My Science School

Water crisis, stigma around menstruation, gender bias, looming climate disaster... the world they inhabit throws several challenges their way. But with a mind full of ideas and focus, and a heart full of compassion, courage, and commitment, teenagers set out to better our world. In the process, they shatter the myth that one's gender and age are crucial for creating a positive social impact. Here are eight stories of change from across our country...

Licypriya Kangujam, Manipur

Focus area: Environment and climate change

Hailed as one of the youngest climate activists in the world, Licypriya Kangujam has been fighting for a greener planet since she was six. An 11-year-old today, she has been seeking "new laws to curb India's high pollution levels and wants climate change lessons to be mandatory in schools".

Licypriya says her activism was kindled when she attended a UN disaster conference in Mongolia with her father. She has showcased a (symbolic) device called SUKIFU (Survival Kit for the future), with details of SUKIFU-2 (to “make water from air. It runs purely on solar power”) shared on social media just a few months ago. While she steadfastly refuses to engage with the sobriquet "Greta (Thunberg) of India", she certainly seems to share the Swedish climate activist's iconic spunk-in 2020, when the Indian government mentioned her on Twitter for International Women's Day with the hashtag #sheinspiresUs, she expressed her thanks for the honour but not before saying "Please don't celebrate me if you are not going to listen to my voice". The pre-teen courted controversy when a few netizens pointed out that her claims about some of her awards and speeches were false. She termed these allegation baseless, and continues to focus on what is clearly close to her heart- climate activism.

Sagarika Deka, Assam

Focus areas: Gender equality, menstrual hygiene, body positivity, mental health, environment

A feminist and slam poet, teenager Sagarika Deka was deeply Atroubled learning about the trauma women suffered during the Rohingya crisis that unfolded in Myanmar a few years ago. She channelled her concerns through her poems, social media posts, and open mic performances. The encouraging response she received nudged her to find a larger way to create a world that's equal-in 2020, as an 18-year-old, she set up Maan Ki Umeed, a non-profit. Focussing on children's issues and women's empowerment, its focal areas have been "empowerment, employment, education, and service. Among the projects that are part of the non-profit are those to enrol less privileged children in primary schools and also integrate discussions around menstrual hygiene as part of school curriculum. Through her non-profit, Sagarika uses the power of conversations on "gender equality, menstrual hygiene, body positivity, mental health, environment" etc. in her quest to create a better world. Over the last two years, the number of members of her non-profit grown, and so has its initiatives-helping less privileged women find jobs, set up small businesses, or teach them handicraft, calling for the need to provide sanitary pads to women during natural disasters, etc.

Swara Patel, Maharashtra

Focus areas: Menstrual education and hygiene

On May 28, 2019, 16-year-old Swara Patel set up the The Period Society - it was just the right day for the non-profit to take off because it was World Menstrual Health Day. Since her first period, Swara has had access to products for menstrual hygiene. Sadly though, along with access came taboos too- from her own family of healthcare professionals such as being disallowed to visit temples while menstruating. Gradually, Swara discovered that many women faced not just taboos but also lacked access to menstrual education and hygiene products such as sanitary pads. The Period Society was the result of her concerns on period poverty. What started off in Mumbai has chapters today across the globe, including in the U.K. and the U.S. The Society has hundreds of members (and growing!) conducting menstrual health education sessions (including virtual ones), and eco-friendly sanitary pad distribution camps. Through her organisation Swara hopes to create a platform for stigma-shattering conversations around not just menstruation but also sexual and reproductive health and gender inclusivity.

Anushka Prakash, Uttarakhand

Focus areas: Rural empowerment through education

Even as the pandemic raged on, 16-year-old Anushka Prakash Even continued her education, thanks to online classes. But she realised not everyone was as fortunate. It disturbed her that several students out there in rural areas had to discontinue their education as schools had shut. She decided that won't do, and Project Prakash came about. This online platform offers free access to resources (in both English and Hindi) on various subjects, in addition to online lectures and classes from many international universities. It also provides videos on career options so students can understand the choices available to them before making a decision based on their interests and passion. Aware of the strong impact that education and technology can together create, Anushka feels those who are privileged can help empower others by using the two judiciously.

Ananya Kamboj. Punjab

Focus areas: Leadership, empowerment, friendship, and self-awareness through sports

A football player at school and at a local club, Ananya Kamboj A sees it as more than just a sport-a tool to form and strengthen friendships. And so it seems fitting that as a 13-year-old in 2017, when she wrote an essay on how football fosters friendship, she was selected to represent India as a young journalist at the Football for Friendship programme in Russia. That opportunity reinforced her faith in what sports can do, and resulted in a book detailing her experiences. Not just that. It also led her to set up Sports to Lead, a recent initiative offering several programmes that use the power of sports to empower young people. One of them is the 'Be You' programme. "designed for young women, empowering them to move forward in life by developing self-awareness, healthy relationships and communication and leadership skills".

