Meet Ayushman Kalita, a grade 7 student who has been recognised as the ‘Young Author’ of the non-fiction science book "Black Holes in a Nutshell” by the Asia Book of Records.

What are black holes? How are they formed and what will happen if you go into a black hole? Even as the concept is lost on most of us because we are still exploring black holes, a 12-year-old has written a book and tried to explain black holes in simpler words. 'Black Holes in a Nutshell: The Hungry Matter no one can Escape' has fetched the young author a spot in the Asia Book of Records even.

Meet Ayushman Kalita, a grade 7 student who has been recognised as the "Young Author' of the non-fiction science book by the Asia Book of Records.

"Black holes are always mysterious. We do not really know a lot about them and this is what caught my interest," says Ayushman. And in his book, 'Black Holes in a Nutshell’, Ayushman has tried to explain the celestial object in a way anyone can understand.

"I have broken down the concept into a simpler format so that kids my age can understand," he says. The book is published by Orange Book Publication and is available on Kindle, Amazon and Flipkart.

It was during the pandemic that Ayushman started writing the book. Having read "The Theory of Everything" by Stephen W Hawking, Ayushman got inspired to write about black holes.

"The lockdown was a blessing in disguise for me. I spent the entire time writing the book," says Ayushman who studies at Orchids The International School-Koparkhairane.

The book was written using information available through books, instructional videos, and YouTube and was completed in a period of over six months. This is his third book. When he was nine, he wrote a book on rocket science titled "Sky Skip 0.2" which was followed by his second book titled "Morse Code". He says that he feels humbled after this rare feat. "My friends are all proud of me. My principal and teachers are very encouraging and I feel so humbled now. I have to keep going." he says.

Ayushman also has a YouTube channel titled "The Animation World" where he explains science and space concepts. Having learned animation by himself, the young boy uses the visual medium to explain concepts better. Ayushman also has a YouTube channel titled "The Animation World" where he explains science and space concepts. Having learned animation by himself, the young boy uses the visual medium to explain concepts better. Ayushman says that as students, one should always be in search of knowledge. "Science is very important. Always look forward to gaining knowledge. Change is constant. Everything around you keeps changing," he says. Ayushman's dream is to become a rocket scientist. "We are suffering on Earth with global warming.

The population is growing at a fast pace and we will need more space. We need to explore the habitability of other planets. I want to be part of that science exploration. I want to join NASA and after gaining enough experience, I will open my own space organisation in India," says an ambitious Ayushman.

Picture credit : Google 

An interview of young achiever Fariya Maryam (founder of Project Inclusion and Ayka - For The People)

Meet Fariya Maryam from Gurgaon, Haryana, founder of Project Inclusion and Ayka - For The People. These organisations have been working through art, volunteers, and workshops to help less privileged people in areas such as education, mental health, mentrual health, etc.

How did you embark on a journey of social work?

I've been interested in social work from a young age and excited about starting something new. It just so happened that started pursuing my interests in Class XI, during the pandemic. It all started with Project Inclusion, which I launched to raise awareness about mental health and neurodiversity. I think it was the pressure and mental health issues affecting so many people in the pandemic that pushed me to do something about it. I decided to make this a priority and started organising weekly support groups to help people deal with their mental pressures. Then, I started connecting with people with similar interests to broaden my initiative. Expanding my interests and skills in social work led me to start Ayka - For The People, an organisation that aspires to provide skill development opportunities and access to holistic education to less privileged children. We started with painting murals in rural areas and organising nationwide donation drives for the less privileged. Furthermore, I took a lot of interest in teaching subjects such as Maths and English. The progress the students made motivated me to continue my journey.

Tell us about your non-profit organisation. What kind of impact does it hope to create?

I founded Project Inclusion in 2020 with the aim of destigmatising mental health issues. We have been raising awareness about autism and learning disorders such as dyslexia, and for the last two years been working round the clock to provide free, accessible mental health resources to all strata of society. We offer weekly workshops on anxiety, depression, and stress, and have taken up the responsibility to connect a person in dire need of help with a mental health professional for a fee. Apart from that, we've been educating less privileged children about mental health to deal with the pressure of examinations, bullying, etc., and less privileged women about Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), a topic that menstrual hygiene workshops often don't cover. So our central aim is to educate people on significantly downplayed but important topics.

How do you perceive art?

Calling art a medium of expression is an understatement. It is the means through which you get the freedom to make something of your will and show it to a large audience. It's open to interpretation, that's the most unique thing about art that I love. I think my art is rebellious in the sense that I have made it my aim to break stereotypes and prejudices against marginalised groups of society. I believe that art has a voice of its own and I love raising awareness through art. I understand that my art may seem provocative, but that is not my intention.

What made you start Ayka - For The People.

I started Ayka when I was 15. I was painting the walls at my grandmother's in Jamshedpur, and our domestic help watched it in awe and wanted me to paint her house. Then, as word spread about the basic flower design I had painted, more and more people approached me to paint their walls. I started painting in several houses and then moved on to local schools wherein I created art on social and environmental issues. I also brought together a community of art students. We started painting murals and then went on to focus on improving the quality of education for less privileged children. We wanted to cultivate in students a sense of creativity. We started organising lessons on communication, art, and general knowledge. We are now around 500 people across the country, and have five branches: Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. So far, we've completed 50 wall paintings and a plethora of workshops. We are passionate about what we do. I believe when you start enjoying social work, the difference you can make is huge.

Any tips for fellow teens to keep a check on their mental health?

I'm not a professional, but I can share my experience. I think if you're not taking care of your mental health, then you're jeopardising your future. When I didn't pay heed to mental health, my productivity was plummeting. But mental well-being is not all that complex. It could be as simple as going out for a walk, taking care of a plant, or practising meditation and mindfulness. These things may come off as silly for teens, but trust me, they are important.

What are your future plans?

I'm planning to pursue a degree in health sciences followed by an MBA. I want to work on developing innovative and robust solutions to deal with mental health illnesses, and I think taking up an interdisciplinary subject that explores psychology, biology, and health will certainly help me in achieving my goals.

