Global Indianstory Global IndianDitching the nine-to-five routine, these young travellers are exploring the world

Ditching the nine-to-five routine, these young travellers are exploring the world

Written by: Team GI Youth

(May 22, 2022) Gone are the days when travelling was limited to summer vacations. All it takes these days is a long weekend and a quick scroll through AirBnB. More young Indians are traveling solo than ever before and India’s travel industry is thriving. While travelling solo was once a daunting affair, most are no longer averse to venturing out alone – they even seek it, choosing to travel overseas and see the world solo. Younger generations also want to be responsible, seeking out eco-tourism and sustainable experiences that don’t abuse nature or harm local communities.

Naturally, this has given rise to a breed of travel influencers, who, thanks to social media, offer up everything from travel hacks and tips to hotel and destination reviews. They may even compel you to get out of your comfort zone. Global Indian brings to you a list of the top travel bloggers in India, in no particular order, whose blogs are creating ripples among travel enthusiasts.

Shivya Nath

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Possibly one of the first female solo travellers, Shivya Nath became a full-time travel blogger at the age of 23. The author of a travel book, Shivya has revealed on numerous occasions that she was never meant to travel the tried-and-tested path. Believing that there is no greater tragedy than living a mundane life, Shivya has travelled to almost all the countries on the world map. While much of her travel has been documented in her blog, The Shooting Star, Shivya is also a regular contributor various travel magazines and has been featured on the cover of National Geographic Traveller, and The Washington Post. She is known as one of the travellers who are changing the way we think about the world. In 2021, Shivya was named one of 15 travel trailblazers by Travel + Leisure, and among 30 global champions of environmental sustainability in hospitality and tourism by the International Hospitality Institute.

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Prakriti Varshney

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A post shared by Prakriti 🇮🇳 Vegan (@itisinthename)

Prakriti Varshney is the second Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Ama Dablam in Nepal. The 26-year-old also scaled the planet’s highest peak, Mt Everest, on May 12 this year. A very popular travel blogger and Instagram influencer, Prakriti, has also been vegan for more than five years. She originally embraced the lifestyle after learning about the devastating impact of the dairy industry on the environment. She brought her planetary concerns with her during her Everest expedition, by being cognizant of what she left behind on the mountain.

Follow Prakriti Varshney on Instagram and LinkedIn

Lakshmi Sharath

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A storyteller and traveller, Lakshmi Sharath started her career in the field of corporate media career, about three decades ago. Having spent over a decade and a half in the corporate world as a media professional, growing from the ranks of a correspondent to a Vice President with various companies and brands in the broadcast media, Lakshmi took a sabbatical at the peak of her career to explore the world. She started a blog capturing all her stories about people and places.

She has worked with over 100 brands as a content creator and influencer. This list tourism boards, airlines, hotels and clients in the tech, lifestyle, and auto genres among others. While she has traveled to over 50 countries, her passion lies in exploring the nooks and corners of India. Currently she is working on her project 100 stories of India.

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Venkat Ganesh

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Road trips are a thrilling way of discovering new destinations, and Venkat Ganesh is a pro. A well-known travel blogger who loves to be on the road with his bike as his sole travel companion, Venkat quit his job to satiate his travel hunger. His blog depicts exciting sagas of his road journeys; at the same time, dishing out information for backpackers and other intrepid travelers. You will be amazed to read about his unplanned journeys that have worked out to be such exciting adventures in themselves.

