Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAamir Ali’s Project Pixel: Where gaming meets giving back

Aamir Ali’s Project Pixel: Where gaming meets giving back

By: Amrita Priya

(November 10, 2024) Driven by a mission to make gaming more than just a pastime, Aamir Ali shaped the student-led online game development initiative, Project Pixel, into a platform that combines the thrill of gameplay with a deeper purpose, turning each download and play session into a force for social good. The immersive 2D games operate on a ‘100 percent donation policy,’ ensuring that every penny earned goes directly to charity.

The recent computer science graduate from The University of Sheffield has transformed a shared vision with a friend into a groundbreaking initiative redefining the role of video games in society. The seeds of Project Pixel were sown one and a half years ago when Aamir and Najaaz Nabhan, a student from Sri Lanka, envisioned creating a positive impact through gaming. Their student-led venture at the University of Sheffield engages over 25 students across different fields such as computer science, engineering, and humanities. For Aamir, now a data science professional at the UK-based multinational Gymshark since July, Project Pixel has been an opportunity to prove that gaming can transcend entertainment and serve as a tool for giving back.

Indian youth | Aamir Ali | Global Indian

Project Pixel team members

“We would love to inspire students at other universities and turn this into a global movement. Everyone at Project Pixel has shown that it doesn’t matter what degree you’re studying or whether you know anything about game development – you have a chance if you have the passion and willingness to learn,” Aamir shared in an interview.

A new kind of gaming initiative

Gaming is a rapidly expanding sector with a vast audience, and Aamir recognised its untapped potential for charitable efforts. Traditional gaming-related charity initiatives often rely on sponsorships and donations from players. Project Pixel, however, takes a different approach by developing original games whose proceeds go directly to charitable causes, making every player’s engagement impactful.

A 2D game created by Project Pixel

Learning by doing

Project Pixel is also a hands-on learning experience for students engaged in it. The team welcomes members from all academic backgrounds, even those without previous experience in game development. By providing students with a space to explore areas such as programming, sound production, graphic design, and story development, Project Pixel serves as a bridge between academic knowledge and industry practice. Each member brings a unique set of skills, from arts students working on character design to science students handling technical programming. This multidisciplinary collaboration enriches the games and allows participants to gain experience in various facets of game production.

“As the project started to develop we quickly found that lots of students from all over the University of Sheffield, who are studying on all kinds of degree programmes, are passionate about gaming and want to work in the industry, but they are not sure how or where to start, ” Aamir shared. “Project Pixel has given us all the opportunity to learn about game development together and take our first steps in the industry, whilst also doing something good for society.”

Their university’s support for the initiative has been instrumental. Through the Faculty of Engineering’s co-curricular activities fund, the team secured funds to buy a publishing license for Google Play, allowing them to bring their creations to a wider audience. For Aamir, leading Project Pixel has meant guiding a team through the challenges of real-world game development while creating a culture of inclusivity and shared purpose.

One of Project Pixel’s team sessions

Storytelling with heart

The Project Pixel team has released four games, each with its own story-driven themes. Project Pixel’s first game, Color Dash, takes players into a world drained of color by an evil sorcerer. The player embarks on a quest to bring color back by gathering vibrant orbs, a journey symbolizing hope and resilience. This message reflects Project Pixel’s own commitment to spreading positivity in the gaming world, proving that even virtual landscapes can carry powerful themes.

Their second game, Flight Frenzy, follows the daring adventures of a pilot navigating a challenging world filled with obstacles like skyscrapers, birds, and turbulent weather. Players must collect resources like fuel and ammunition to keep flying, making quick decisions that test their reflexes and resource management.

Project Pixel | Aamir Ali | Global Indian

One of Project Pixel’s presentations

Turtle Odyssey is about different stages of a turtle’s life and how it sails through various obstacles. While the fourth game, Chef’s Last Stand is level-based, where players place chefs of different strengths strategically to fend off waves of mice. It is about achieving success by defeating all waves without losing health. Each game is crafted not only for enjoyment but also to inspire players, reinforcing the project’s mission to make gaming a platform for change.

