Angelina Arora: The Indian-Australian teen finds a solution to single-use plastic
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(June 28, 2024) A routine trip to a local grocery store made the then 11-year-old Angelina Arora committed to finding a better solution to single-use plastic. Seeing a huge number of plastic bags being carried out of the store made her understand their detrimental impact on the environment and led the Adelaide-based innovator on a quest to save Earth by finding biodegradable alternatives.
Having mulled over the possible solution for years, in Class 9 as a science project, she began experimenting with corn starch and potato starch to create a biodegradable bag, however, they dissolved in water. She then tried banana peels and other waste products, however, nothing proved successful. Her eureka moment came while sitting at a local fish and chips shop and staring at a pile of fish waste – including crab shells, prawn tails and fish heads. She packed a few kilos of the discarded shells and headed straight to her Sydney Girls High School science lab to start experimenting. Noticing similarities between prawn shells and plastic, she knew she could have found the answer. “I looked at prawns and thought what makes their shells look like plastic? Maybe I can take that out and use it some way and bind it to make a plastic-like material,” the Global Indian said in an interview.
Angelina Arora during an experiment
Making biodegradable plastic
A budding scientist, Angelina extracted chitin, a carbohydrate from prawn shells, and converted it into chitosan which she later mixed with fibron, a protein found in silkworms. “It’s the same protein that spiders use to make webs. It’s very sticky. When you mix it with chitin it produces a fabric that is flexible and strong and exhibits all the properties you want in plastic,” she added. The biodegradable plastic decomposes 1.5 million times faster than commercial plastics and completely breaks down within 33 days of its exposure to bacteria. Her success attracted the attention of scholars and scientists across Australia and even won her the NSW Young Scientist Award in 2016, the Innovator to Market Award in the 2018 and BHP Billiton Foundation Science and Engineering Awards. Moreover, she received the fourth grand award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, where the innovator competed against 1800 students from over 81 countries.
Angelina Arora with her biodegradable plastic
According to a new OECD report, only 9 percent of plastic waste is recycled globally while 22 percent is mismanaged. Though bans and taxes on single-use plastic exist in over 120 countries, not enough is being done to reduce pollution. And Angelina thinks that biodegradable plastic – which is low-cost, durable, and insoluble – is the need of the hour. She is keen to see every plastic in the world be made out of her biodegradable plastic. “While decomposing, this eco-friendly plastic made of prawn shells releases nitrogen which is very important for plant growth and immunity. Thus, it could be used for agriculture as well, and not just for packaging,” she said.
Contributing to the environment
The Flinders University student, who was the nominee for Young Australian of the Year in 2019, is hopeful that biodegradable alternatives like hers will contribute to cleaning up the environment, especially the ocean – a cause close to her heart.
Having started early, she believes the key lies in growing one’s own interests. “Doing your own research outside of school gives you the freedom to do what you really like and be creative, not for a grade. You grow interests, expand awareness and increase your curiosity,” she said, adding, “Plus it gives young people something productive to do for humanity rather than watching Netflix.”
Angelina’s invention shows how we can use scientific creativity and care for the environment to solve big problems. Her work highlights the need for sustainable practices and opens doors for future green technologies, inspiring more people to develop eco-friendly innovations.
(May 24, 2023) In the realm of sports, the Telugu region has become a breeding ground for exceptional talent, producing individuals who have defied odds, shattered barriers, and etched their names in the annals of sporting history. This is a tale that celebrates the indomitable spirit and remarkable achievements of Telugu sports stars. Through their dedication, perseverance, and unwavering determination, these individuals have become beacons of inspiration, captivating the hearts and minds of millions across the nation. Global Indian explores the journeys of badminton champs Gayatri Gopichand and Satwik Rankireddy, boxer Nikhat Zareen, who has carved herself a place in history, athlete Jyothi Yarraji who battled great odds to rise to break the national record and the decorated young US-golfer Sahith Theegala, who copes with scoliosis but never lets it hamper his game. Nikhat Zareen [caption id="attachment_30395" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nikhat Zareen[/caption] "Who is Nikhat Zareen?" The Olympian's dismissive response to the then 22-year-old Zareen cut the young boxer quite deeply. Zareen was already a Youth World Champion and wanted the Indian Boxing Federation to conduct trials for the Olympic team selections. Kom, who was looking forward to what would likely be her final rendezvous with the Olympics, was not happy,
o the then 22-year-old Zareen cut the young boxer quite deeply. Zareen was already a Youth World Champion and wanted the Indian Boxing Federation to conduct trials for the Olympic team selections. Kom, who was looking forward to what would likely be her final rendezvous with the Olympics, was not happy, snubbing Zareen for her request. Still, Zareen refused to show weakness. She had always been used to fighting great odds - she is from Telangana, a region without a boxing culture unlike Manipur or Haryana. She was also a Muslim - female Muslim boxers don't come around too often in India.