How do you manage your time?

I am always doing something or the other. I have a habit of writing down any pending tasks and completing them one by one until I'm done with all of them. I work when I have random bursts of energy and motivation, and do not prefer a timetable-like approach.

If there is something you'd like to change in society, what would that be?

Gende stereotypes. I want to break the patriarchal social construct in India. I think discrimination would never end but improvement is certainly possible through the younger generations. All genders must fight stereotypes together for the well-being of humanity. Many people think awareness campaigns on mental health wouldn't bring tangible results, but I think otherwise. I've helped many people who didn't even know they were struggling, and I would say mental health awareness has been instrumental in their ongoing recovery.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER PRIYANKHA KAMALAKANNAN (AUTHOR OF THE BOOKS "THE POSITIVE POETRY CLOSET' AND "FANTASIA ADVENTURES")

This young author of the books "The Positive Poetry Closet' and "Fantasia Adventures" used the lockdown to hone her writing skills. She's also been a TEDx speaker. Priyankha Kamalakannan, living in Germany. She speaks about her journey.

How did your journey as an author start?

Writing started as a skill at school. One day, I randomly wrote a short story called The Bucket List Detectives'. My parents printed it as small booklets on my eighth birthday, and gave them as return gifts to guests. Everyone loved the story, and I was motivated by the appreciation I received. So, I wrote another story called 'Liana's Adventures In Wonderland. During the lockdown, I re-read my previous works and realised I could write them in a much better way. So I rewrote 'Liana's Adventures In Wonderland', which turned into a newly sculpted tale very different from the original story. Rewriting this story resulted in my first book, 'Fantasia Adventures.

Tell us about 'Fantasia Adventures' and 'The Positive Poetry Closet?

'Fantasia Adventures' is a fantasy book, where the main character is a girl called Lizzy who lives on an English farm and is very special to her grandmother. One night, when she thinks about her grandma, she magically lands in a place called Fantasia, a magical land where she meets a lot of different people. She learns about an evil queen who wants to destroy all the good. She, hence, decides to go on a mission to stop the evil queen and save Fantasia and its people. This is the plot of the story, and I sought help from my friend and added illustrations to make the book more interesting for readers.

My second book is The Positive Poetry Closet. I had numerous poems written and piled up, so I thought of compiling them into a book. I gave the book a fun title and published it.

How was your experience as a TEDx speaker?

When I was in Class III, my teachers used to play TED Talks on the smart board. When I was in Class IV, my school got a licence to conduct a TEDx speech, and my teacher allowed us to participate in it. Only a couple of people were selected, and I was surprised and happy that I was one of them. We had mentors and teachers who supported us, and to make it more impactful, we took instances from real-life for our talks. Not having notes and memorising the speech I wrote was what was keeping me from being distracted. The whole experience was thrilling.

How do you manage school and other work?

My writing started over the lockdown period, so most of my school work was done online during class. Our teachers didn't give us much work due to which there was a lot of leisure time, which I utilised for writing my books. Our school has a system where they don't give homework till Class VI, which made it simpler for me. Apart from the time I spend on my school work and writing. I take part in extra-curricular activities too. I also started my YouTube channel during this lockdown, where I shared videos of me spending time with my friends, doing crafts, experiments, baking, etc.

If something has to be changed in society, what would it be?

Irrespective of all the work we should accomplish, we must prioritise what we want to do and what we believe is important to us. It is also important that we spend quality time on the things we are passionate about, as it is important to share our abilities with everyone. In society, I wish to change the pivotal situation of how people are not being able to pursue their dreams and passion due to age boundaries. I would like to break these boundaries that are an obstacle to people from reaching their full potential. Many people of young and old age have been proving that age is just a number and that age shouldn't be used to question one's ability.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER KANAV BATRA – CO FOUNDER OF FINZ ORGANISATION

Through his organisation Finz, this social entrepreneur is on a mission to raise awareness about the importance of financial literacy among Gen Z He also started the Workers' Rights Awareness Project and is part of Youth Policy Collective, focussing on research and writing. Kanav Batra speaks about his journey.

What is your organisation Finz all about?

Finz was established to educate Gen Z about personal finance, investing, entrepreneurship, and economics. With the help of a tailor-made curriculum, we provide courses that enrich students' financial acumen. We also provide an environment where Genz can gather real-life lessons along the way. At Finz, competitions are held for students to collaborate and compete. We will also conduct webinars with industry experts, college students, personal finance influencers, and youth entrepreneurs, and boot camps to reinforce what we teach through courses and mainstream learning instruments.

What made you a social entrepreneur?

Till I was in Class XI, I spent my time writing, reading, and just sticking with school. In Class XI, I felt there were many opportunities for students like me who wanted to become changemakers but didn't know how to. That's when I started pursuing my academic interests and hobbies outside of school too, starting my journey to becoming a social entrepreneur. Along the way, I saw many other young changemakers creating impact and bringing positive changes to society. This motivated me then, still does, and pushed me to be a social entrepreneur. To be fair though, my interests were always in economics, and this was one of the key reasons I started Finz with my friend Niranjen.

You set up WRAP - the Workers' Rights Awareness Project.

It is a social impact initiative that started with a team of nine other fellows as part of the Take the World Forward' Fellowship, a six-month programme by 'Learn with Leaders. Our motive is to improve the livelihood of daily wage workers by helping them become financially literate and spread awareness about programmes, policies, and organisations already in place to help them. Over the last couple of months, I underwent Social Impact and Leadership Training to nurture and grow WRAP as an organisation. We are commencing our move towards making WRAP an independent organisation away from the fellowship.

Tell us about your work in research, focussing on your time with Youth Policy Collective (YPC).

As part of the Economics and Trade Committee at YPC, I worked on the environmental economics and disaster management research paper, 'A Case-Study Based Analysis of the Implications of Natural Disasters on the Indian Agriculture Industry From 2000-2020. The premise of the paper and the journey of writing it were quite interesting. After a year of research, editing, and rewriting, it is now publicly available on Social Science Research Network. I am also working on two new papers with YPC, which I aim to finish in October. Outside of YPC, I am working on a behavioural economics paper surrounding consumer behaviour.

