Global Indianstory Global Indian Exclusive2023’s pageant powerhouses from the Indian diaspora: Combining pageantry, talent and social upliftment

2023’s pageant powerhouses from the Indian diaspora: Combining pageantry, talent and social upliftment

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(December 17, 2023) Indian-origin young women have been captivating audiences and making waves in the international pageant circuit, showcasing their exceptional talents, charm, and cultural heritage on a global platform. Combining their Indian roots with the influences of their adopted countries, these remarkable champions in pageantry have brought forward unique fusion of tradition and diversity. Their achievements not only highlight their beauty and grace but also their intelligence, resilience, and dedication to making a positive impact. Celebrating their victories Global Indian puts into spotlight four young women who got successful in the world of international pageantry in 2023, making the diaspora proud.

Manvin Khera

Miss Globe 2023

In a spectacular event held at Albania last month, 22-year-old Manvin Khera, a Malaysian model of Indian descent, secured the prestigious title of The Miss Globe 2023, at the world’s oldest major international beauty contest held annually since 1925. Manvin’s victory stands as a remarkable milestone, as she is the first Malaysian to win the title in the renowned pageant, surpassing fifty contestants from across the globe. Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Manvin has a successful career in modelling. Last year she earned the title of Ratu Wanita Malaya 2022 at the inaugural edition of the national pageant of Malaysia.

Success Stories | 2023's pageant powerhouses | Global Indian

Manvin Khera

This multi-talented youngster who excels as a model, singer, and beauty pageant winner, has established a strong international presence in modelling. Her appearances at Thailand Fashion Week, the Bali International Fashion Week, and the Rizman Ruzaini Cruise 2023 show during Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week highlight her global prominence. Manvin aspires to be a lawyer.

Manju Bangalore

Miss Oregon USA 2023

Manju Bangalore, a twenty-five-year-old, clinched the Miss Oregon USA 2023 title, becoming the first South Asian woman to achieve this distinction. For the versatile young woman, the win expanded the horizons of the meaningful work that she has been doing. Beyond her success in pageantry, Manju serves as a role model for young brown girls across the US with her astronaut training, acting, modelling, activism, writing, and non-profit. Manju’s Operation Period and Painting with Parkinson’s are two initiatives that showcase her commitment to making a positive impact in the society.

Manju Bangalore

The youngster is pursuing her postgraduate studies at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences in the US after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, majoring in physics with a minor in mathematics. She has worked on five NASA internships, in addition to a White House internship focusing on science policy. Apart from modelling she has acted in television shows like ‘Black is King’, ‘Depot,’ and ‘Animal Kingdom.’ Beyond her professional endeavours, Manju is an advocate for black and transgender rights. Recently she launched her debut children’s book aptly titled ‘You Can Be All the Things You Want to Be.’

UmaSofia Srivastava

Miss Teen USA 2023

The 16-year-old teen from Parsippany, New Jersey, of Indian and Mexican descent, clinched the Miss Teen USA title at the Reno, Nevada pageant held in September of this year. Among 51 accomplished young women representing every state and the District of Columbia, UmaSofia emerged as the winner. Her journey to this victory began earlier in March when she secured the Miss New Jersey Teen USA title. She has previously been a runner-up in the pageant at the age of 14.

UmaSofia Srivastava

Currently a junior at the Academy of St. Elizabeth in Parsippany-Troy Hills, UmaSofia is a devoted humanitarian with a strong belief in ethnic diversity, cultural inclusivity, and societal equality. She co-founded a diversity and inclusion campaign at her school, and runs a popular blog ‘That’s Fan Behaviour,’ which delves into topics ranging from feminism to her experiences as a woman of colour, conducting interviews with influential change makers, and exploring various other issues affecting society. The youngster is also a published author who came up with her debut book ‘The White Jaguar.’

Aruna Sukhdeo

Miss India Worldwide 2023

Born to an Indian-Guyanese labourer, Aruna Sukhdeo etched her name in history by claiming victory in the Miss India Worldwide 2023 competition, becoming the second individual of Indian origin from Guyana to accomplish this feat in the pageant’s 33-year legacy. Since its inception in 1990, the Miss India Worldwide pageant has attracted young women from the global Indian diaspora. Aruna also clinched the Miss Beautiful Hair title during the competition. Describing music as her ‘escape’. The aspiring economist and singer captivated the judges with her singing prowess throughout the event.