Ridhima Pandey, Uttarakhand

Focus areas: Government and citizen action for a better world

As a five-year-old in 2013, Ridhima Pandey witnessed Ajinthand her state of first-hand in her State what the fury of floods could leave in its wake-claim hundreds of lives and leave countless homeless. In 2017, an upset Ridhima, aged nine, filed a complaint against the government with the National Green Tribunal. Also one of the young activists to file a lawsuit in the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child, she feels strongly about the need "to save the future of all the children and all people of future generations". Despite India being vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, she asserts the government is not doing enough to tackle it. Distressed by inaction on several fronts - from the extensive use of fossil fuels to improper garbage disposal methods and the rampant use of plastics, she suggests that while the government must take proactive steps we as citizens should be mindful as consumers too.

Hina Saifi, Uttar Pradesh

Focus areas: Awareness on pollution and solar energy

Only a few years ago, Hina Saifi was still a teenager when she discovered that the high pollution levels in her village in Meerut were inversely proportional to people's environmental awareness levels. A strong believer in the power of education, she understood that when people adopt a climate friendly lifestyle, our planet's health will improve dramatically. What followed was door-to-door campaigns, surveys, pamphlet distribution, and events such as 'March for Clean Air. She also launched her Suraj Se Samriddhi' campaign to raise awareness on the benefits of solar power through solar pumps, rooftop solar installations, etc. She is now part of an NGO that works with marginalised communities to focus on areas such as education, gender, and labour rights. Her steadfast pursuit for change through awareness campaigns has been noticed internationally - in 2021, she was one of the 17 climate change leaders who were the face of United Nations India's new campaign #WeTheChangeNow.

Garvita Gulhati, Karnataka

Focus areas: Water management and conservation

As a 15-year-old, Garvita Gulhati was troubled by India's water crisis in 2015. It upset her further that every year we waste 14 million litres simply by leaving behind water in our glasses at restaurants. So upset that she decided to do something about it, and Why Waste? was born. One of this initiative's projects was #GlassHalffull. The pilot project worked with several restaurants to help avoid water being wasted in glasses at restaurants. Since it began, the project is said to have prevented the waste of at least six million litres of water. Today, Why Waste? is also an app that allows each individual to calculate their "water footprint and help them save 100 litres each day with just a bit of planning and thought. A strong believer in little drops making the mighty ocean, Garvita says such small acts locally will have a great impact globally. Aware of the role children have in any social change, she feels water management must be taught at schools. Recipient of the prestigious Diana Award, this India's Water Girl' was in Forbes' list of 30 Under 30.

Picture Credit : Google 

Meet some young leaders and find out more about their motivation and mission

Taylor Small

Taylor Small is Vermont's first openly T transgender legislator and one of eight in the U.S. now. She has been a strong advocate for the marginalised people, especially those belonging to the LGBTQ+ community. Elected in November 2020, she passed a bill into law banning the use of LGBTQ+ Panic Defense in Vermont in 2021. She is the Education Program Manager at Pride Center of Vermont, a statewide non-profit organisation working for the LGBTQ+ Vermonters. The 28-year-old lawmaker previously worked with the Vermont Department of Health and has been an active member of the mental health services at Howard Center and Northwestern Counseling and Support Services. Over the years, the young activist has been working towards increasing access to care for marginalised community members through educational outreach and evidence-based interventions. In September, she was honoured with Politician of the Year Award by One Young World, a British charity working to develop young leaders.

Naisi Chen

Naisi Chen is New Zealand's only Chinese MP and the second youngest Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party. The 28-year-old leader is the Deputy Chairperson of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee and a member of Governance and Administration. Coming from Beijing, China at the age of 5, she has been serving as a bridge between the New Zealand population and the immigrants since her college years. During her years as a law student at the University of Auckland, she actively participated in student politics and served as president of the New Zealand Chinese Students Association, vice-president of the Auckland Chinese Student Association and a member of the Advisory Board of the New Zealand China Council. As president of the New Zealand Chinese Students Association Chen worked with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardem, politician Nikki Kaye, the police and the Human Rights Commission and brought changes to the international student well-being strategy and other government agency policies.