Do you think the youth of today will bring change in this entrepreneur world?

 I believe that in the next few years, there will be a changemaker in every house, and that changemaker will be a student. Students are now raising their voices by bringing more awareness to society. I strongly believe students will bring positive change and maybe one day provide a solution for our nation's problems.

What other projects are you involved in?

Under YPC, I'm also editor-in-chief of the newsletter and a member of the Steering Committee, which is essentially the top management of the organisation. I am the vice-president and one of the founding members of The Scribble Society, a creative writing dub that brings together budding writers into a community where they can publish and discuss written work. Recently, I helped organise a = writing competition on self-growth, which brought over 30 participants to compete for the top positions.

How do you manage your hobbies?

First of all, I'd like to say I am horrible at time management. Though, in contrast, I'm very committed to my work. No matter what time it is, I work and don't leave it until it is done. I think this is my best quality as it shows how much I love what I do. As for my hobbies, I am a big basketball fan; not only playing but I enjoy watching it too. I'm grateful to the sport as it helped me get better with things such as teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and resilience. Besides that, I also like writing. Writing is something I've been doing for a long time, and I feel that words have always helped me stay true to the storyteller in me.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER VARUN ARORA - FOUNDER AND CEO OF VISARD.ORG

This Class XII student is the founder and CEO of Visard.org, a youth-run, not-for-profit that aims to empower small businesses through technology. Varun Arora speaks about his journey.

What fascinated you to learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

When I was a kid, I was always engrossed in building new things and using my imagination to innovate. I first heard about Al when Intel conducted the Al for Youth programme and got selected for it. I did not have any idea about it, but decided to give it a try and I loved it. I was also intrigued, and so decided to pursue Al on a deeper level.

How was your experience at the Al for Youth programme?

It was a four-month-long programme, and at the end, we were asked to build a project that would be helpful to society in some way and contribute to the welfare of people. Recently, I had the opportunity to present my project to the CEO of Intel, and it was a phenomenal experience! Overall, the programme was beneficial and I consider it the turning point in my journey.

What was your project about?

An Al reading assistant, I made it for kids in the four to eight age group. It aims to develop essential skills in children without any increase in screentime.

You run an organisation called Visard.org.

Our organisation's main aim is to empower small businesses through technology. We do this through a range of initiatives, one of them being providing solutions such as creating websites for small business owners at rates lower than what many agencies charge. Apart from this, we have various other initiatives that cover areas such as support for artisans, educating/training business owners on tech tools, etc. We have impacted over 100 businesses and have helped small businesses save about Rs. 1 lakh. Additionally, the team size too has grown to over 25. The organisation is also backed by advisors who are alumni of reputed institutions such as Stanford, MIT, NYU, Microsoft, etc.

How do you manage your time between school and your organisation?

Due to the pandemic, my classes have been held online. It was a blessing in disguise because I was able to focus on my project and build my organisation. Once the physical classes start, the actual challenge will begin. But with proper time management and organisational skills, I think I will be able to balance everything.

When we talk about Al, the most pressing question is can humans be replaced by Al.

My answer would be a no. 1 would like to stress the fact that Al is just a displacement and not a replacement. I do agree that in some aspects Al does much better than us humans. We need to understand and accept the fact that it's going to replace humans in some jobs. But then again, certain jobs such as nursing can never be replaced by computers. For job security in the competitive world, we need to be aware of the latest technology. We need to realise that every day, we are one step closer to the point where humans and robots will coexist, and that this evolution will lead to our co-dependency.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I started cycling recently. With the pandemic locking us inside our homes, there hasn't been much activity on the road, so why not give cycling a go? I also collect ancient coins and currencies. Other than that, I have been quite busy with school and Visard.

What are your plans for the future? And what would you like to change in society?

My end goal is to be an entrepreneur. I realise that often when we start earning, we stop learning. But it shouldn't be so, because education gives wisdom too. Also, it is very important to apply what you learn in real life. For example, there is no use in learning to code if you never get to actually code. So the one thing I would like to change in society is the architecture of the Indian education system, which currently focusses more on theoretical concepts than practical application.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER GOURAV KHUNGER- ANDROID APP DEVELOPER

Meet Gourav Khunger a 16-year-old Android app developer. He runs genicsblog.com an open source platform for developers to share technical knowledge. He speaks about his journey .

What fascinates you about technology?

The ability to turn my imagination into reality. Having a solid technical background helped me build software tools and apps that didn't exist. In this modern world, having basic tech skills is a must.

Tell us about your journey of finding your passion.

Until Class VI, I had almost no involvement in extracurricular activities. One day my father showed me an advertisement for an Indian digital payment company. and pointed out the things they are doing with their app. This kindled my curiosity to learn about the interface of their app and about the tools used to build websites. This, combined with the basic web development lessons in Class VI, got me to explore different kinds of technology using the computer we had at home. I used the Internet for the first time to learn about website development. I set up my first website by leaming about coding from an educational website. This was about five years ago. But I soon realised web development wasn't something I wanted to pursue as a career. I wanted to do programming languages such as Java, Kotlin, Ruby, etc. So in Class VIII, I got into app development, and since then I have worked using many coding languages on different levels of projects. Today I maintain 20+ open source projects, and also write technical articles to help others become better software developers.

Recently, you became one of the youngest to receive the Google Associate Android Developer certification.

It is a certification that says I have the industry-level skills required to be a professional Android developer. It is not a course certification, but an eight-hour-long programming test where one has to work on tasks on a real Android app project that Google provides. There's a coding interview too, and that's how one can be certified.

What projects are you currently working on?

I'm currently focussing on my developer publication genicsblog.com and my open source app JekyllEx. Genics is a public blog and open source platform where software developers can share their technical knowledge by writing on topics they are passionate about. It has about 600 monthly readers now; in January it was only 200! JekyllEx allows people to manage their Jekyll-powered blogs from their smartphone without the hassle of needing a desktop.

What's your vision for this fast-growing world?