Industry support and guidance

The journey of building Project Pixel has not been without its challenges, and Aamir and his team benefited from guidance along the way. They have collaborated with Sumo Digital, a video game developer based in Sheffield, to gain insights into effective game design and development. “Meetings with Sumo’s Director of Education Partnerships, Jake Habgood, offered valuable industry perspectives,” shared Aamir highlighting how his team refined their approach and ensured that each game meets professional standards.

For Aamir, this project’s practical experience has enriched his own professional journey. Since joining the multinational company, Gymshark as a data science professional in July, he has applied the lessons learned from Project Pixel, from teamwork and collaboration to project management skills that he carries forward in his role.

Aamir (second from left) with the Gymshark team

Looking ahead…

Project Pixel’s ambitions reach beyond the University of Sheffield. Aamir and Najaaz have always hoped that their initiative can inspire similar projects at other universities worldwide, creating a network of young developers who use gaming as a tool for social good. The project has already made a significant impact within the UK, standing out as one of the largest student-led gaming initiatives dedicated solely to charity. By demonstrating what is possible when young people unite their passions for a common purpose, Project Pixel hopes to create a new wave of gaming for good.

Follow Aamir Ali on LinkedIn
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Published on 10, Nov 2024

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Aadya Joshi: The Stanford grad spreading awareness on native plants through The Right Green

(May 14, 2024) When she was a junior at the American School of Bombay, Aadya Joshi founded The Right Green, an organisation that spreads awareness about native plants and their ecological role in providing food and habitat for local species of insects and birds. Now a student at Stanford University, Aadya also received the prestigious Children's Climate Prize in 2020. Everyday, Aadya Joshi would notice the neighbourhood police station on her way home from school in Mumbai. Outside the station was a vacant lot, full of confiscated vehicles that had not been claimed by their owners. Locals had also begun adding their trash, and the result was a landfill in the middle of a residential neighbourhood. Aadya wondered why nobody was doing anything about it, and in the end, decided that she would be the one to try. "In the end, I went to the police commissioner and the inspector and I said I can make a garden in this garbage dump if it's not being used productively," the Global Indian says. The police took a while to decide but ultimately agreed. [caption id="attachment_37799" align="aligncenter" width="577"] Aadya Joshi when she was in high school[/caption] Aadya gathered friends and residents together

idth="577"] Aadya Joshi when she was in high school[/caption]

Aadya gathered friends and residents together and for the next month, they met every weekend to clean out the trash. Then they removed the contaminated soil and replaced it, and turned some of the scrap metal into pots. Finally, they planted a garden in the old garbage dump. It was a success for Aadya in more ways than one. She saw that her work could have an impact, and understood the power of communities. She wanted to do more and began attending workshops, where she learned that restoring green cover is more than just planting trees. The key is to plant native plant species, even in a place where urbanisation has long since taken over plant cover.

The importance of native species

From there, Aadya, who was then a student at the American School of Bombay, began her own journey of learning. Eventually, she arrived at the work of Dr Doug Tallamy, a professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. He taught her how that planting non-indigenous species can do more harm than good, while native plants will also help restore and nurture the ecosystem of local insects and in turn, birds.

"We are faced with the sixth mass extinction of species, majorly because of the loss of natural habitats and native plants. It has disturbed the food cycle," Aadya says. "Native plants are a vital source of food for insects, and in turn for other species like birds and small animals. Hence the loss of native plants and their replacement with exotic, non-native plants has a cascading effect that results in a significant decline in biodiversity." In fact, she realised that pigeons and crows dominate Mumbai because the trees, which are not local, don't support biodiversity.

This is a remnant of colonial times, as the British had planted hundreds of foreign species of flora across the country. These species, like eucalyptus, were adopted by locals and now cover huge swathes of land, but are not conducive to other plants and trees, or even so to birds, bees and other insects. "In India, but especially Mumbai, you see a lot of colonial, non-native invasive plants," says Aadya. "For example, rain trees. People say they have been here for so long they must be a vital part of our ecosystem." In truth, rain trees are native to Costa Rica and support wildlife that belongs to the ecosystem there. "If you plant native plants, then the insects come back, the butterflies come back, you have caterpillars, and with them the birds come back," she adds.