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Published on 22, May 2022

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Alpine skier Aanchal Thakur ‘trail’ blazes as first Indian to win an international bronze

(January 24, 2022) Alpine skier Aanchal Thakur does not recall how she fell in love with skiing. She does, however, remember when her feet were strapped to two wooden planks, and was given two sticks to manoeuvre on the snow. “I was five-years-old and I have been skiing ever since,” smiles the slalom champion. The Manali girl, all of 25, created history by winning a bronze medal in the giant slalom category at the Federation Internationale de Ski meet at Kolasin, Montenegro in December 2021. That made her the first-ever Indian to win a medal at the event. It was Aanchal’s second medal, internationally. The first, another bronze, she won at the 2018 Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup held in Turkey. The little girl from the hills "My generation could never think of winning international tournaments. Now, we are slowly gaining confidence. When I won the bronze in Turkey, my father couldn’t believe I had won. Competing against the best is what matters,” says Aanchal. The Alpine skier recalls how she joined the event despite a deep cut on her hand (while ‘tuning’ her skis earlier). The girl with a never-say-die attitude learnt skiing in Burua, Solan Valley. On her seventh

https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_7023.jpg" alt="Indian Alpine Skier | Aanchal Thakur" width="633" height="772" />

The girl with a never-say-die attitude learnt skiing in Burua, Solan Valley. On her seventh birthday, seeing her potential, her father, Roshan Lal Thakur gifted her, the first professionally made skis. She was hooked.

“I fell in love with skiing and gliding through the snow at high speeds. I would keep challenging myself to go faster,” smiles the girl who awaits winter so she can ski. Her father, a skiing instructor, and her brother (a professional skier) are her constant teachers and guides.

A risky sport, Aanchal admits, “Coming down the hill at high speeds, there are bound to be falls. It is a risky sport, but that's part of the game. A risk of back and leg injuries are always on my mind."

From Solan to Youth Olympics

In India, winter sports like skiing, snowboarding and skating are limited to Manali, Sikkim, Gulmarg and Kashmir. “We hardly have any winter sporting events covered in the media as there aren’t many competitions too," mulls the alpine skier.

Her father, who owns an adventure company in Manali, had organised some events, and Aanchal feels the scenario can progress if there is awareness.

The DAV College (Chandigarh) graduate, Aanchal has been representing India in skiing competitions since school. At just 15, she took part at the Winter Youth Olympics Games at Innsbruck 2012 (Austria). Declared the best skier at the National Ski and Snowboard Championship 2020 (Manali), she came first in the giant slalom, and second in the Khelo India National Winter Games, 2021, Gulmarg.

Training is what keeps her in the running - Aanchal went to Switzerland in 2011, coached under Heera Lal, a former Olympian, and became the first Indian to participate in the Winter Youth Olympics 2012. “I still get goosebumps thinking about the moment when I held India’s flag at the opening ceremony,” she tells Global Indian.

Competing with international athletes can be “demotivating,” but the alpine skier is thankful that her father frequently reminds her of her stellar achievements - how far she has come, and the road ahead. “He would repeatedly say, ‘remember you have come from a place where people are still not aware of the sport,’” smiles the slalom champ.

Skiing is also an expensive sport. Just the skiing equipment costs ₹5 lakh, and training ₹20 lakh as it is overseas since India does not get enough snow, or for extended periods. “Getting sponsors or support in India is difficult as winter sports is yet to make a mark," she says, adding, "My father saved some money for my training. Crowdfunding has helped too. Many people have contributed to buying equipment or for my training abroad.” Incidentally, Thakur’s Instagram has been the most effective to gather funds.

It takes courage, and dedication

An early riser, Aanchal devotes two hours to outdoor training, another hour in the gym to build her core. She religiously follows Lindsey Caroline Vonn, American former World Cup alpine ski racer. Aanchal was training with her brother Himanshu in Austria for the past few months to prepare for the Winter Olympics at Beijing 2022. Sad that she missed some qualifiers, she reveals, “I participated in a few races, but there was a lockdown in Austria due to the third wave. So, I missed out on a few competitive events that would have seen me participate at Beijing.”

Back to Manali, Thakur hopes to make it to the next Olympics and the World Skiing Championship in March 2023 (Austria). “I have been upset about not qualifying for this Olympics, but my family has been keeping my spirits up. My brother says skiing is all about moving forward. So, I want to look at the brighter side and hone my skills to prepare for my next race,” says the avid football fan who loves CR7 - Cristiano Ronaldo.