My vision is to build software and also create content that would help people upskill their knowledge in software development. I believe that free and open-source software is powerful. Most of what we see on the Internet today would not have existed if it weren't for open source. So I would definitely continue to work on my open source projects.

Do you have any message for society?

I would like to change society's mindset that kids can't do anything without formal education. During the recent lockdowns, we saw a lot of people with mind-blowing ideas that have the potential to change the world. I believe that people should have an open mind and trust their kids by letting them pursue careers in any field they find interesting. Teaching kids to be passionate about what they want to do is a lot better than forcing them to change to something they might regret later. As for the kids, my message is believe in yourselves because you can do anything you want. When you know that you have the potential, go for it and earn your place in this world!

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER UDITI SHARMA - FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ELEVATE TECH (A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION).

Uditi Sharma is a 16-year-old change-maker passionate about using technology for social good. She is the founder and executive director of Elevate Tech, a non-profit organisation with a mission to empowering gender minorities through technology and entrepreneurship.

She speaks about her journey. Founder of the First Step, a YouTube channel that features interviews of young achievers.

What prompted you to set up Elevate Tech?

As my Class IX examinations got over, I had a lot of free time to learn about computer science and participate in online coding events. I had been coding apps and websites since middle school, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity for me. However, noticed that barely any girls were present at these events- if any at all! saw potential in turning such events into an avenue for bringing in more girls into the tech space. So, was motivated to create an organisation to empower young girls like myself who were just venturing into the world of technology. Back when started the non-profit. I didn't know it would become something so big and involve and impact thousands of people worldwide. I started by doing small workshops teaching my friends and their siblings how to code. To this day, teaching code is one of my favorite things to do. Slowly, my initiative became more extensive, and more people attended our workshops and events. As the organisation grew, we spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas for a large-scale, impact-driven event that would allow attendees to use technology for social good and empower others around them. This resulted in Elevate Hacks, a 48-hour hackathon. After Elevate Hacks, we have dedicated our time to other events, such as our fellowship and mentorship programmes. We're currently planning to host the second edition of our hackathon this year.

Tell us more about Elevate Hacks. What kind of impact did it create?

We held our first hackathon event in July 2020. We had over 600 young girls from 35 countries around the globe who got together to create websites and apps that solved problems in their communities, resulting in the development of 65 products within two days! I knew my efforts from over six months serving as the lead and sponsorships director of the hackathon paid off when I saw the fantastic community of problem-solvers and entrepreneurs we had brought together.

In addition, we had over 20 guest speakers, workshop hosts, and panellists throughout the event to keep our audience engaged and encouraged, teaching them upcoming technologies such as machine learning and iOS app development.

What is your motivation to organise hackathons and similar events? What are your next steps?

Hackathons inspire me because of their focus on collaboration and problem-solving. At hackathons, you can find solutions to the world's biggest problems with the support of so many others around you. I firmly believe technology and entrepreneurship can together solve the world's most pressing issues and it's so important to have young women be a part of this change.

As the hackathon ended, we researched improving the experiences of our hackers and began working on other impactful events. We learned the need for a long-term engagement that offered the same supportive hackathon culture but gave our participants flexibility with their time- and came up with the Elevate Tech fellowship programme. This is a three-month-long, grant-based fellowship programme that pairs young girls passionate about using STEM for social good and provides support from industry mentors and experts as they develop their products.

You're the leader of Girl Up Dubai. Tell us more about that.

 I’ve been part of the Girl Up for over a year now, serving as a club leader. coalition leader, and most recently as the leader of the Girl Up Gender Equality Action Group leader at the United Nations Foundation's Big Brainstom. I worked with my team to create a gender-focussed climate advocacy tool-kit and presented our idea to the judging panel. This process took an intense amount of time and has made me ready to further step into the world of research-motivating me to continue working on solutions to further gender equality.

What are the projects you are working on?

love to code, and I’ve been making apps for over five years now. I have recently been working on an app called Vision Al, which aims to empower visually impacted individuals through artificial intelligence. I was inspired to work on Vision Al after seeing my grandmothers struggles with visual impairment. This app uses machine learning and image recognition to assist visually aided people in doing their everyday chores. I think the youth must learn how to solve problems using technology due to its accessibility. This urge to empower the youth through technology motivated me to create and lead IHS Launchpad, a start-up incubator at my high school with over 120 members.

What are your future plans?

Although I don't have a set path yet, I’m excited to explore technology through the lens of entrepreneurship 3 and work on impactful start-ups and non-profits. Through my work at Elevate Tech and beyond, I aspire to not only shatter the glass ceiling but also build the elevator for other women to join the revolution by bridging the gender and socio-economic gap in technology and education.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER VARSHINI VIJAY (THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF TEENS FOR CANCER PATIENTS)

The founder and the president of teens of cancer patients, she was inspired to set up the organisation after experiencing  first- hand the impact of a cancer diagnosis on her family.

What made you start Teens for Cancer Patients (TCP)?

Having a family member diagnosed with cancer was extremely painful for me to see. The impact on the whole family, the financial burden, the emotional trauma, and the big question, Will they survive after all of this?" all haunted me. Upon researching, I was shocked to find out that very few international cancer (non-government organisations) for teenagers existed. I realised this needed to be changed, and I saw myself as part of the solution to innovate. I created my non-profit venture to help the less privileged.

Tell us more about your campaign and fundraising by your organisation.

As many as 50% of people drop out of chemotherapy. TCP continuously strives to change this statistic. So far, we have circulated 10,000 sanitary napkins for cervical cancer awareness month. All funds raised proceed to oncologist Padma Shri Dr. Ravi Kannan, who has performed over 20,000 free surgeries. Our current awareness campaign Teens for Health' educates low-income families on the impact of cancer and the importance of staying healthy through good habits such as practising mental wellness through exercise, proper sleep, tobacco avoidance, etc.

Tell us about the composition of TCP.