The Right Green

Aadya had learned that simply planting trees is not the answer, but how many others know that? Could she teach people what they should be planting and why? That's how Aadya launched The Right Green, in 2018, and began by offering workshops for children between the ages of five and 12. Starting out, she tested her ideas on her brother, to see if he could absorb her message. The idea was for kids to learn and also have fun. She also held workshops for adults, corporates and municipal authorities and worked to facilitate the development of native biodiversity gardens.

"The first part of the workshop gets them into nature, since we have a lack of open spaces in Mumbai," Aadya explains. "The second thing is that I try to teach them how native plants support biodiversity, while non-native plants don't." The participants can explore the park they're in, and try and identify trees based on certain clues, and to observe the insects and birds they support. For instance, they can see for themselves that a mango tree is full of insect and avian life, where a rain tree might not even have any nests in its topmost branches. She even developed a unique financial model - the participants, if they find the workshop useful, pay it forward and cover the cost for the next batch of students. This also helps her take her mission to people from weaker financial backgrounds.

[caption id="attachment_37800" align="aligncenter" width="551"] Aadya Joshi is the founder of The Right Green[/caption]

The idea did well and soon parents of her students were also reaching out for advice on what to put in their home gardens. This led Aadya to phase two of The Right Green. She began building a database of native plants and ranked them by the amount of biodiversity they could support. She was following in the footsteps of Dr Tallamy, and reached out to him to learn more about his methods. "What I want is to create a resource that a lot of people can use so that when they plant their gardens, they will seed well," Aadya remarks.

Follow The Right Green on Instagram

Yash Aradhya: Formula 4 racer speeding towards victory

(March 18, 2023) He stood tall and proud as former President Ram Nath Kovind gave him the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2020. Awarded for his exceptional contribution to motorsports, Formula 4 racer Yash Aradhya has what it takes to surge past the chequered flag. Yash was just nine when he first began training, and now a decade later, he is at the threshold of a spectacular career. The 20-year-old, who is currently studying in the Netherlands, is among the new stars rising up in the world of racing. "It's such a great time to be in motorsports. A lot of new talent is venturing into it, and many new opportunities are opening up for us in India," Yash tells Global Indian. The boy, who had a podium finish at the X1 Racing League, has participated in the 2020 French Formula F4. Till now, he has won seven National Championship and six Club Championship titles, with around 65 race podiums. [caption id="attachment_8740" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Yash Aradhya at French Formula 4 2020.[/caption] Born in 2002 in Bengaluru to an adman father and a homemaker mother, Aradhya's love for speed began when he was just six. "It was during a road

-content/uploads/2021/12/50935773492_826411802c_c.jpg" alt="Yash Aradhya" width="600" height="800" /> Yash Aradhya at French Formula 4 2020.[/caption]

Born in 2002 in Bengaluru to an adman father and a homemaker mother, Aradhya's love for speed began when he was just six. "It was during a road trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai that I got excited about cars and speed. I remember my dad explaining to me about horsepower and engines and it fascinated me. I was thrilled by the passion for speed, so at six, I started karting for fun," reminisces Yash.

Racing is in his DNA

Yash officially dipped his toes into racing at age nine. Seeing his passion, his father approached JK Tyres' head Sanjay Sharma for the national racing championship. "Hardy uncle (as we fondly call him) put us in touch with Akbar Ebrahim (the first Indian to race in the international circuits) and it was under him that my training began," recalls the 19-year-old whose ultimate goal is to become a Formula 1 racer.

At nine, he scored his first win at the JK Tyre MMS Rotax Rookie Cup 2012 by clinching second at the podium, which turned out to be a foundation for the forthcoming winning championships. "Graduating to the junior level was a different ball game as there is a speed difference and fighting for the top position was getting exciting and challenging at the same time. However, my passion to win helped me exceed everyone's expectations including my mentor after I won Formula Junior Series FLGB," says the Utrecht University student.