Follow Aanchal Thakur on Instagram and Twitter

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Meet Meghana Gaddam, New Zealand’s Indian origin Youth Parliament member

(January 5, 2023) Meghana Gaddam stood before the New Zealand parliament, greeting the speaker with a 'Namaskaram' before turning to the minister of health to ask, “How do health system reforms address the existing nationwide resource constraint in the health sector particularly labour shortages.” By her side stood MP Tim van de Molen, whom she was assisting. Meghana is a member of the Youth Parliament, part of a novel method of functioning in the New Zealand government. Citizens elect close to 120 MPs, each one of whom works in close association with a nominated Youth Parliament member. In 2022, when Meghana was nominated for the role, her responsibilities included helping the MP deal with issues related to the youth and to act as their voice within the parliament.She has been working with Waikato's MP Tim van de Molen with a focus on shelter for every person, especially in the wake of Covid-19 induced poverty and homelessness. [caption id="attachment_26141" align="aligncenter" width="738"] Meghana Gaddam in the New Zealand Parliament[/caption] "Nothing is impossible for a strong-willed person, if one is determined to do best to achieve their goals in life," she remarked while interacting with media after getting selected for the coveted role. Inclination

ent[/caption]

"Nothing is impossible for a strong-willed person, if one is determined to do best to achieve their goals in life," she remarked while interacting with media after getting selected for the coveted role.

Inclination towards social work

The Youth Parliament is held every three years, providing young New Zealanders the chance to learn first-hand about the country's democracy, influence decision-making and have their voices heard. As the government made its selection, it recognized Meghana's exposure to social service and efforts to raise funds for orphans in Waikato.

“With my friends, I had taken up activities to support orphans and kids from refugee camps who had migrated from Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq,” she revealed in an interview.

[caption id="attachment_26142" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Meghana Gaddam with MP Tim van de Molen in New Zealand Parliament[/caption]

Tim Van de Molen, the MP whom Meghana is currently ,assisting remarked in an interview that the four-minute video, where she gave her opinion on issues facing youth in the Waikato, was excellent and seemed as if it came straight from the Parliament’s general debate.

From India to New Zealand

Meghana's father, Gaddam Ravikumar immigrated to New Zealand twenty-two years ago with his newly wedded wife, and settled in Waikato as a real estate businessman. Meghana was born there, and the family has been staying in St Kilda.

[caption id="attachment_26143" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Meghana Gaddam with her parents[/caption]

Always a bright student, she completed her International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme' (IBDP) from St Peter's, Cambridge, graduating as head girl.

Meghana excelled academically and also participated in various social service initiatives in school. She did a two-year stint at the Refugee Orientation Centre Trust in Hamilton and was an active Model United Nations participant.

This laid the foundation of the people’s person that the nineteen-year-old Global Indian eventually became.

The Indian roots

Though born and brought up in New Zealand, the youth icon of the island country hasn’t forgotten her Indian roots. Visiting her native place, Tanguturu in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh with her parents has been an annual affair.

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

The youngster fluently converses in Telugu and clued in to Indian culture. She is also always in the thick of traditions followed by the diaspora.

Follow Meghana Gaddam on Twitter

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Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani: The ethical hacker representing India in international championships

(March 20, 2024) For someone who has been interested in cybersecurity since a young age, representing India at international championships in new-age Information Technology platforms was a surreal experience. The past few months have been very fruitful for Ahmedabad's Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani. At the High Technology Championship held in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, in September 2023, he secured a silver medal in Neural Networks. The same year in November, he clinched a bronze at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia, for IT Software Solution. The year 2024 also began on a high note as he emerged as a finalist at the Sports/Competitive Programming competition held in Kazan, Russia, in February. From a young age, Kirtikumar has excelled in cybersecurity. At just 15 years old in 2018, he received the title of 'youngest cyber security researcher' from World Records India for securing over 100 websites by identifying and reporting vulnerabilities in their web applications. That same year, his name was inscribed in the India Book of Achievers. [caption id="attachment_36726" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption] The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had

oads/2024/03/GI-6loQW4AACJVU-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani is an ethical hacker who represents India in new-age Information Technology international competitions." width="657" height="439" /> Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption]

The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had achieved a Top 32 rank at the World Cyber Games held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019.