Launched in September 2021, TCP currently comprises over 500 volunteers across 12 countries, including India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, and 10 different chapters. Our team comprises a biological research team and content writer, and aspects such as fundraising, internships, social media, and more. During the initiation of TCP, within a day of launch, over 100 people joined us. And now, the TCP family has more than 500 volunteers dedicated to fostering change.

What draws you to technology?

I am currently pursuing technology and working on the intersection of cancer and tech-how can technology advance cancer treatment? How can Al, already existent in tools such as mammograms, be taken to the next level? I love coding because it allows me to turn my innovation into action. Aspects such as app development, website creation, design, and many more are the future.

Share with us a few of your initiatives and inventions.

I am a member of the QLS InvenTeam, which received a grant from MIT to create a device for communication for basketball athletes with hearing impairment. Apart from this, I am the president of the technology school club, and we are creating an app for cancer patients, alongside circulating smart devices for less privileged children.

Who inspires you to walk this path?

My grandmother, one of the kindest and strongest people I have ever met. She taught me what compassion, gratitude, and love look like. If I win any award, she's the cheerleader and always tears up, telling me how proud she is. In those days, women didn't have as many opportunities as youngsters have now. I'm grateful for the opportunities provided to me.

What are your future plans? What would you like to change in society?

I aspire to help the world take one step closer to equality. TCP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and orientation. All our events / opportunities are free and we always promote hard-working volunteers to officer positions. To put it simply, we don't care where they come from, we care about their drive to be a changemaker. Such a mindset will create more entrepreneurs in the world with fewer problems. This equality helps me bring more and more future entrepreneurs from TCP.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVERS SHELDON CHONG AND EMERSON CHONG (AUTHORS, DIGITAL ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, ANIMATORS, YOUTUBERS, CODERS, GAME DEVELOPERS, WORKSHOP FACILITATORS, ENTREPRENEURS)

Sheldon Chong (15) and Emerson Chong (13) are award-winning siblings from Malaysia. They are authors, digital artists, musicians, animators, YouTubers, coders, game developers, workshop facilitators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. They recently received the Silver YouTube Creator Award for reaching 100K subscribers, which they achieved within 10 months! They speak about their journey .

How did CyberLegends Animations come about?

Emerson: CyberLegends Animations is a YouTube channel 1 started. During the lockdown in 2020, 1 actively started creating and posting 2D animations on the channel. It all began when discovered a free animation app. Sheldon and I thought animation could be the next step in our art journey. Through the app. I learnt the tricks and a few tips to animate efficiently. When CyberLegends Animations started to grow, I started to animate based on popular games, giving them my own twist. Because we needed to produce animations quickly, consistently, and with high quality, Sheldon and I started to work together because he is skilled in digital art and can produce high quality work fast.

What are the awards you have won? Do you think that winning awards contributes to success?

Sheldon: We have won many awards locally and internationally. One of the competitions we participated in was the Young Entrepreneurs X-Factor in 2019. We had to pitch to the judges our solution to a problem. My idea was an Internet of Things-based smart parking system with an app that solves the problem of finding parking spaces. It uses cloud technology and Bluetooth to show data of parking spaces in real-time. Emerson's project was to gamify learning history, and he pitched the idea of a pixelated roleplay game that showcases Japan's history and culture. Emerson won the first place, and I was the runner-up in our respective age categories, winning scholarships to an international school. Recently, we took part in the Young Educators Challenge, in which we won the first place, which was a college scholarship. The objective was to teach a lesson online in a very engaging and innovative way. We combined roleplay and games to teach students in a fun way. We think awards are a result of success, through putting effort into your passion. Even if you don't win but learn something, that would still be a success.

Tell us about your journey in writing.

Emerson: We have written two children's story books each. "The Time Dimension" and "The Elementals" by Sheldon and "Attack of the Evil Clone" and "Egypto's Adventure" by me. These are fictional stories for kids and teens. We got into writing by reading comics and other books, and eventually, we were interested in writing stories and combining them with our illustrations to create books.

Tell us about your comic Earth Boy and the documentary about it.

Emerson: This started when I took part in the international UNICEF Climate Comic Contest, in which participants had to create their own eco superhero. I created a character called Earth Boy, and then I explained. his powers and backstory. As a e runner-up amongst 3,000 entries, my character got its own comic and was translated into Spanish, French, and Hindi. I collaborated with an artist in New York who helped me create this comic it was published by the UNICEF in New York in 2018. After the comic was released, I kind of used Earth Boy as a mascot. I drew more Earth Boy comics such as 'Earth Boy & Friends doing Beach Cleanup', and 'Earth Boy & Friends at the Mall, and shared them on social media. After hearing about my work, the United Nations sent a producer from the U.S. to film a short video about it. The video was about my work to inspire others to help save the Earth, using my creativity and art skills.

 You are into music. What kind of music do you play?

Sheldon: I play the piano, and Emerson plays the guitar and sings. With just the two of us, we started a small band. We perform mostly pop songs at functions, open mics, and charity events. Our parents encouraged us to play music, and eventually, playing live to the public helped boost our confidence to do even more.

What message do you have for your peers?

We think it is important to find and follow your passion. Through your passion, you can find ways to do so many other things. All the things that we have done, i.e. music, animation, writing, etc. came from our passion, drawing. Even if you don't have a passion, you can always learn something from books, a friend, the Internet, and more. Passion adds value to you and what you do.

As siblings, how does it feel to have somebody by your side who can help you?

Emerson: Well, we have our parents, who give us a lot of support in what we do. Drawing has been our passion since we were really young. and our parents supported us. They also took us to art galleries and museums to help us enrich our knowledge about art. They are never against what we do, and support our passion. We also are very supportive of each other. For example, Sheldon helps me with my animation through colouring digitally and making the thumbnails, while I animate and add sounds. Sometimes we do have our own views on how we want to do things, but there's always something where we work together.

What do you like to do in your free time, apart from your work in writing, animation, and art?

Emerson: I like creating art and crafts with paper and cardboard. Once I made my own card game and took it to school, and surprisingly, a lot of people played it! Sheldon likes sports, especially swimming, cycling, and kayaking.

What are your plans for the future? What is one thing you want to change in society?