Today, Nikhat Zareen is a two-time world champion, the winner of the gold at the 2011 AIBA Women's Youth & Junior World Boxing Championships, the 2022 Istanbul and 2023 New Delhi IBA Women's World Boxing Championships. She also bagged the gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Born on June 14, 1996 to Mohammad Jameel Ahmed and Parveen Sultana in Nizamabad, Zareen studied at Nirmala Hrudaya Girls' High School. It was her father, Jameel, who introduced her to boxing and trained her for a year. "It's true that not everyone in the neigbourhood or even the family were supportive. They would say it is wrong and it would spoil her marriage prospects. But I never let Nikhat worry about these things. I wanted her to do her best. People always talk. If you stop and listen to what everyone has to say, you won't go very far," Jameel said.
As she progressed, there weren't too many girl competitors at her level, and she would go up against older boys. She moved ahead rapidly and at 14, won her first international gold at the Youth World Championships.
Nikhat Zareen is proud of her roots and her faith, performing a sajdah at the New Delhi World Championships and saying that she would use her prize money to send her parents on the Haj pilgrimage. "I come from a middle class family. I come from a minority community where girls don't always get the opportunity to take up sports. Boxing has given me freedom," Zareen said.
In 2018, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy stormed their way to a historic victory at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, bagging a gold at the Mixed Team event and the men's double silver. That year, they also won top honours in the Hyderabad Open BWF Tour Super 100 tournament, beating their Akbar Bintang and Reza Pahlevi Isfahani from Indonesia.
Rankireddy was born in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, into a family legacy. His father was a state-level player, as was his older brother, both of whom inspired him to begin playing. In 2014, he enrolled at the Pullela Gopichand Academy and became a doubles specialist. In 2016, his coach, Kim Tan Her paired him with Chirag Shetty, creating a winning team.
The duo has won five international series titles. Rankireddy also has a strong partnership with Ashwini Ponnappa in the mixed doubles category. They began 2022 by winning the Indian Open and were part of India's Thomas Cup team, a victory achieved through great determination, as they started out by losing the first game.
Rankireddy was given the Arjuna Award for badminton in August 2020.
From the moment she decided on a career in badminton, Gayatri Gopichand had very big shoes to fill. Both her parents are renowned shuttlers - her father, Pullela Gopichand won the England Open Badminton Championships in 2001, the second Indian after Prakash Padukone. Her mother, P.V.V. Lakshmi, is an eight-time Indian national Telugu champion and an Olympian who represented India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She also won the bronze at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Gayatri entered the fray with the best kind of backing, including being able to enroll at her parents' state-of-the-art academy, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. She was initiated early and had the chance to observe and even train with India's reigning champs like Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu.
By the age of 15, Gayatri had an all-India ranking of No. 1 in the under-17 age group in India. In 2018, she became the youngest member to be part of an Indian Asian Games badminton contingent and went with them to the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, although she didn't actually get any game-time that year.
Until the pandemic, Gayatri had trained as a singles player. In 2021, however, acting on the advice of her father and coach, Arun Vishnu, she tried the doubles game, teaming up with Treesa Jolly. "When the coaches saw our game styles, they thought that putting us together was the best," Gayatri told The Hindu. That year, they became runners-up at the Polish International and their star only rose from there, as they reached the Syed Modi International final in 2022 and bagged the BWF World Tour Title.
"Now, I feel I can play anyone. Off Court, they are all legends and all but on court, everyone is equal and you just have to give your best," Gayatri said.