Aruna Sukhdeo

Currently the youngster is in her fourth year of studies in business economics at the University of Guyana (UG), Turkeyen Campus. She looks at the win as an opportunity to work on an issue which is closest to her heart – mental health, a condition that has been affecting the younger generations like never before.

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Published on 17, Dec 2023

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How tiny tech whiz Arijit Das’ AI & IoT projects have won awards

(February 20, 2022) It was a fine summer evening when a 10-year-old Arijit Das and his friends came across a young man building a drone in their neighbourhood playground. The boys were fascinated. As they watched the drone soar into the sky, they were captivated. A kindly neighbour walked them through the basics, explained how he’d built the device and its components. As the young Durgapur resident headed home that evening, his thoughts were filled with the exciting possibilities technology provided. Soon, the self-taught tech whiz was building his own tech projects like a prosthetic limb using arduino and micro controllers. The fields of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things interested him and this student at Hem Sheela Model School began racking up awards and achievements for his projects. From receiving the CSIR Innovation Award in 2021 to becoming the ambassador for Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based machine learning startup, 15-year-old Arijit has come a long way from being that fascinated little one on a Durgapur playground. [caption id="attachment_11095" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Arijit Das[/caption] The boy from Durgapur Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite

Edge Impulse | CSIR Winner" width="647" height="818" /> Arijit Das[/caption]

The boy from Durgapur

Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite happy-go-lucky, till one day, he chanced upon the drone. “When we approached my neighbour, he was kind enough to explain the workings and makings of a drone. It was enough to have me hooked,” says Arijit, recalling the incident from five years ago which sparked his interest in tech. “I went home and ran a google search, and began learning about tech myself,” the tech whiz tells Global Indian.

Soon, Arijit was building his first project for a state level science fair; a modified version of the LiFi concept prototype which used infrared light emitters instead of traditional light bulbs in 2018. Ever since, he has been working on various AI and IoT based projects, and speaking at conferences. In 2019, Arijit built the prosthetic limb, using arduino and micro controllers for a science fair at school. It so happened, that a few NIT-Durgapur employees happened to visit the science fair, and walked away impressed by Arijit’s project. A few weeks later, the lad’s teacher received an email from NIT, inviting Arijit and his team to the college to showcase the project. “Those were our first steps forward,” says the lad, who also showcased the project at the Institute of Engineers India, Durgapur chapter, on National Energy Conservation Day.

Project Innovation for Arijit

“We got one more special chance to present our project at an international conference WEES 2020 organised by the National Institute of Technology Durgapur and RMIT Australia. We were even invited by CSIRO Australia to write a research paper on our project which would get published in one of their energy conservation journals,” says the tech whiz. But then COVID-19 struck and the ensuing disruptions put a spanner in the works.

Not one to be discouraged, Arijit decided to participate in a competition organised by UNDP in April 2020 for designing projects for COVID-19. “I presented them with an idea for a health band that helps both patients and doctors,” says the Stem student, who won the hardware winner category prize for which he was awarded hardware worth $1,000.

Surging ahead with ideas

Some of the other projects Arijit has worked on are an anti-theft system for vehicles for the China-US Young Maker Fair, which he won. In August 2021, he developed an AI-based smart pesticide detector and farming system which went on to win the Deep Learning Superheroes Challenge by Intel. Arijit was featured across many tweets by Intel India too. Awarded the prestigious CSIR Innovation Award for School Children by the Department of Science & Technology, is another feather in this youngster’s cap .

“One of the best outcomes of these is the fact that I’ve made some great friends along the way, and have even won a lot of hackathons with them,” says the tech whiz, who received an invitation from Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based ML startup to become a part of their team in November 2021. "Later that month I officially became a part of the Edge Impulse team to develop and manage communities for EmbeddedML. Seeing my work in 2021, I was also invited by Ira Feldman, managing director of tinyML Foundation to join their team and help spread the idea and knowledge of tinyML across Asia, which led to the formation of the tinyML India chapter that presently has 700 plus members.”

Quiz the youngster on why technology fascinates him, and he says, “I believe technology can solve a lot of global issues. It can truly help society and the community with its inventions.”

With board exams looming, Arijit’s tech projects are restricted to the weekends, after his studies. This young tech enthusiast who loves subjects like physics, math, and computer science, aims to pursue a degree in engineering and hopes to one day become a computer scientist. “My parents are very supportive and whenever I am in doubt, they’re my biggest cheerleaders,” says the youngster, who loves to spend time with friends in between all his passion projects, academics and guitar lessons.

Follow Arijit Das on LinkedIn.