Sheldon: We are probably going to write more books, and I want to learn to compose music, and Emerson wants to grow our YouTube channel to reach one million subscribers. We would like to change the mindset of people, to inspire them to follow their passion and to unfold their potential.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER ANANYA KAMBOJ (INDIA'S AMBASSADOR FOR FOOTBALL)

She is a social entrepreneur youth changemaker author and young ambassador for Football for Friendship programme She is also the founder of Sports to Lead, an organisation working towards empowering girls and women.

Tell us about your journey, and how you got into football.

My journey began in 2017 when India hosted the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. It included an essay writing competition organised by Mission XI Million. I had written an article about how football fosters friendship and global relationships, and my essay was selected to represent India as a young journalist at the Football for Friendship programme in St. Petersburg, Russia. That programme changed me from a shy girl to a confident one. During the programme, we became united by a desire for a safer world with equal prosperity in all fields. We were also united by a passion for writing, communication, and curiosity. It reinforced my idea that you have to fight for honest and free journalism. I had both specialised as well as general training for various aspects of reporting and covering the major events during the programme. It taught me how to look at what makes a good human-interest story, and how to tell it in an informative and entertaining way. And when to look back for more background details, and why accuracy and fairness remain the cornerstones of reporting.

Describe your book "My Journey from Mohali to St. Petersburg".

This book is an anthology of 21 short stories about my experience and learnings from the Football for Friendship programme. The book focusses on the nine basic values promoted by the programme - fairness, equality, health, friendship, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour. The book aims to present a holistic picture of what constitutes a good life, which transcends the prevalent, narrow understandings of success, fulfilment, and unhappiness in life.

What does your organisation Sports to Lead work for?

Through a series of workshops and awareness sessions, Sports to Lead will help empower young girls to fight discrimination and gender inequality. It also aims to bring to light several challenges faced by women sportspersons in India, which includes sexism and the lack of infrastructure, contracts, and popularity.

Why do you think Sustainable Development Goals are important?

It's very important to implement SDGS at the ground level. For instance, one can provide football pitches for government school students so they can have an opportunity to play and improve their mental as well as physical abilities. It's very important to have sessions regarding SDGS in schools to raise awareness among children so that they can take actions at their level to help this world become a safer, more peaceful and beautiful place for everyone.

What are your career plans?

I would like to become a journalist. I would also like to pursue the FIFA master programme, an international sports management course. I would like to pen down stories of inspirational sportspersons for FIFA and the Olympics.

What are your hobbies?

 I like to write in my free time, and read novels and other books. This has been my habit since I was in Class III or IV. I play sports such as football or basketball in the evening. I also cycle regularly with my younger sister.

Do you think having many achievements makes one a successful person?

I feel having many achievements doesn't make us a successful person, it is important to have values.

How do you manage your time between studies and sports?

 I follow a schedule. I have time slots for the activities I have been involved in. I guess maintaining a proper schedule or a timetable is the key for balancing all the activities we are involved in.

Who is your inspiration?

The biggest inspirations are my grandfather and father. My grandfather motivated me to read newspapers, and towards public speaking. He was involved in various social causes. He would take me along with him and ask me to speak there about social causes and so on. That helped build my confidence. My father is a journalist, and from him I understood how to develop the skills for journalism.

What is something about society that you wish to change?

There are two things I would like to change in society. The first one is to change people's mindsets - they should treat everyone equally. The second thing is that I would like to have sport as a main subject for the curriculum. Skills such as leadership and learning to differentiate between winning and losing, etc. can be learnt through sports.

Picture Credit : Google 

AN INTERVIEW OF YOUNG ACHIEVER NILABH AGRAWAL - FOUNDER AND CEO OF INSTILT.

Nilabh Agrawal is the founder and CEO of Instilt - Educate, a non-profit with a mission to level the playing field between children who come from fortunate backgrounds and those who don't have the same privilege. He speaks about his experiences and journey.

What prompted you to create an organisation to support less privileged children?

Back in December 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak. I had only been in India for about a month, having moved from Sri Lanka. I went around the city of Mumbai and saw massive inequalities. You can see huge skyscrapers and really crowded shanties right next to each other. That instigated me to do something about it. Then we had some workers come over to our house, and when I met their children, I realised the pandemic had pushed them into online classes. like the rest of us. The pandemic helped the less privileged communities embrace the digital, opening them up to a world of opportunities. I wanted to capitalise on this silver lining and give them some unique exposure. They are just as smart as me and you, but their communication is often used to invalidate their intellect. They have great ideas, but since they struggle to communicate them, they are never heard. Our organisation hoped to help them compete with children from more fortunate backgrounds, and establish a level-playing field. At the beginning, we started with only a couple of children from our immediate network. but over time, we've grown substantially helping thousands of children across India.

According to World Health Organisation's research, students are facing many problems such as distractions and depression due to the online mode of education. What are your thoughts on this?

Speaking from the personal experience of the kids we saw, I think the majority of them have no more than one device in their household. In the case of siblings, one device is usually shared among three or even four sometimes. Internet access is another big challenge. All of these factors contribute to unreliable online experiences, which can be quite stressful for the students. They sometimes don't even know if they can stay connected till the end of a lesson. At the same time, I think what's important from what I've observed is that when the students find a community, it gets really easy. Since everyone is going through the same problems, including the tutors, the spirit of community can make it more tolerable and reduce a lot of the stress

Tell us about your experience of moving from Sri Lanka to India.

Both India and Sri Lanka are incredibly diverse in terms of cultures. India has diverse people speaking a myriad languages. Sri Lanka has many foreigners with whom I was able to interact. As for the mindset of students, in India. I see that 90% of my classmates want to do Engineering, and that's something we should address in our society. In Sri Lanka, people have diverse curricular and extracurricular interests, and want to enter many fields such as politics. arts, writing, etc. There's a lot more variety and flexibility. If Indians also start thinking more outside the box, I think it could be incredibly beneficial.

Who was your inspiration to start your venture?

