly surprised when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology partnered with ISEF and decided to name a planet in the Milky Way after her as a reward, making entire India proud. Sahiti is now a master’s student of management science and engineering, at Stanford University and has worked in several environment-related initiatives since then.
As a young kid, Arunima Sen was often in awe of her parents who spent hours working on various projects for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). That's how she developed an interest in the subject and started working on innovative solutions for global problems. When she was in grade 10, she was selected for The Junior Academy programme conducted by The New York Academy of Sciences, and that set her on the course of finding many solutions.
From measuring micro-nutrients in a person's body using strands of hair, to developing a method to save energy in high-rise buildings, the 20-year-old innovator has found a solution to every problem in most developing countries. A climate activist, Arunima is the recipient of several international and national awards — including the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, MPower Financing Women in STEM Grand Award, and the Distinguished Student Award from the New York Academy of Sciences — and has been named a 2020 Global Teen Leader of the We Are Family Foundation and one of the Mars Generation’s 24 under 24 Innovators in STEM and Space.
During an interaction with the press, Arunima said, "I am currently being mentored by professionals from Sidewalk Labs — an urban innovation company working to make cities more sustainable and affordable for all. Since the pandemic had brought many discussions and assignments to a halt, my friend and I are working to resume it soon."
Shocked by the most gruesome ‘Nirbhaya’ incident of the country, Siddhartha Mandala, who was a 12-year-old kid then, had accompanied his mother for public demonstrations that followed. Deeply moved by the sordid event, the youngster spent the next four years creating a device to prevent molestation and rape. The gadget that he named ‘Electroshoe’ passes electricity to electrocute molesters.
The young innovator had not lost his patience in creating the device even when his prototype had failed 17 times and he had got electrocuted twice during the experiments. The footwear created by him can also send signals to the police, friends, and family using GPS. Influenced by his mother’s activism, Siddharth also started an NGO, Cognizance Welfare Initiative (CWI) to spread awareness about rape and its prevention. He is now a student fellow at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Claremont, California. The youngster often visits dating sites, not to find a dating partner but to sell his device.
(March 10, 2022) At Sat Paul Mittal School in Ludhiana, the students can’t wait to learn something new. For them, it entails pulling out their phones and tablets, and opening up popular game Minecraft, immersing themselves in ancient Egyptian history, or tales from the Ramayana, and more. Created by Swedish game makers Mojang Studio, Minecraft allows players to create and build a world of their own. To 15-year-old teen edupreneur, Namya Joshi, this presented an opportunity like no other. Young achiever In January 2021, when that fateful call from the Prime Minister’s office came, Namya learned that she was a recipient of the 2021 Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. A well-earned recognition of a mammoth effort to make education more fun, interactive and easier to absorb, the teen edupreneur's skills in multimedia saw her train more than 10,000 students, teachers, and school principals from 108 countries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoskysarVy0&t=8s Fame is no stranger to the teen edupreneur. Six months after being told about the Bal Puraskar, Namya had the media swarming her doorstep once more. This time, she had received praise from Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, who congratulated her on Twitter after their meeting. Namya had been one of 250
Namya discovered Minecraft by chance. Developed in 2009, Minecraft is the bestselling videogame of all time, with over 238 million copies sold, and nearly 140 million monthly active users as of 2021. Over the years, it has been ported to several other platforms. Players explore a 3D world with infinite virtual terrain where they can mine and collect resources, craft and shape tools, alter landscapes, build structures and simple machines. Just for fun, the teen edupreneur rendered a Manali vacation into the game!
[caption id="attachment_12245" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Namya Joshi, teen edupreneur[/caption]
However, as she sailed through school, she noticed friends struggling to grasp lessons taught merely through text. The idea came to her in 2018 – why not intersperse a game like Minecraft with school lessons? Rushing home to the drawing board, Namya, then in Class 6, did her first render – an Egyptian civilisation. She showed it to her history teacher, who was amazed with what the teen had produced, wholeheartedly accepting her innovation into the classroom. “I could see the difference instantly. People were way more interactive in class because they could understand the concepts now,” teen edupreneur, Namya Joshi said, in an interview with Global Indian.
Spurred on by her success, Namya began creating more complex renders. “People tend to forget speeches and text-based information so I wanted to design lessons with gaming and ICT tools to make classroom lessons interesting. Now, Minecraft is used in every class in my school to make lessons more engaging and students more inquisitive,” says the teen edupreneur.
#Each One Can Teach Ten
Four years later, Namya has designed more than 100 educational lesson plans, mapping with the UN’s SDG goals. “I started by training teachers in my school, then district, state and country” smiles the teen edupreneur. Offers began pouring in from across the world and the young teen edupreneur was soon conducting lessons on Skype and Teams. She and her mother, who is the IT head of her school, were invited on a five-day tour to Finland. The altruistic teen delivered the keynote address, conducted workshops in Finnish schools to train teachers, pupils and even a prominent official from the ministry of education, who said, "I loved the way this 12 year-old-girl has engrossed everyone here!". "He shook hands with me and said, I am doing a wonderful job," the teen edupreneur says.
Namya is dedicated to her venture #Each One Can Teach Ten; firm on the belief that this would make a beautiful and impactful chain in tandem with UN SDGs, “I train people so that they can design their classroom lessons. The earnings are sent to NGOs for taking care of animals. I love nature, and want to create lessons for nature conservation too,” says the teen.
Lessons from home
Her mother, Monica, taught her never to give up, and remain grounded and humble. Namya’s father an IT professional with his own firm also hugely contributed to her prowess as did her mother. “My father tells me never to stop innovating. My grandparents tell me stories that teach me lessons about life,” says the single child. In school too, support is always forthcoming, as she describes her principal as her “backbone,” motivating her to “keep on going ahead with all my endeavours.” The teen edupreneur considers herself a pillar too – “If I cannot support and motivate myself then nobody can.”
Juggling so many priorities and taking on the world at 15 means Namya is removed from the concerns of an average teenager. Her life is marked by a strict schedule, with priorities arranged in order of importance. This timetable is followed to a tee, due diligence is the only way to balance her academics with her vocation. “I don’t go to bed without reading what was taught in class that day, so the concepts are clear,” adds the problem solver.
The way ahead
Now, the teen innovator plans to build her own startup which offers free game-based lessons for people across the world. “It should not just be gaming, it should impart learning in the process,” she says. That apart, her sweet tooth gives us a glimpse of the child within – Namya can’t resist dessert. She also makes time for an exhaustive laundry list of activities outside school and her startup - environmental science, history, physics, music, art, calligraphy, dance, sports, singing spending time with family, and reading.