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From Kitchen to Amazon: The journey of Parth Mutha’s PROMUNCH protein snacks

(February 20, 2024) To support vegetarians and young athletes in meeting their daily protein needs, Parth Mutha, a global management student at Boston University, launched his snack company PROMUNCH. The soybean-based snacks, available in flavours such as noodle masala, cheese and onion, tangy pudina and peri peri, are crunchy, protein-packed balls inspired by his grandparents' recipe. "With 48% protein content, vegan and gluten-free, these roasted snacks are also non-GMO (products grown and processed without genetic modification)," claims Parth Mutha. Emphasising the importance of non-GMO ingredients, he explained in an interview, "Given the prevalence of genetically modified crops today, avoiding GMOs is crucial to prevent health issues like cancer and other diseases." Witnessing the journey of the snack product, made with a recipe sourced from his family kitchen to Amazon storefronts in both India and the USA fills Parth with a sense of pride. He intends to introduce seven additional flavours to the PROMUNCH lineup. Mutha received a significant boost when PROMUNCH was recently selected as ‘Amazon’s Choice’ on Amazon India, acknowledging the healthy snack for its high ratings, competitive pricing, and immediate availability for shipping. [caption id="attachment_35966" align="aligncenter" width="494"] Parth Mutha[/caption] "It's surreal to see my products available on Amazon,

oduce seven additional flavours to the PROMUNCH lineup. Mutha received a significant boost when PROMUNCH was recently selected as ‘Amazon’s Choice’ on Amazon India, acknowledging the healthy snack for its high ratings, competitive pricing, and immediate availability for shipping.

[caption id="attachment_35966" align="aligncenter" width="494"] Parth Mutha[/caption]

"It's surreal to see my products available on Amazon, knowing that this journey began in my kitchen," shared the startup founder and Chief Happiness Officer of PROMUNCH with BU Today, a publication of Boston University.

It started when…

As a vegetarian and a tennis player, Parth Mutha recalls the challenge of finding nutritious, protein-packed snacks particularly after workouts. He often resorted to unhealthy options like potato chips and puffs. Despite their taste, they failed to leave him feeling satisfied.

During the COVID quarantine of 2021, Parth found himself with ample free time, which he utilised to experiment with various recipes in pursuit of a delicious and filling snack. When he shared his plans with his family, they enthusiastically joined him, acting as taste-testers and assisting with production.

After initially selling his product in person towards the end of 2021, Parth’s venture slowly started gaining momentum. “When I started PROMUNCH Protein Snacks, I always dreamt of selling it in the USA, this dream has now been fulfilled,” he remarked.

Expansion with BUild Lab at Boston University

Parth attributes much of PROMUNCH’s growth to the BUild Lab IDG Capital Student Innovation Center, a collaborative space dedicated to assisting Boston University students in developing their business concepts. Inspired by Jen Migliore, the director of external affairs at Innovate@BU, Mutha decided to expand his snack start-up after attending the IDEA Conference at the Questrom School of Business last February.

Whether by fate or mere coincidence, Parth applied to BUild Lab’s Innovation Pathway programme on the final day of application submissions. Since then, the young entrepreneur has diligently worked through the ‘run stage’, which involves verifying that PROMUNCH can be scaled up effectively.

PROMUNCH's customer base has steadily grown with word-of-mouth referrals, participation in small business events, consistent social media marketing efforts, and increased sales through the website.

https://youtu.be/0soGAqP5T3k

Scaling up

Starting with just himself, the PROMUNCH team now comprises five members. The snack start-up has additionally engaged influencers and campus ambassadors, who receive a stipend along with complimentary PROMUNCH snack packs based on their marketing performance.

Parth Mutha has been trying his best to balance his studies and business venture. His workday usually commences at noon in Boston, stretching until early morning depending on the requirements. This schedule allows him to effectively manage and collaborate with his team located in a different time zone in India.

Despite the support from family and friends, Parth acknowledges that the challenges of entrepreneurship can be draining. "Some days, you question whether it's truly worth it," he reflects. "There are countless reasons that can make you doubt the value of your efforts." However, the entrepreneur keeps himself motivated.

[caption id="attachment_35976" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Parth Mutha[/caption]

Future plans

Parth Mutha hopes to expand further into the US market, and then to Amazon United Arab Emirates and Australia over the next three years.

Since many people in India are vegetarians, he aims to address the protein deficiency gap for people in all parts of his country.

“With countless sleepless nights, multiple sampling sessions, various feedbacks, a lot of dreaming, planning and finally executing,” entrepreneurship has been an adventurous journey for the young start-up founder.