I'm inspired by multiple people in my life, and generally the children I saw around me struggling with English. My initial thought was always about the challenges they would face when they grew up and sat in a job interview. What motivates me and what I suggest to people is that it is okay to have interests in different areas. The best advice I have got is to keep exploring and picking up new skills along the way. Try, try, try until you find what you really like. One of my seniors a long time ago told me. If you are looking to find your passion, think about what is something you can do at 3 a.m. and not worry about when you are going to sleep. That's your passion because it makes you lose track of time. How can people with a fear of public speaking overcome it? Early on, it was a little bit difficult for me too, but when you are confident they only get better through public speaking. When I was struggling, I began to research more and more on the topics I was speaking about. That's something you have to do when speaking for large crowds. If you are not confident, research about it until you are someone who knows everything about that particular topic. This is a huge confidence builder, and it definitely helped me. If you are shy and trying out public speaking for the first time, know what you're going to speak about and practise, because the more prepared you are, the more confident you are.

A few words of inspiration for our readers...

It's completely fine if you haven't still figured out your interest. All of us are in the same boat, and you still have the rest of your life to figure it out. Just don't stop trying things because you never know. Another piece of advice that has stuck with me is that You always have a choice and you have to create your own choices'. If you feel as if you are in a box, remember you have a choice. There's always a third option called 'None of the above. Whenever opportunity strikes, just say yes and open the door! Because if you don't try something, you'll never know if it would've worked out.

Picture Credit : Google 

An interview of young achiever Palakh khanna – Chief executive officer –break the ice

My journey from a student to a social entrepreneur and a youth changemaker has  been amazing, and at the same time, quite enlightening. I'm very grateful to get the support of not only prominent individuals, but also my family, organisations, and even young changemakers. I have wanted to create change since I was 10. Initially, my efforts were restricted to protecting the environment. It was during the pandemic that I overheard a conversation between my mom and my domestic help where she was hesitating to talk about something as basic and natural as menstruation. That's when I realised that in order to change an individual's mindset, society's mindset needs to be changed. I set up Break The Ice with this mission in mind. Recently, I was invited as a panelist and a mentor for Business Blasters, the Delhi government's start-up programme.

Tell us about your organisation Break The ice.

Break The Ice is an international youth organisation working towards discussing all things taboo. We aim at creating a community where everyone can talk about anything they want to without any judgment and hesitation. We do believe we have started that chain of enlightenment by reaching 16,000+ individuals and expanding the team to 50+ young changemakers, across 10+ countries. We are a UN SDSN youth member organisation and are working with the Crimson Youth Entrepreneurship Society, a Why did you want to educate people to feel free to talk about anything?

I want society to understand that taboo and stigmatised topics need to be talked about because they are important. Unless we talk about them, they will simply be pushed under the carpet of ignorance and we will not grow as a society.

Why do you support SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) number four (Quality Education)?

SDG 4 talks about providing quality education to everyone. I believe it's the base to achieve all the other SDGs. Unless people are educated, they won't be able to take conscious action.

Tell us about The Cohort Collective programme.

The programme taught us about career development as well as personality development. I am honoured to be the youngest cohort of the programme and be among the eight people selected out of a pool of 100+ applicants. It's a year-long programme where we get ongoing support.

What are your future plans?

I love Psychology and English, and wish to explore them as a career option. I am also inclined towards the work the UN does and wish to be associated with it in whichever capacity possible. Along with my team, I want to take Break The Ice to a level where we become a global safe space.

Throw light on your other projects.

I am a mentor under the government's Desh Ka Mentor programme. I am working with GirlUp India as a cohort member. I am also a global lead ambassador for climate change, and a tutor for less privileged children.

Who is your inspiration?

 It would definitely be my mom. She has always supported me in every venture of mine. Whether it is some help, or working with me till night, or just the confidence she has given me, she is truly the pillar of support in my life. Even when I thought of opening Break The Ice, she was the one who motivated and encouraged me to give action to my idea.

How do you manage time between studies and work?

I try to keep to-do lists for all the work I have. They usually work well for me and give me time to relax as well. Along with that, I try to finish my work well before the deadline so that it doesn't pile up in the end. I do have periods of procrastination, but it also helps me understand how well I work under pressure.

What are your hobbies?

I love to dance, I'm a classically trained dancer. I also love to write. Whether it's short stories or poems, I love to express my thoughts and emotions on paper. I'm a published poet, an achievement I'm proud of.

What is something about society that you wish to change?

I wish to be in a society where equality prevails. I want to erase every bias that exists in society, and eradicate discrimination as well as stigmatisation.

Picture Credit : Google 

 

Netra Venkatesh founder of SpunkGo (All-girls global organization)

You founded SpunkGo. Tell us more about it.

 SpunkGo is an all-girls global organisation I started about two years ago. My inspiration to start this organisation was when I took a course from a university online and realised the power of online learning. I realised the reach and impact of technology and how we could use it for better means such as education. SpunkGo holds monthly life-skill webinars on various topics to provide diverse exposure to our audiences. We've had speakers from big companies and start-ups as well as non-governmental organisations. The whole point of these webinars is to empower and broaden the horizons of young women across the globe, specifically in developing countries in Africa and Asia. The feedback and support we are getting is so encouraging that we feel our impact is real, tangible, and useful.

How has the journey been?

While I started SpunkGo myself, I got help growing the idea from my father, crowdfunding via a New York organisation and a tie-up with KeyNote Women Speakers, who provide us with accomplished global speakers. I wanted to start something relevant globally, makes best use of technology, and makes a positive impact on the community. My Instagram friends in different countries helped me a lot in establishing SpunkGo, and it's amazing to look back and see we are in over 20 countries today with local chapters. The main motivation to start was the educational attribute of SpunkGo. I've grown up in an area where I've always had access to education. I, however, realise that in many parts of the world, young women don't have that type of opportunity. and I wanted to help people utilise the resources they had access to, which in some cases is the Internet. I want to live in a world where anyone, irrespective of background or circumstances, has equal opportunities.

Why did you particularly focus on educating girls?