[caption id="attachment_8738" align="aligncenter" width="799"] Yash Aradhya with his mentor Akbar Ebrahim[/caption]

The win set the ball rolling for Yash who was soon nominated by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India to represent the country at Academy Trophy. It opened new opportunities for the teenager, and took him to Europe and Asia to race. With each passing year, Aradhya won more podiums and in 2019, he graduated from karting to car with the MRF 1300 National Championship 1600.

The run up to the podium

However, it hasn't been an easy run, especially since he came from a non-motorsport background though he found the perfect support system in his dad. "I knew that I wanted to be a Formula racer, and my dad helped me achieve my dream. He put me in touch with my mentor, helped me get sponsors who have put their faith in me. Despite being an expensive sport, my dad has gone above and beyond to make my dream come true," beams the Formula 4 racer.

With the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, Yash is the only teenager under 18 years to be awarded in the category of motorsports. "I didn't realise how big of a deal it was until I was standing in front of the President of India. The award means a lot to me and holds immense value," says Yash who still remembers PM Narendra Modi's advice to him. "He added, 'This award is not the end. Take it as a beginning step, and continue to excel in the field'."

[caption id="attachment_8737" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Yash Aradhya with former President Ram Nath Kovind[/caption]

The mettle to train

The boy from Bishop Cotton Boys School is completely focused on excelling now. Under the tutelage of coach Akbar Ebrahim, fitness coach Ramji Srinivasan and nutritionist Ryan Fernando, Yash is spreading his wings far and wide. He reveals that unlike other sports, racers don't get to train on the tracks every single day. "I do physical and mental training every day under the guidance of my coaches. However, we get only two days to test drive before the championships," says Yash, who is currently studying economics and business economics in the Netherlands and enjoying his stay in a new city.

Despite being one of the most expensive sports, Yash has found his footing, thanks to his sponsors. After racing in Formula 4 South East Asia Championship 2019, the 2020 French Formula F4 and MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2022, he is now gearing up for his upcoming championships. "Currently, I am dividing my time between studies and training. These last few years were wasted, thanks to the pandemic. However, I am excited to get back into action," says the racer who loves playing tennis and swimming in his free time.

[caption id="attachment_8739" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Yash Aradhya training for championship[/caption]

Calling the recent times one of the most exciting times to be in motosporting, Yash feels lucky to be a part of it. "There are so many career opportunities right now in motorsports. The talent is getting recognised. I would say stay tuned for more," signs off Yash.

Follow Yash Aradhya on Twitter and Instagram

Reading Time: 4 min

Young Indian environmentalists are working hard to save our planet

(February 21, 2023) The climate change sweeping the world is occurring at a faster pace than previously thought, making it imperative that governments act now to reverse the damage being done to the planet. According to a study by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), over the last few decades, the exploitation of our planet and the degradation of our environment has gone up at an alarming rate. With several natural disasters striking us more often in the form of flash floods, earthquakes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones, many environmentalists have positioned themselves as advocates of sustainability, determined to meet the climate crisis at humanity’s doorstep. Global Indian takes a look at young Indians, who have been working on protecting this planet. Through their sustainability efforts across fashion, water conservation, waste management, education, policymaking, and sustainable energy, these young environmentalists inspire and impact thousands of people around the globe. Sneha Shahi, reviving rivers As a young child, environmentalist Sneha Shahi would visit the northeastern region of India, almost every summer, where her father was stationed. And that's when she fell in love with nature. Growing up in Vadodara, Gujarat, Sneha was always a girl who showed a keen interest in environmental activities.

n love with nature. Growing up in Vadodara, Gujarat, Sneha was always a girl who showed a keen interest in environmental activities. Today, a Ph.D. scholar at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, Sneha is among the 17 UN Young Climate Champions from India.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQzojOBQ44

"Since we were in school, we have been learning how plastic waste and its irresponsible disposal harm our flora, fauna, and land water systems. While we are taught about it, most people do not do anything to reduce the impact," shared the activist, who removed about 700 kg of waste from a natural rivulet that people thought to be a gutter.

Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Extreme Hydrological Events at ATREE, Bengaluru, Sneha is gearing up to work on the restoration of the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu, Thamirabarani. "It has been only six months since I started the programme here and the project is still getting developed. The objectives currently are to restore this beautiful river, Thamirabarani, which is about 128 km long," shares Sneha, adding, "It supports drinking water and agricultural activities. We do not just want to install physical instruments to control pollution, but also create awareness about the pollution and change their mindset," shared the environmentalist.

Sagarika Sriram, climate change activist

A young 17-year-old took centre stage while top leaders from across the world gathered to discuss how they can save our planet from the changing climatic conditions at COP27, held in Egypt. Addressing her audience, the young environment activist, Sagarika Sriram, pointed out the youth’s perspective on sustainability and how youngsters can have their voices heard. Stressing how awareness must be raised in schools, her closing remarks pushed for the youth around the world to be heard when it comes to their sustainable goals, ending her speech to thunderous applause from the audience.

Called an "inspiration to all young girls in her country and West Asia” by the U.N. Environment Programme, the Dubai-based Indian ex-pat has been able to inspire and motivate numerous kids to join the movement for a cleaner and healthier future for all. Her digital platform Kids for a Better World, which the young environment activist created in 2016 as a school project, has brought together nearly 100,000 young kids from around the globe who too want to fight climate change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPWtMtGOs-s

The environmentalist who has organised numerous local clean-up drives and workshops for kids believes that young people have to stand for the cause to prevent the impact of climate change. "I want to make a real change and contribute towards helping the planet revive. I just finished my final examinations and want to take a year's break to concentrate on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, which will take place in the UAE," she shared.

Soumya Ranjan Biswal, marine conservation

Mangroves might appear to be merely coastal forests, but these rich ecosystems support the planet and living being in many ways. From providing breeding grounds for fish to carbon storage, and protection against flooding mangroves does it all. However, despite its importance, the mangrove forests are under threat. Odisha-based, 24-year-old environmentalist Soumya Ranjan Biswal has been voluntarily growing intending to regenerate the mangrove forests along the 18-km-long beach stretch for the last few years. Locally called Rai, Harakancha, Sundari, Bani, Guan, and Keruan, these plants are integral to the coastal habitat and livelihood of local fishermen.

The youngster is also working tirelessly to protect the threatened habitat of Olive Ridley turtles. From making sure eggs of the endangered species are protected from predators like dogs, jackals, and other animals, taking out cycle rallies to spread awareness among coastal inhabitants for the safety of the sea turtles to cleaning the beaches for the release of hatchlings, Soumya, fondly called Olly Boy has been doing it all. When the Odisha government agreed to have the Olive Ridley sea turtle as the mascot for the 2018 Hockey World Cup, that was when the young environmentalist decided to hold their historic one-month-long cycle expedition, paddling through coastal pockets of Rushikulya, Puri, Chilika, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore to create awareness about the protection of the turtles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeXCsE5eKEo

While Olive Ridleys are close to Soumya, he has also been working for the cause of sparrows, reviving dry water bodies in forests and keeping beaches plastic-free. "As a coastal village boy, I've always been affected by ocean and beach pollution, high mortality rates of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, and mangrove destruction which have resulted in the occurrence of consistent natural calamities. This made me feel more strongly about issues like environmental degradation, climate change, and its impact on the marine ecosystem." Soumya had said during an earlier interview. Soumya was part of the "We The Change" campaign initiated by the United Nations in India.

Hina Saifi, clean air and renewable energy activist

Working with NGOs within her village in Meerut, Hina Saifi started to work on climate awareness after noting a lack of environmental awareness in her polluted village of Sisosla. From campaigning for solar-powered solutions to mobilising local communities to tackle air pollution through public campaigns, call for action, and pamphlets, Hina has been associated with the 100% Uttar Pradesh Campaign and The Climate Agenda since 2018.