As an ethical hacker and Penetration Tester (PenTester), Kirtikumar has earned recognition and monetary rewards from major tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle for identifying vulnerabilities in their web applications.

Kirtikumar's interest extends to astrological predictions as well. “Anyone can check my predictions in the Astro World channel where I predicted actual dates or details about market crashes, earthquakes, election results, sporting tournaments’ results, and war which ultimately came true,” he tells Global Indian.

In the world of cybersecurity since the age of eight

At the age of eight, Kirtikumar's enthusiasm for computers became apparent as he immersed himself in activities like programming and gaming. One day, while playing Subway Surfers, he became intrigued by his cousin's method of obtaining unlimited coins in the game. This curiosity prompted him to indulge in extensive research, which led him to discover how to hack the game. By the time he turned 13, Kirtikumar had gained a thorough understanding of hacking tools such as remote access trojans (RATs). Fuelled by his curiosity in the subject, Kirtikumar kept on polishing his skills in the world of ethical hacking.

[caption id="attachment_36724" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Kirtikumar at the International High Technologies Championship 2023 at Veliky Novgorod, Russia[/caption]

Creating milestones

In 2018, at the age of 15, he won the Penetration Tester of the Year award at the United Kingdom based Cyber Security Awards ceremony with several well-known personalities in the field of cyber security as the judges. Kirtikumar also got recognised by the World Book of Records, and earned an entry into the Book of Achievers that year.

The following year Kirti became the youngest to win the Tech Savvy Award which led his interest in the field of science and technology even more, making him passionate in his endeavour to find solutions to vulnerabilities in web applications. “In 2022, I was the top security researcher on the Google Play Security Reward program,” he mentions.

Hacking for good

As Kirtikumar honed his ethical hacking skills further, he noticed that tech giants were publicly recognising cybersecurity enthusiasts for safeguarding their infrastructure by uncovering vulnerabilities in their web applications.

"Inspired by that I decided to leverage my hacking skills for the greater good, securing the internet for users by identifying vulnerabilities in the web applications of major tech companies,” he says. “When I shared the security threats with the respective companies, I was rewarded financially. Some organisations even sent me gift packs with exclusive merchandise printed with their logo and the words ‘security researcher’, as a token of appreciation,” he explains.

[caption id="attachment_36729" align="aligncenter" width="731"] Kirtikumar with Tennessee based cyber security evangelist, Dameon Welch[/caption]

Advancing from web security to browser security and Kernel security

After spending a few years in the field of web security, Kirtikumar yearned to learn something more exciting. “I decided to shift my focus to browser security taking inspiration from international security researchers, Abdulrahman Al-Qabandi and Eric Lawrence.”

After spending a couple of years mastering browser security skills, he again yearned to learn something new, and shifted his focus to Kernel security (errors of which lead to fatal issues on the PC). “I got interested in this subject by following Germany based senior security consultant, Patrick Walker,” says Kirtikumar.

With his dedication to learn advanced skills, expertise and accomplishments at such a young age, Kirtikumar has earned connections with international experts, and opportunities to participate in global forums on cybersecurity. Talking about Kernel Security, he remarks, “It is the most challenging realm of exploration for me because I love to try something tough which can push my boundaries to think out of the box.”