Mari Copeny Amariyanna

Fifteen-year-old Mari Copeny, globally known as "Little Miss Flint", in 2016 drew then U.S. President Barack Obama's attention to contaminated drinking water being supplied to the residents of Flint, Michigan. Mari, then 8, did not let her age dissuade her from making a significant impact on the environmental problem and even told the country about the reality faced by victims of state negligence. Her letter to the President prompted him to visit the city and survey the water crisis himself. He then approved $100 million to repair Flint's water system. In 2017, she became a national youth ambassador to the Women's March on Washington and the National Climate March. She is also actively working towards preventing bullying and is part of the anti-bullying group Trendsetters Productions. She is also a member of the Flint Youth Justice League.

Nida Allam

Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam is the first Muslim woman ever elected to a public office in North Carolina, the US. The 28-year-old woman has been the first Muslim woman to serve on the board of the North Carolina Democratic Party and had also served as chair of the Durham Mayor's Council for Women. During her student years at North Carolina State University, she led a campaign, along with local healthcare workers, to provide free healthcare to low-income community members. She was inspired to be politically involved and increase community safety through solidarity after three of her friends were killed in the 2015 Chapel Hill shooting, which had targeted North Carolina's Muslim community. She has been actively participating in several grassroots movements and even served as a political director for US Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential campaign. She was also the organising director for Justice Cheri Beasley's campaign for the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Shirly Pinto

Shirly Pinto, 33, is the first hearing-impaired member of the Israeli Parliament. At the age of 18, she got enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and served in the Israeli Air Force Technical Corps. In 2009, the Air Force Commander had honoured her with an outstanding medal for her service. Being one of the founders of The Israeli Center for Deaf Studies, she continues to work for the upliftment of the status of hearing-impaired people using sign language, and create awareness on the need for those people to be accepted by the public. She was also the leader of 1 sign I am Equal campaign to bring awareness on the importance of sign language in public and promote legislation of the Israeli Sign Language as a recognised language in Israel. Following the campaign, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev became Israel's first university to recognise Israeli Sign Language as an official language for the hearing-impaired in the country.

Ofelia Fernández

Ofelia Fernández is the youngest member of Buenos Aires City Legislature. She was elected as the legislator at the age of 19. Besides being an Argentinian politician, she is also a political activist. At the age of 15, she became her schools youngest president of the student body and was part of several student strikes. Later, she was a part of the 'Revolution of the Daughters movement to support legalisation of abortion in Argentina. The 22-year-old woman was the youngest speaker at the G20 counter-summit held by the Latin American Council of Social Sciences in 2018. She has been a leading voice for Argentinian youth, especially in the struggle for women's and LGBTQI+ equality. The young lawmaker has been urging for officials to be taught about gender issues. She has been protesting against feminicide, sexual abuse, and gender pay gap.

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Regi George from Chengannur and Lalitha from Tripunithura met while studying at Government T. D. Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala. While he specialized in anaesthesia, she became a gynaecologist. The Christian boy and Hindu girl married in 1987 against their parents' wish. Though they hailed from wealthy families, they decided to do something for the poor through their medical profession. While Regi had been inspired as a youth by the stories of Albert Schweitzer and Mahatma Gandhi, Lalitha wanted to be the first doctor in a place where there was none.

While serving in Kasturbai Hospital in Gandhigram of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, in 1987, they met villagers coming from far away villages for treatment even for preventable diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia. After visiting many hospitals in the country, the couple realized that hospitals don't give priority to prevention. They decided to go to the Sittilingi Valley in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu in 1992. They realized that the two lakh tribals living there had a high infant mortality rate of 147 per 1000 babies and the highest maternal mortality in India. Cut off from the rest of the world, these Malaivasis (hill folks) had to travel 50 km to Karur to visit a hospital. Regi and Lalitha decided to serve these tribals.

Since the couple had no money to purchase land, they settled in a two-room hut built by the tribals on government land. Patients were examined on a bench in one room under a 100 watt bulb. They charged the minimum for medicines from those who couldn't afford their fee. Though some Malaivasis were initially suspicious, the doctor couple's concern and effective treatment won them over. With no school nearby, the couple home schooled their two sons till class four before they were sent to a boarding school.

Regi and Lalitha then decided to help the villagers take care of their health themselves. The couple pioneered the Tribal Health Initiative (THI), which empowered tribal villagers to take care of their community's health. They trained local tribal women as health auxiliaries. Since deliveries were conducted at home, these health auxiliaries visited those homes and ensured hygiene and sanitation. Complicated pregnancies were immediately rushed to the hospital.