"I believe that if there’s public awareness first, then we can improve the environment. It will happen if people are aware of climate-friendly behaviours and actions. This is why I want to work in the space of public awareness and mobilization." Hina advocated during a press interaction. After she launched ‘Suraj Se Samriddhi’, a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of solar power, Hina was selected as the United Nation Young Environment Champion last year.

Berjis Driver, sustainable urban planner

An urban planner and associate member of the Institute of Town Planners India, Berjis Driver is working with the government authorities to reduce disparities, and improve accessibility and quality of life in cities. Berjis' expertise in environmental planning was important in understanding the relationship between Mumbai’s infrastructure and its environment. As an architect, he has been contributing to statutory urban policy and guideline preparation in Mumbai and Amravati.

A UN Youth Environment Champion, Berjis advocates that the urban cities' environment has been disconnected from the ecosystem. The norms on a per capita basis track back to the 60s and 70s and are not relevant to India today. He has been working to implement the basic benchmarks for green infrastructure, with rigorous control, in every city. "The promise of being able to reach out and scale up climate action, to learn the truth behind the origins and contexts of sustainability, help navigate it favourably, and to be able to safeguard the weakest in the face of climate change, is what continues to motivate me in this journey," Berjis has shared during an interview.

Reading Time: 6 mins

Diana awardee Aanya Rao’s Art Connect is brightening up the lives of patients in Singapore

(August 7, 2022) While accompanying her father to health centres during his second kidney transplant in 2018, fourteen-year-old Aanya Rao did not appreciate the dull hues of the space. “They should be bright enough,” to infuse some positivity into the minds and lives of the people already in a sombre mood, she thought. Struck by the absence of vibrancy, the youngster delved into research on the impact of art in the healing process. It was then that the idea of Art:Connect germinated. “For many patients, special needs children, healthcare workers, and senior citizens hospitals and care centres have almost become like home. It is very important for them to have a vibrant and positive environment,” she tells Global Indian, while connecting from Singapore. [caption id="attachment_20476" align="aligncenter" width="852"] Aanya Rao, founder Art:Connect[/caption] From hobby to purpose Aanya had always been in love with art, learning the nuances of fine arts since the time she was a seven-year-old. It was during the hospital visits with her father that she realised that the hobby can be utilised for a larger purpose. In 2020, she laid the foundation of the student-led body Art:Connect, and since then, the teenager along with 40 plus student

bal Indian " width="852" height="638" /> Aanya Rao, founder Art:Connect[/caption]

From hobby to purpose

Aanya had always been in love with art, learning the nuances of fine arts since the time she was a seven-year-old. It was during the hospital visits with her father that she realised that the hobby can be utilised for a larger purpose. In 2020, she laid the foundation of the student-led body Art:Connect, and since then, the teenager along with 40 plus student volunteers studying in schools and colleges of Singapore, have been working in tandem to put their artistic talent to good use. To eliminate the starkness of the white walls, they coloured them up with murals in health care centres, displayed their handmade creations in exhibitions to raise funds, and organised art workshops and competitions for patients and senior citizens.

[caption id="attachment_20481" align="aligncenter" width="892"] A mural by Art:Connect team at Vanguard Healthcare, Singapore[/caption]

The Art:Connect team also conducts art workshops for mothers and their children suffering from lysosomal storage disorder, and diseases like phenylketonuria, thalassemia and osteogenesis. They have organised exhibitions to spread awareness about organ donation, dementia and mental health, and have been making greeting cards to brighten up the lives in hospitals during festivals. “While we started with brightening up walls, our initiative branched out into other areas connecting art with well-being,” says the teenager.

The team finds immense satisfaction in the fact that their creativity has not only got an audience but has been replacing gloominess with vibrancy. With their slogan, ‘Art can, and will, heal the world’ they have been leveraging the “healing power of art” to brighten lives of not just those who are suffering but also of the healthcare workers and caregivers who work in the emotionally, physically and mentally draining environments.

[caption id="attachment_20480" align="aligncenter" width="897"] Art:Connect organised a special workshop in collaboration with Rare Disorders Society Singapore (RDSS)[/caption]

Future ahead

To keep on adding a healing touch is what Aanya never wants to lose focus of. The 16-year-old, Class XI student of NPS International School Singapore, is working on succession planning and building the next step of leadership as she comes closer to her foray in the world of university education.