Also Read: Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners

Endeavours in eSports

Kirtikumar has been into competitive eSports but decided to leave it in 2020. In 2019, he participated in the regional finals of the World Cyber Games in Seoul, South Korea, securing the seventh-place finish in the Asia Pacific Region, cementing his position among the top 32 players. He also competed in the Clash Royale League (CRL 2019) and ranked among the top players worldwide in weekly Grand Challenge finishers.

[caption id="attachment_36727" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

“I left competitive gaming in 2020 after winning my last Paytm First Games. It wasn't helping me think outside the box; I was simply addicted to the game,” he explains. “Fortunately, I realised this at the right moment and began to dedicate more time to browser and kernel security research. I am pleased to have qualified for national rounds and to represent India internationally in these fields,” he remarks.

Academic brilliance

A former student of St. Stephen and Navkar Public School in Ahmedabad, Kirtikumar excelled in science and maths, earning a top 100 ranking in the International Math Olympiads (IMO) and National Science Olympiads (NSO) during his time in school. He also achieved a spot in the top 400 in the National Cyber Olympiads (NCO), as a school student.

Currently, the cybersecurity enthusiast is pursuing Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship while working as an independent security researcher. “I aim to explore the intersection of finance and technology, merging my passion for both to create innovative solutions beneficial for traders,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_36728" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

When the multitasker finds some time out of his hectic worlds of CA, CS, security research and international competitions, he loves to draw, write, cook, follow cricket, and solve LR/RC/CR on GMAT forums. Ever since he was a teen, he has been giving talks to aspiring security researchers and loves participating in such sessions to share his knowledge.

Follow Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani on LinkedIn and Twitter

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‘Court’ing the Olympics: Tennis champ Shrivalli wants to bring home the gold

(April 14, 2022) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who was crowned the national hardcourt tennis champion (women’s singles) 2021, was 11 when she first held a tennis racket in her hand. Calling herself an “accidental” tennis player, Shrivalli was introduced to the game at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad. "I was just 11 years old and frankly, I only noticed the clothes of the kids who were playing at the stadium," laughs the 20-year-old tennis star during an interview with Global Indian. "I told my father that I wanted to play because I also wanted to wear those clothes," she adds. [caption id="attachment_15000" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Shrivalli Rashmikaa[/caption] However, Shrivalli has come a long way since then. The right-handed tennis star, who is currently doing her degree at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has won numerous titles. The most recent was the ITF Women's (doubles) $15000 - 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women's (singles) $15000 - 2022, Ahmedabad. Making of a champion Born to two sports players - her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player - Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. "I was a very active child, mostly

$15000 - 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women's (singles) $15000 - 2022, Ahmedabad.

Making of a champion

Born to two sports players - her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player - Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. "I was a very active child, mostly because my parents were so into outdoor activities. My father especially is a sports freak. He encouraged me to pick up an extra-curricular activity in school," shares the tennis star, who is also a trained classical Carnatic singer.

While she took part in various sports, including swimming and roller skating, tennis was her 'one true love'. And once she started training, it did not take the coaches at the LB stadium much time to realise that Shrivalli was a gifted player.

[caption id="attachment_15017" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Shrivalli after winning a tournament[/caption]

"For the first year, I went to the stadium to just have fun. I was the most talkative kid in the stadium, who loved picking up balls more than hitting them," she laughs, adding, “But one day when my father had come to pick me up, one of the coaches asked him if I would like to take up the sport professionally. After coming home, my father posed the same question. In fact, I remember he warned me that it would be a tough journey. I was about 12 years old and didn't really understand what was so tough about playing tennis. So, I just said yes," the tennis player recalls.

Even as she worked hard to win every tournament, she did not forget to enjoy her childhood. Although she was a good student, she was also a trouble-maker in class. "I was a notorious student. Me and a few friends would bunk classes together. We would never leave the school premises, but we just would not attend the classes some times. Since I was very talkative, the teachers would sometimes even kick me out of the class. But I was a good student, my grades were really good. And I'd win gold in almost every tournament, so my teachers and principal were happy with me," smiles the tennis champ.