Jyothi was in class 10 when she took her first strides towards being an athlete. She had no idea how she would go about it, either. It was a late start and a far-fetched idea for a poor girl in Vishakapatnam. "My father is a security guard and my mother is a cleaner in hospitals. I'd always been told the path to come out of that was through studies." In class 10, encouraged by her P.E teacher, she decided to give it a go.
She started out with a pair of inexpensive jogging shoes (spikes were out of the question) and just a few months into formal training, won a gold in the state-level 100m. "I used to feel good when I started running. It made me feel like I didn't have time to waste. It made me feel that I was doing something important," Jyothi said. Still, her decision was looked upon with great disapproval. The neighbours raised their eyebrows because she was "being sent to run outside. Why is she running in knickers and a banian? Why is she talking to boys," they would ask. Her mother stood by her.
Today, the Telugu champion hurdler holds the national record of 13.04 seconds, which she broke three times in 2022. She also represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and at the Indian National Games that year, won the gold in the 100-metres and the 100-metres hurdles. In October, Jyothi became the first Indian woman hurdler to clock below 13 seconds. She did even better in 2023, breaking the national record for the 60-metres hurdle five times. She also won the Silver in the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships at Astana.
Only two weeks ago, in May 2023, Sahith Theegala made headlines for a superb left-handed shot at the Wells Fargo Championship at the 16th hole. It was a perfect shot and the audience roared its approval, more so because Sahith Theegala is not left-handed. "Absolutely fantastic," the commentators said and even Theegala's caddie was impressed.
The US-based golfer, who hails from Hyderabad, has had a strong year, making his presence felt on the PGA Tour as he rose from outside 300 to 30 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Theegala had always loved the sport, even as a child, and even though he suffers from scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). A the age of five and six, he would cry when it was time to leave the golf course. At the age of six, he won the Junior World Championship and went to study at Pepperdine University, known for its sports teams. In January 2020, he won the Haskins Award, the Ben Hogan Award and the Jack Niklaus Award, becoming the fifth player in the history of US golf to win all three Player of the Year honours.
(September 15, 2024) When 9-year-old Shreyovi Mehta decided to go on a morning stroll with her parents in the forests of Keoladev National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, little did she know that she was about to capture one of the most stunning photos that would earn her a runner-up title at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Armed with her telephoto lens, she marched into the national park and found her perfect shot in two peahens standing opposite each other during a misty winter morning. [caption id="attachment_39250" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Shreyovi Mehta[/caption] The captivating photograph, titled In the Spotlight, got her a place in the Under 10 Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year category, organised by the Natural History Museum in London. The photo of the peahens surrounded by a tunnel of vegetation against a peachy dawn sky was selected from over 59,000 entries from 117 countries. "My heart is filled with immense joy and gratitude," Shreyovi wrote on her Instagram. The youngster, who calls the moment unbelievable, is proud to represent Bharat on the global stage. "India’s rich wildlife and heritage has been a source of endless inspiration, and I promise to keep working hard to bring more of
the moment unbelievable, is proud to represent Bharat on the global stage. "India’s rich wildlife and heritage has been a source of endless inspiration, and I promise to keep working hard to bring more of it to you," she added.
The Grade 5 student at Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad was in London last year when her mother bought her a ticket to visit the Natural History Museum. Sharing the trivia, she said, "Last year mom bought a ticket to take me here. Little did I know that this year I would be invited by @nhm_wpy to share the stage with the best in the field of #wildlifephotography Super excited to learn from the images that will be showcased at Wildlife Photographer of the Year in October 2024."
The BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, often dubbed the "Oscars of Wildlife Photography," draws more than 50,000 entries from 95 countries globally. Shreyovi's accomplishment not only showcases her remarkable talent but also brings immense pride to India, as she becomes the youngest Indian to receive this prestigious honor.
Taking inspiration from dad
It was her seasoned photographer father Shivang Mehta who inspired a very young Shreyvoi to pick up the camera. From a young age, she started accompanying her dad and found her passion in photography. In a short span, she developed a keen eye for detail and perfect timing which helped her capture the shot. When she saw the two peahens, she instantly recognised the potential of a great shot and soon ran to her father to grab her camera and take the perfect shot from a low angle.