The Art:Connect team collaborates with about 500 students across schools of Singapore for special projects. “Moving on from a core team of five, I will play a more advisory role,” informs the teen about her non-profit’s future plan.

[caption id="attachment_20487" align="aligncenter" width="867"] Art:Connect's organ donation awareness exhibition in collaboration with National University Hospital, Singapore[/caption]

A STEM lover, Aanya plans to pursue either biotechnology or bioengineering in college. A trained Bharatnatyam, Kathak and ballet dancer, she ‘absolutely loves art’, and finds working for Art:Connect a great stress buster.

Follow Art:Connect on Instagram and its website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Manya Harsha: The eco-warrior turns vegetable waste into paper, saving millions of trees

(September 17, 2023) When most of the people were busy making Dalgona coffee in the lockdown, the then 10-year-old Bengaluru-resident Manya Harsha had turned her home into a mini laboratory where she spent hours looking for ways to turn vegetable waste in eco-friendly handmade paper. Passionate about environment, her green initiatives have been appreciated by the United Nations-Water. "I celebrate every day as Earth Day. I believe it's our responsibility to look after our surroundings and nature," she said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_33099" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Manya Harsha[/caption] Just when the world had come to a standstill, Manya, who has been a champion of environment, dived deeper to find a solution to saving trees. Around 15 billion trees are cut each year to make paper, and Manya was determined to find a way out. Despite several initial hiccups, she was able to devise a novel method through which she could produce 2-3 A4 size sheets by using 10 onion peels. The process was tiresome as her first attempt turned out to be a complete failure, but she persisted and kept improving the technique until she could make sheets in varied colours and patterns. "Recycled paper reduces energy and helps stop

mpt turned out to be a complete failure, but she persisted and kept improving the technique until she could make sheets in varied colours and patterns. "Recycled paper reduces energy and helps stop deforestation. With around 1.3 billion population, India generates an average of 1000 gms of kitchen waste per day, if everyone starts recycling vegetable peels into paper, each one can contribute to the lessening of Ecological crisis," reads one of her Instagram posts.

Growing up amid the lush greenery of her grandmother's home in Bengaluru, Manya felt closer to nature. But seeing waste pollution as a constant menace, she started raising awareness on environment preservation. "Born in Bengaluru, I see the beautiful Garden city slowly transformed by heaps of garbage dumped on the roadside and how the quantity of waste is increasing every passing day has been a matter of huge concern. This scenario always had made me think for a permanent solution as to how the flower and plant waste can be utilized in an eco-friendly manner," she said.

As young as eight, she started raising awareness through blog and poetry. She understood the power of words, and ended up authoring five books on environment and nature. While she kept relentlessly championing for environment preservation, she took it a notch higher when she made handmade paper from vegetable peels. "Making one paper a day keeps deforestation at bay, in my opinion. It’s an easy sustainable option to wet waste management," she said in an interview.

In 2020. she was awarded for her project SUNSHINE, an eco-friendly initiative, where she created DIY vegetable paper to promote environment awareness among kids. So far, she has produced over 300 sheets of colourful paper made from vegetable waste. "Instead of chopping trees for paper, let's recycle the kitchen waste to eco-friendly vegetable paper. Let's all together join hands to restore our earth," Manya said, adding, "8 trees are sacrificed for 1000 pounds of paper! Now with around 8-10 onion peels, I can make 2-3 A4 size papers. A 1/2 kg of Peas husk can make 3 A4 size sheets! 2 -3 baby corn husk makes around 2 A4 size sheets! These colourful vegetable papers are just like any other handmade paper. You can write, draw, paint, fold and create art out of it."

The Water Heroes awardee in 2020 by the ministry of JAL Shakthi, Manya is also the editor of her kid's journal Sunshine Fortnightly. Moreover, she received the India Book of Records for being the youngest to write a book on nature. "I believe nothing in this world is a waste until you consider it one."

Follow Manya Harsha on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 4 min