When the going gets tough

During her initial years, the tennis player won several medals, including the national title 2014-15, and under-18 petit camp open doubles in Mauritius in 2016. However, like every player she had to face some tough losses as well. While she recognised her potential as a player, Shrivalli learnt a lot from the matches she couldn't win.

[caption id="attachment_15018" align="aligncenter" width="690"] Shrivalli with her parents[/caption]

"I knew right from the beginning that I was able to do something extraordinary, something not everyone could do. As a junior, I wasn't much of a performing kid. So, I would constantly put pressure on myself to perform well. And when I didn't, the losses hit me very hard. Also, the other tennis players my age were performing really well, and I would inadvertently compare myself with them. In almost every tournament, even before the draw was out, I would freak out," shares the young player.

For two years, Shrivalli constantly struggled with these doubts which affected her game. Explaining how important it is to be mentally strong to win the games, the tennis player adds, "I did go to a psychologist subsequently and that helped me a lot. I started concentrating on my game more than the outcomes. So, as I moved towards my under-18s my game improved a lot." Her parents, Shrivalli says, were very supportive through her journey, and never once put pressure on her.

Olympic dreams

One of her biggest victories was defeating Rutuja Bhosale at the ITF $25K Pune R1 – 2021. That instilled a great deal of confidence in her. "I think all players feel nervous before a match. I do too. But I am confident now that I can play against, and defeat, any player," remarks Shrivalli, who is very inspired by Novak Djokovic.

[caption id="attachment_15019" align="aligncenter" width="772"] The tennis champion dreams of representing the country in Olympics[/caption]

Shrivalli dreams of representing India at the Olympics and works at her aspirations without compromise. Her day begins at 4.15 am and training continues for between five and six hours a day. And along the way, she hopes to win as many cups as she can for her country. “I will be participating in several upcoming national and international tournament. But a dream come true will be representing India at the Olympics and winning gold for the country," says the tennis star, who loves cooking or baking in her free time.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Pranay Kumar: Empowering tomorrow’s leaders through Nine Foundation

(May 10, 2024) After graduating from the Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Bengaluru, Pranay Kumar embarked on a new chapter in Sikkim. Passionate about entrepreneurship, he founded Chakrasfarm Pvt Ltd, which found a home at the AIC-SMUTBI at the Manipal Institute of Technology at Sikkim. The breathtaking beauty of the state served as a catalyst for his thoughts on climate change, as he noticed a lack of awareness on the subject in the region. Pranay founded the non-profit Nine Foundation which has impacted 500 students. “It’s a non-proﬁt organisation I established to tackle climate change through education. The best part is that we offer our program completely free of cost to students. We don’t charge anything from schools we collaborate with,” Pranay tells Global Indian. Although agritech had sparked his journey, the Sikkim floods ignited in him a passion that he couldn't ignore. “As an engineer, I felt compelled to contribute to nature. Witnessing the exploitation of our planet became too much to ignore,” he shares. [caption id="attachment_37722" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Pranay Kumar[/caption] Compelled to take action “Witnessing our planet's vulnerability, I knew action was crucial. Inspired by UCDF, I co-founded Nine Foundation, not just to educate, but to empower. Seeing

an engineer, I felt compelled to contribute to nature. Witnessing the exploitation of our planet became too much to ignore,” he shares.

[caption id="attachment_37722" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Pranay Kumar[/caption]

Compelled to take action

“Witnessing our planet's vulnerability, I knew action was crucial. Inspired by UCDF, I co-founded Nine Foundation, not just to educate, but to empower. Seeing the potential in young minds fuelled my mission to equip them as the leaders of tomorrow's climate fight,” he remarks.

The Chakrasfarm project got on hold due to unforeseen reasons but the engineer with an entrepreneurial bent of mind started a travel company. Moreover, the foundation has injected a new lease of life into his journey.