I am aware that in some parts of the world girls really can't have the same opportunities as boys, and I wanted to break that gender barrier. I wanted to empower these women so that they felt they could do anything they want to too. It's not just the mindset that's holding them back but also the lack of opportunity and mentorship. This is the community I wanted to help fulfil their potential.

 

What do you want SpunkGo to achieve in five years?

In five years, I really hope SpunkGo has grown to 1,00,000 young women members and is in many more countries than today. We have had a lot of support, awards, and media coverage, and I think all this will help us achieve this goal. I'll probably be in college, so I know I need to build a team that can run

How do you manage time between school work and social responsibility?

This is a great question, and I think a really important aspect is that my parents both work so they understand the need to balance work and family. They give me support the right values, and that little bit of strength to go about my work. At times, I need to calm down and reflect on the tasks at hand. In terms of management. I think that this is a really important aspect to stop and take stock of what has been done and what is required. I like to break tasks into smaller tasks and go about doing each so the entire job gets done. Coordinating with 30 other girls around the world in different time zones is not always easy but it's also the fun part of SpunkGo. Looking at the big picture is also very helpful. I'm really busy when it comes to academics at school so I need to sometimes give myself a break. Playing with my younger sister is the best way to relax. At times, it does get busy as apart from school work, I am also working on my Property Tech start-up. But as long as you are passionate about what you do, time gets made for these things.

What are your other hobbies?

I've been playing tennis for about nine years now, and I can get lost in the world when I play the piano. Since I live outside India, to be connected to my roots, I have been a Kathak dancer for over 10 years. When I am not doing all this, I binge-watch Netflix!

Picture Credit :Google 

The interview of young achiever Vaishnavi Jaiswal

 The founder and executive director of Salubrious. She brings in technology to end gender discrimination and empower the less privileged . Meet Vaishnavi Jaiswal as she speakes about her journey to Hasini lakshminarayanan, founder of the first step,a you tube channel that features interviews of young achievers .

What prompted you to get into entrepreneurship and break gender barriers?

Passion for technology has been a part of my life since childhood. After years of doing social work, I wondered how I could apply my skills in an interdisciplinary way, and founded Salubrious.

When I figured out my love for coding, I found that most coding resources were biased towards men, and that few women had adequate opportunities due to these barriers. This didn't feel right to me! It made me realise we're seeing huge disparities when it comes to access to tech in an area that provides so many opportunities. As I researched and read about women who excelled in this field, I discovered they did not receive the same recognition as men did, but were still accomplished. We interview women in the field, including entrepreneurs. Today we have countries, and have reached about 50,000 students across the globe through sessions and workshops.

How does the organisation function?

Salubrious mission is to "Educate, inspire, and empower the youth", to break gender barriers and stereotypes, and use technology to make a sustainable difference in the world. At present, we are focussing on entrepreneurship and technology for less privileged communities. Tech Connect was launched in August 2020, and we have been conducting workshops and engaging women in tech as  speakers and mentors for students who need guidance. We teach STEM in an applicable fashion and not in a theoretical fashion to amplify the notion that STEM is a force for social good in a variety of ways, regardless of what your passion is. We cover both social entrepreneurship and tech leadership in every programme we conduct.

Tell us about the Salubrious podcast. And why did you choose Sustainable Development Goal Number 5 - Gender equality?

Launching at the end of March, this podcast will feature change-makers with great social media presence. The major inspiration for picking gender equality was to picture a world where no matter your background or race, everyone is treated equally. Having people from diverse backgrounds, skills, socio-economic levels, sexualities, and ethnic backgrounds all come together to solve the problems that our society faces. Based on the current statistics, I feel there are bigger issues that should be addressed regarding gender bias such as men and women being paid differently though they both do the same work for the same organisation. According to the Monster Salary Index published in March 2019, women in India earn 19 % less than men. IT services showed a sharp pay gap of 26 % in favour of men. A classic example that pay gap exists even in key industries.

What is the one message you would like to pass on to the younger generation?

I would simply say, remember that by being yourself, showing up, and doing the work, you are paving the way for girls to envision a career in fields not limited by gender.

Pursuing a career in male-dominated fields can be difficult, and you may not receive much support from your community. However, you should be aware that many online communities exist to support and help you in case you need resources. You just have to search and you will find them. With so many people with similar resources surrounding us, it's hard to realise that things aren't the same for everybody. Make the most of the privilege and use that to create social change in your little pocket of the world.

What is the one thing you would like to change in society?

There are certain issues that we didn't create but are facing now, such as climate change and cyberbullying. The one thing I could change or work for is to hear young voices and let young people speak for themselves. Not just about gender discrimination, I came across age barriers as well. A person's age has nothing to do with their impact on the work, and youth today must remember to find what their calling is. Among all the distractions, find that one skill that gives you happiness and satisfaction the most.

What are your future plans?

Though I know what my true calling is and what I love to do, my vision may sound like something a 15-year-old can't promise. I would want to work further to bring down gender discrimination through the biggest resource - technology. And as far as Salubrious's future plans are concerned, it's just the same! This is a diverse mission rather than a middle- and upper-class one. Apart from the barriers and the discrimination, I am confident that we will succeed with implementing the right curriculum, teachers, investors, and so on. One day, I envision a world filled with equal opportunities for men and women that leads to a diverse society.

Who is Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg: Synonymous with climate activism, this teenaged Swede has at least three species named after her in just the last few years-Thunberga greta (huntsman spider); Craspedotropis gretathunbergae (snail); and Nelloptodes gretae (beetle). The beetle seems to have antennae resembling her two long pigtails. But scientist Michael Darby says he chose the name because he was "immensely impressed" with her campaigning.

  In August 2018, at age 15, Thunberg started spending her school days outside the Swedish Parliament to call for stronger action on climate change. Soon, other students engaged in similar protests. Together, they organised a school climate strike movement under the name Fridays for Future.Greta Thunberg has received numerous honours and awards including an honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, inclusion in Time's 100 most influential people, being the youngest Time Person of the Year, inclusion in the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), and two consecutive nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize (2019 and 2020).

Credit : Times of India

Picture Credit : Google