"In this selection, you see species diversity, a range of behavior, and conservation issues. These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years, from pure natural history to photography that fully embraces representation of the natural world - the beauty and the challenges," Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel, said in a statement.
Shreyovi Mehta calls her parents the wind beneath her wings who have always encouraged her to follow her dreams. "Even when they seemed too big for a kid like me. Your love and encouragement have been my greatest strength."
Future plan
It is on October 8 that her photo will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum’s prestigious exhibition, along with the work of the world's top wildlife photographers. "This is just the beginning! I will keep learning, improving, and striving to do even better. The journey continues, and I’m excited for what’s next! That’s Shreyovi’s promise."
After capturing India's national bird through her lens, she now aims to put the tiger - India's national animal - in the spotlight where it can be recognised on a platform as big as the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. "I will continue to practice so that one day even our national animal - the tiger gets the same recognition," she said.
Shreyovi's journey as a young wildlife photographer is nothing short of inspiring. At just 10 years old, she has already etched her name among the world's most talented photographers, with her breathtaking image of peahens captivating a global audience. Her deep connection to India’s wildlife, nurtured by her father’s guidance and her own passion for photography, promises a bright future. This is only the beginning for Shreyovi, whose talent and drive will undoubtedly continue to make waves in the world of wildlife photography.
(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
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.
(June 14, 2024) Litisha Bagadia and Siya Joshi, the co-founders of the Ayika Foundation, were busy brainstorming their next climate action movement. Their challenge, however, was much larger than simply getting people to show up and then go back home. They wanted to inspire them to do their bit for the earth, not just at a single event but everyday, in their own way. At the time, the FIFA World Cup was just around the corner. They wondered if they could host a football tournament, a fundraiser where all proceeds would go to a local animal shelter. This way, young people could attend a fun event, make new friends and donate to helping stray dogs. ‘Football for Fur’ received more registrations than they could handle. In fact, 'How do you keep people motivated,' was my first question to the teen founders, as they sat down for an interview with Global Indian. By making their events fun, relatable and interactive, they say, both on and off social media. It became one of their most successful events, along with the Ganpati festival cleanup where they collected over 200 kilos of flower waste which was subsequently turned into compost and natural dyes, an
collected over 200 kilos of flower waste which was subsequently turned into compost and natural dyes, an effort that fetched Litisha Bagadia the Diana Award in 2023.
"After a point, people start finding social work boring. We want to make it fun and interactive. With Football for Fur, people were doing something they love, for a good cause." The Ayika Foundation's mission is to empower young people to join the climate action movement on their own, and so far, their formula has worked like a dream. They have impacted around one million students across the world, with the foundation now operating chapters in Mumbai, Rajkot, Delhi and in J&K, as well as in New Jersey. Driven by the belief that climate action should be a way of life, the Ayika Foundation is also working to instill climate curriculums in schools in India and the US.
[caption id="attachment_38247" align="aligncenter" width="514"] Litisha Bagadia and Siya Joshi[/caption]
The Ayika Foundation
As classmates in Mumbai, Litish and Siya bonded from a young age over their love for climate activism. "It has been almost three years since we began our work," says Siya. "Even in 10th grade, we were really sure of what we wanted to do." What they wanted was to be part of the climate action movement - they were aware of the problems surrounding them. However, they soon found that even volunteering was a challenge. Organisations weren't open to taking on people who were so young. "We weren't seeing too many young people participating and we wanted to do so actively."
It pushed them to form the Ayika Foundation. The city's problems with pollution and waste management were clear to see and Litisha and Siya felt that youthful energy and innovation could be the answer. They began with looking for the perfect name before settling on 'Ayika', which they explain translates into 'environment'. "Branding was the first step - the name, the mission statement and the theme. However, since this was during the pandemic, the founder duo were very limited in terms of what they could do. "The lockdown was happening and Section 144 had been imposed as well, so we couldn't meet in groups of more than four people," Litisha recalls. "For the first few months we couldn't do anything in person. So we started creating awareness."