So profound is Pranay’s commitment to the cause that he incurs all expenses of the foundation from his own pocket. However, the rewards he gains from this investment are priceless. "There's something truly special about being present, engaging directly with the students, and witnessing their enthusiasm firsthand," he shares.

He looks at education as a tool to change the mindset of an entire generation, creating a ripple effect that lasts for decades.

The Nine Foundation

“The name ‘Nine’ wasn't chosen at random. It symbolises completion and new beginnings, which perfectly reﬂects our commitment to a sustainable future, and I believe education is the key to real change,” Pranay says, about the significance behind the foundation’s name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdY-3QFGGa4

Pranay and his team partners with schools to integrate climate education into their curriculum, making environmental awareness and action an essential part of the students’ learning experience. The aim is to empower students to become informed advocates for planet Earth, equip them with knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to create a more sustainable future.

“While I have a fantastic and reliable team who helps initiate partnerships with schools, I also make it a priority to visit these schools myself whenever possible,” Pranay remarks.

Nine Foundation team engages senior and junior classes, sparking interest and action through interactive workshops and presentations. These sessions explore the science behind climate change, present real-world solutions, and empower students to take ownership of their environmental impact.

Empowering the youth

Those students who show extraordinary interest in Nine Foundation's work are given the option to become volunteers and form ‘School of Climate Change’ clubs in their respective schools. “These student-led groups serve as a platform to deepen their knowledge, brainstorm creative solutions, and organise school-wide initiatives promoting a sustainable lifestyle.”

[caption id="attachment_37732" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Nine EnviroEd volunteers[/caption]

Nine Foundation’s ‘hands-on activities’ immerse students in environmental challenges. Interactive experiences, like planting trees, cleaning up local parks, or conducting water quality tests, connect students with the environment and its problems directly and provide them with a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. The school volunteers and their teams are made to showcase their ongoing climate efforts at the end of a three-month period. “This encourages reflection, peer learning, and collaboration, showcasing the power of individual and collective action,” Pranay tells.

The most dedicated student, chosen on the parameters of leadership, initiative, and commitment, earns the title of ‘The One Human.’ “The title empowers the student to become an ambassador for climate action within their community, inspiring others to save, conserve, and protect our planet,” tells Pranay.

Challenges and triumphs

It's not always easy to fit climate change education into packed school schedules. “Funding is another hurdle (educating one child costs around Rs. 65). But seeing the curiosity and engagement in students' eyes during our sessions makes it all worthwhile,” remarks Pranay.

The outdoor learning experiences are something that he particularly cherishes. “Connecting students with nature ﬁrsthand is incredibly powerful. It's amazing to see how connected they become when surrounded by the environment we're ﬁghting to protect,” he tells.

[caption id="attachment_37724" align="aligncenter" width="866"] Pranay Kumar at one of the sessions in Sikkim[/caption]

Future plan

So far, Pranay has impacted students in five schools of Sikkim. Very recently he has started expansion programmes in colleges of Jharkhand as he belongs to that belt being a native of Muzaffarpur. “My vision goes far beyond the schools we've already impacted in Sikkim and Jharkhand. We have a bold dream of expanding our climate change education program throughout the entire Northeast, the Himalayan belt, and eventually, the plains of India. We are on a mission to educate the whole northeast India in the next 2 years,” he shares.

Pranay even dreams of going global with Nine Foundation someday. “Charity begins at home. We're laser-focused on impacting our home country ﬁrst,” he remarks adding, “It's a long road ahead, but with education as our weapon, we can build a more sustainable future, one generation at a time.”

Follow Pranay Kumar on LinkedIn
Follow Nine Foundation at LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Threads

Reading Time: 5 mins

Ditching the nine-to-five routine, these young travellers are exploring the world

Written by: Team GI Youth

Shivya Nath

Prakriti Varshney

Venkat Ganesh

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