Follow Parth Mutha at LinkedIn
Follow PROMUNCH at Instagram and its website

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Pitch perfect: Once dyslexic and epileptic, Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor is a musical wonder

(December 19, 2022) As an infant, Puja would often cry endlessly despite being fed on time by her mother, Neelam Kapoor. Her paediatricians were baffled and couldn’t diagnose the problem. Worried, Neelam discussed the issue with a friend, who came with a unique suggestion — playing a transistor near her cradle to see if it made any difference. It did. What doctors could not do, music did for the child. Each time she started crying, music would be played and the baby would calm down. She had a sharp sense of rhythm, naturally. [caption id="attachment_25569" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor[/caption] How music healed her Puja was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia and battled epileptic fits through her childhood. Stunning everyone around her, she began playing a keyboard using only her index finger, without even looking at the keys, sans any training or practice. Since then, the music composer and singer has taken the world of music by storm. “I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD

“I am aiming for the Oscars,” declares music prodigy Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor, who has been certified with 17 world records, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. Her flair for the keyboard, which she can even play blindfolded, earned her an honorary PhD Degree in Music by Duke University, North Carolina.

The incredibly talented musician can also sing, play the tabla and writes poetry. What has stunned the world is her natural ability to compose “on the spot” and create music instantly. “I like to take the audience along on a mesmerising musical trip,” smiles the music prodigy, who was eventually cured of epileptic fits and is no more a dyslexic.

Finding recognition

Her talents were spotted by Indian television producer Ekta Kapoor, who gave Puja her first big break in the television industry.

Born in February, 1996 in Hyderabad, Puja stunned the doctors and her family members when she started to speak coherently when she was barely six months old. By the time she turned 10, she was playing full songs without any professional training.

[caption id="attachment_25570" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor with filmmaker Remo D'Souza[/caption]

Growing up, her dyslexia posed a major challenge. “There were regular complaints from the school regarding my reading and writing problems,” recalls Puja, who has composed music and background scores for Hindi TV serials like Kavyanjali and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

The accidental prodigy

Since dyslexia requires children to be taught using out-of-the-box and playful methods, Puja’s mother brought home a keyboard to improve her writing with finger exercises. She wouldn’t play it, really, until one evening, she sat before it and out of the blue, played a Hindi song, without even having to glance at the keys.

“I played the song once and then my mother wanted me to repeat it again and again,” recalls Puja, who did not look at the keyboard even once that day, as if it was coming naturally to her.

Another pleasant surprise came later, around midnight, when she began playing a series of nursery rhymes on the keys. “I was playing the keyboard in darkness as I did not want to disturb my grandparents,” says Puja, who has been honoured by the Indian Tele Academy as the youngest achiever.

Puja recalls an instance from her school’s annual day. “When my name was announced to play the national anthem on stage, my mother stood there anxious. I comforted her and played the national anthem in precisely 52 seconds (the actual duration) inviting huge applause,” says the prodigy.

Achievements

Her name finds a mention in Global World Records, Asia Book Records, India Book of Records, Telugu Book of Records and Limca Book of Records for her unbelievable talent of playing the keyboards blindfolded and composing music on-the-spot without any training or practice.

[caption id="attachment_25568" align="aligncenter" width="687"] Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor performing at one of the events[/caption]

“I love the sound of white keys (on the keyboard) and compose music only on them,” says the music prodigy, on whose life a short film was made by National Award winning director G L Bharadwaj. Renowned Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur once remarked that “Stephen Hawking (also dyslexic) knew the science of the Universe, and Puja knows the science of music.”

She was invited to “India’s Got Talent” a leading Indian reality show, where she showcased her talent blindfolded and composed a beautiful tune, instantly. Puja was also featured in the first episode of another leading Indian show, called “Lakhon Me Ek,” (one in a million) and the “Kapil Sharma Show,” one of the highly celebrated shows in India.

She also performed before the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Surjit Singh Barnala, who honoured her as a permanent invitee of the Governor for every function. The then AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu bestowed her with the title “The Pride of Andhra Pradesh.”

“I have composed music before Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut as well,” says the music composer, who was the URF Top Talent of the Year, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teo06Plx1fk&t=334s

Looking ahead

These days, Puja is planning live shows to showcase her talent worldwide and spends hours singing and recording every day. Fluent in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi and even Arabic, Puja can sing in all these languages.

Puja has a special connect with the elderly. “I have performed at homes for the elderly and also orphanages,” smiles the prodigy, who dreams of building a beautiful home for the aged someday.