That meant social media. Siya, who wants to study design, leaned in on her skills to create reels along with Litisha. "We focussed on simple content that is also actionable, that people can do in their daily lives." They created awareness around Diwali and Holi, urging people to keep their celebrations eco-friendly.
[caption id="attachment_38248" align="aligncenter" width="586"] The Ayika Cup[/caption]
Making climate activism fun
Their first event, a clean up drive on Juhu beach in July 2022, saw about 80 people in attendance. "We used reels to connect with our audience," said Siya. "There are many ways to post but reels really bring people to your page." By this time, the Ayika Foundation had also built a small social media team, with one person handling content, another to make the reels and one more to post. "We wanted to make them fun and relatable. We did a compilation of volunteers picking up waste and a message saying, 'We can still try'," says Litisha.
They also used collaborations, and managed to bring Decathlon in as a sponsor. The company representatives came to an Ayika event and handed out vouchers to volunteers. As for the waste they collected on Juhu, they chose not to leave it in the dumpyard nearby. Instead, they worked with a recycling company and got it recycled.
On August 15, the Ayika Foundation did an e-collection drive. "We worked with two housing societies with about 500-600 residents and got around 50 kilos of e-waste recycled." They did not want this to be a one-time drive, so they installed bins at housing societies for people to leave their e-waste. "Our partner company comes back tot he society and picks it all up, so people living there actually use the bins," says Siya. This led to their 'eco-lift' initiative, where they collected waste from homes, mainly plastic, and got it recycled. The waste was eventually recycled into park or garden benches.
Then came Project Avigna, also one of their biggest events to date. Litisha and Siya and their team tied up with 30 different pandals during the 11-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival and collected around 200 kilos of waste. This was divided into two, with one half handed over to a company that made natural dyes and the other half was turned into compost. This was followed by Football for Fur and even a day-long trek near Mumbai were proceeds were donated to a local animal shelter.
[caption id="attachment_38250" align="aligncenter" width="564"] The first cleanup at Juhu Beach[/caption]
The expansion plan
Led by a student volunteer, Aarav, the Ayika Foundation then spread its wings in New Jersey. "He goes to a public school in New Jersey and they have an environmental club, so we collaborated with them," says Litisha. Their first project in NJ is a climate action curriculum at a middle school there. "It's a critical thinking and activity based curriculum that will push people to think about practical ways in which they can contribute to the environment," Litisha explains. "So there are topics like recycling and waste management, which are made into fun learning modules for young people."
Every city has unique problems and Ayika does not want a one-size-fits-all solution. They now have a research team to study local issues for the various chapters to focus on. In New Jersey, waste management is a central focus and the team is currently doing a case study on recycling initiatives in the city. Public health and water pollution are also areas of interest and they are now coming up with a plan where students can suggest ideas to save local water bodies.
In Mumbai, Ayika Foundation is collaborating with a local NGO to spread awareness about the nalas in Dharavi. "We are in talks to educate slum dwellers to stop pollution their local nalas," says Litisha. "The idea is to create a behavioural change, rather than a one-time event." Week 1 will begin with the nala being cleared, and by week 4, they hope people would have been educated to stop throwing waste into it in the first place. "We are collaborating with an organisation which will help us mobilize the project but we will execute it ourselves," she explains.
Meanwhile, in Rajkot, they worked with a team of eighth and ninth grade students who did a project to make compost on their own. They brought biodegradable waste from their homes and educated others on how to make compost at home, successfully motivating young people to try it on their own. "Litisha and I went there a few months ago and visited various schools to bring our curriculum project there."
Local chapters are key, the co-founders agree. "We send a basic plan and our teams will develop it," they say. "They know their place best and it's very important to have support on ground." Their core team currently has 40 people working full time, and around 500-700 including the partner volunteers.
As they complete 12th grade, Litisha intends to go abroad for her undergrad, while Siya aims to study at the BITS School of Design in Mumbai. “We don’t have a five year plan yet,” they say, adding, “But our two-year plan is to impact 50 million lives.”
Litisha Bagadia and Siya Joshi's Ayika Foundation creatively combines fun events with educational programs, leading to significant and sustained youth engagement in climate action. Their initiatives demonstrate that meaningful environmental change can be driven by innovative, youth-led efforts that focus on both community involvement and practical sustainability solutions.