With donations pouring in from good Samaritans, Regi and Lalitha built a well-equipped 35 bed hospital, which has become "a hospital built for and by the tribals", serving nearly one lakh people every year in a 50 km radius. Thanks to the donations, patients have to pay very little. 95 per cent of the staff are local tribals who get gratuity and provident fund, too, in spite of not receiving any aid from the government. Now the infant mortality rate has reduced to 20 per 1000 one of the lowest in India. And hardly any mother dies during childbirth. They also run an old age insurance scheme, providing free healthcare for a mere Rs 100 per year.

Besides improving the tribals' health, to better their financial status and community well-being, the "jungle doctors" started various initiatives like organic farming, farmer insurance policies, a coaching centre, vocational training in crafts, plumbing and welding and schemes to preserve their culture and dying arts.

"Our minds were full of doubts when we started," says the khadi clad Dr Regi. "But we had sincerity of purpose. Sometimes you have to close your eyes, trust yourself and take that leap of faith. There is a crying need in our country and we need to extend a helping hand. After two decades of work in rural and tribal areas, my wife and I have more happiness than regret."

Credit : F.M. Britto (The Teenager Today)

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A fatal car accident fractured his thigh bone and tied the five-year-old kid to bed for days. Reeling in pain, Veer Agrawal couldn't walk about like his companions.

Later, the grown-up Veer was reminded of the agony he had experienced whenever he saw any lame child. His parents could treat him; but what about those who cannot afford to pay?

Veer learnt that in India there are three crore people affected with physical disabilities; nearly 70 per cent of India's disabled live in villages; most of them suffer from a high level of stigmatization with poverty and that disabled children are five times more likely to quit school than the national average.

The involvement of his grandparents and parents in social action influenced him. Veer was also inspired by the support given to needy students by Brother Joseph of St Catherine of Siena Orphanage, Bandra West, Mumbai. Why can't I too do something for those who can't walk, wondered the ninth grade student of American School of Bombay..

Veer learnt about the Jaipur foot from a distant relative, and that one foot costs around Rs 5,000. His father and friends assisted him in starting the website vhelptowalk.org for crowdfunding. He was surprised to see funds flooding in aid of the economically disadvantaged handicapped persons - a whopping 14 lakh rupees!

Veer organized a three-day Jaipur Foot Camp at Risod in Maharashtra, conducted by the Seth Bhagwandas J. Agrawal Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization. 350 poor people, who could not walk, turned up for the camp. Doctors fitted 300 of them with the prosthetic leg.

And those who could not be fitted were provided with free wheelchairs.

"The sheer joy I saw in the eyes of these people who could move around filled me with a deep sense of happiness and pride," says Veer. "Many of them had lost both their legs. Some children at the camp were younger than ten years of age. I am very grateful to all those who funded the project," says the excited Veer.

Thanking Veer and the organizers, one of the beneficiaries, Devika Bhabhachine, said, "I hope that Veer continues his good work and reaches out to many more people who need it." Young Veer responds, "I believe that every human person deserves a chance for a better future regardless of the circumstances he/she is born in. No disability should leave them behind."

Credit : F.M. Britto

Picture Credit : Google

Bijendra Kumar, father of Sujeet, still remembers the moment which was around 10 years ago when he told other villagers that he was sending his son to a school in Rajasthan so he could study and become an Army officer. Most of them laughed at him and said: "As a sanitation worker he is thinking too big."

On June 12, Bijendra Kumar grinned as he watched his 21-year-old son, Sujeet, a graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, become the first Army officer from his village of Basila. Bijendra Kumar is a sanitization worker and his wife is an "Asha worker".

Kumar told the media in an interview, "I held a broom, but my son will protect the country with his guns." The family huddled around the television to watch the Passing Out Parade as the family members of the Gentleman Cadets (CGs) were not allowed to be present during the ceremony due to Covid-19. Sujeet expressed his feeling and said, "I would have loved to see the pride and the smile on my parents' face."

Sujeet will soon be posted as Army Ordnance Corps and he hopes that his achievement will motivate more youngsters in his village to don the olive green uniform. Kumar said that he had already inspired his siblings. All his siblings are now preparing for competitive exams.

Kumar has taken his other two children to Varanasi in the hope that they access to better education facilities.

Kumar said, "My wife lives alone in the village, as she has to look after the health of people in that area. We do visit her once in a while but we have decided that we will do everything in our power to help our kids get the career they want."

After seeing his elder son becoming successful, now Kumar is confident that his family's dreams will come, true. He said, "I know all my children will achieve what they aspire to one day. Challenges can only make people stronger. My elder daughter finished school two years ago but I couldn't arrange money for medical coaching so she is studying on her own for MBBS. My younger daughter wants to become an IAS officer while my younger son wants to get into IIT."

Credit : The Times of India

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