Follow Dr Puja Neelam Kapoor on Facebook

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Manu Bhaker: Indian shooter scripts history at the Paris Olympics 2024

(August 3, 2024) The girl from Jhajjar district in Haryana was always bent towards sports - martial arts, boxing, or skating - but it was her tryst with shooting that changed her life. Two months into exploring the sport at her school, she requested her father for a pistol. A chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, he wondered if spending ₹1.5 lakh investment would be worthwhile. On Sunday, she proved that choosing shooting was indeed the right decision as Manu Bhaker became the first Indian to win multiple shooting medals at the Paris Olympics 2024. She got India off the mark at the Paris Olympics by securing a historic bronze medal in the women's 10m air pistol event, followed by another historic win in the 10m pistol mixed event with Sarabjot Singh. After years of hard work, blood, and sweat, the 22-year-old got to bite an Olympic medal, becoming the first Indian woman to earn a shooting medal at the Summer Games. Expressing her elation, the Global Indian wrote on X, "Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my

n pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country."

Extremely humbled by the support and wishes that have been pouring in. This is something that I've always dreamt of. Proud to perform at the biggest stage for my country 🇮🇳 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8U6sHOLulR

— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) July 30, 2024

Ever since she burst on the scene with the gold in the 10m air pistol at the 2018 Youth Olympics, all eyes have been on the young athlete. But despite the countless medals, the ultimate prize remained out of reach, especially after the heartbreaking defeat in her first Olympics in Tokyo. But she returned to the Paris Olympics with a will to fight and win, and she did.

Love for sports

A native of Goriya village in Jhajjar district, Manu always excelled in sports like Huyen langlon, a Manipuri martial art, as well as boxing, tennis, and skating and won many medals. It was in 2016 that she was introduced to shooting at Universal Senior Secondary School - the only place to have a shooting range in her district. 25 km from her home, she would practice for five hours every day. Within a few months, she asked her dad to buy her a pistol as wanted to take up competitive shooting. A year later, she achieved her first international success by winning the silver medal at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships. The same year, she won nine gold medals at the National Games.

[caption id="attachment_38676" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Manu Bhaker[/caption]

Going global

2018 brought with it more opportunities and more medals on the international stage. She won two gold medals at the International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup held in Mexico, followed by a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2018. Talking about her success, she said, "It just happens. I don’t think about them. At times I don’t even know what the records are," adding, "I am grateful to all my coaches or their advice and the hours they have put in to hone my technique."

The wins and great performances earned her a spot at the Tokyo Olympics. Still, she returned home empty-handed and teary-eyed from her maiden Olympics, falling short of expectations. The Tokyo heartbreak led to a public fallout with her coach Jaspal Rana. She soon retrieved her shell and lost the spark that she had for shooting. Instead, she started finding the sport boring which for her had become more "like a 9 to 5 job." "That was the time I felt 'okay, I am still in the team, I am doing okay, but it's not giving me any kind of joy and any kind of happiness'. I felt like that was the time I should give it a break and probably focus on my studies, go to a college, and study abroad for a while. I was really thinking about it," she said in an interview.

Reuniting with coach Jaspal Rana

However, Manu did not give up. She picked up the phone and called her former coach Jaspal Rana to bury the hatchet. Keeping their egos aside, the two reunited and Manu started practising under her coach once again. Whether she was training in Luxembourg or Dehradun, Rana set specific targets for Manu even during routine sessions. If Manu failed to achieve the score set by Rana, she would incur fines, which were then donated to help those in need around the world. "His working method is very different from the rest of the people. Usually, he sets a goal and if you score that much, then it's okay," she said, adding, "And if you don't score that much, then the points that were less in that score, let us say we decided to score 582 and I scored 578. So those four points will amount to 40 Euros and sometimes 400 Euros depending on the situation and country. You have to donate that much."

[caption id="attachment_38678" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Manu Bhaker[/caption]

Along with intense training methods, she began reading the Bhagavad Gita for mental fortitude. "I have become religious after Tokyo but not in an extreme way (laughs). I believe that there is an energy that guides us and protects us. And there is an aura around us that feeds on that energy. I think there should be some faith in God who has created us," she said.

In 2024, she returned to the international stage with vigour and determination, and it paid off as she clinched two the bronze medals and become an unmissable part of India's Olympic history.

Follow Manu Bhaker on X

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

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

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

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

Impact

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

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

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

Why giving back is important

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

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

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

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

Follow Karina Samuel on Linkedin

Reading Time: 4 min