(July 23, 2023) When the wheels of the world came to a screeching halt in 2020, people saw themselves adapt to changes that the pandemic brought with itself. Amid the uncertainty and fear, a family in Bengaluru found that their 9-year-old son Surya has Type 1 diabetes. The news left his 12-year-old sister Divaa Uthkarsha shell shocked. "I had no idea what Type 1 diabetes was. My first reaction was he is just a child, how can he get Type 1 diabetes? I was shocked at my brother's diagnosis and my lack of awareness on the chronic condition," Divaa tells Global Indian. It was this knowledge deficit that prompted her to start Project Surya in 2021 to help create awareness and provide assistance to underprivileged children living with Type 1 diabetes. The initiative won her the Diana Award 2023. "It was a moment of pride because I have been putting my heart and soul into Project Surya. It is an inspiration and motivation to work harder and help more people and save more lives," adds the 15-year-old. [caption id="attachment_32064" align="aligncenter" width="726"] Divaa Uthkarsha is the founder of Project Surya[/caption] When life turned upside down In 2020, Divaa's life took a
wp-image-32064" src="https://stage.globalindian.com/youth///wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_1465.jpg" alt="Divaa Uthkarsha | Global Indian " width="726" height="662" /> Divaa Uthkarsha is the founder of Project Surya[/caption]
When life turned upside down
In 2020, Divaa's life took a significant turn when her younger brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition where the body stops producing insulin. Fortunately, their doctor parents provided valuable support, guiding her to comprehend the complexities of the illness. The family as a collective took time to adjust to the new reality. "Eventually within a few months, he became independent and could manage himself," adds the teenager who accompanied her brother on all doctor visits. "I would ask them all sorts of questions and read the manuals and diet chart in detail to understand the subject. Previously, I thought diabetes only affected adults." Together, the family embarked on a journey of lifestyle changes, altering their diets and habits to accommodate Surya's needs. "It isn't just a lifestyle change but also takes a toll on mental health."
Having witnessed the challenges firsthand, Divaa gained a profound insight into the resources required and the considerable expenses associated with managing Type 1 diabetes. less privileged children lacking access to essential resources, knowledge, and proper healthcare facilities. This prompted her to contemplate the plight of the less privileged kids lacking access to essential resources, knowledge, and proper healthcare facilities. Motivated by her experiences, she founded Project Surya in June 2021, aiming to improve the quality of life for underprivileged Type 1 diabetic children residing in Karnataka.
The beginning of Project Surya
Upon joining the Future Leaders Program by 1M1B, which aims to cultivate one million young leaders impacting one billion people, Divaa embarked on her journey of conceptualising Project Surya. "After identifying our problem statement and target audience, we started working on our plan of action. We came up with solutions that were very effective, sustainable, and impacted Type 1 diabetic children in a significant way," adds the National Public School student.
Her journey in developing Project Surya involved a meticulous process of gathering insights through 30 interviews with key stakeholders, such as doctors, dieticians, and Type 1 diabetic children, alongside conducting over 500 surveys involving teenagers and ASHA workers. "It was through Samatvam Endocrinology For Science and Welfare Trust that we conducted online sessions, awareness workshops, Q & A sessions, and interactive counselling sessions with the help of an endocrinologist and raised awareness about Type 1 diabetes in a concise and scientific manner, covering essential aspects such as dietary considerations, the importance of exercise, and adjustments to insulin dosage when eating outside." Divaa discovered that many teenagers and ASHA workers lacked awareness and had misconceptions, often confusing Type 1 diabetes with general diabetes affecting older individuals." However, the sessions conducted by Project Surya helped dispel myths and equip them with the knowledge to manage diabetes effectively."
Crowdfunding and Samatvam - the helplines
Project Surya has adopted crowdfunding as its approach, successfully raising ₹1,50,000 till now. "Additionally, we are receiving $5000 from a corporate based in the US. We are also in talks with corporates for grants and CSR funding," reveals the teenager. The initiative aims to support underprivileged children with Type 1 diabetes by donating both funds and insulin syringes to Samatvam, who then distributes them.
Despite government healthcare facilities not providing free insulin, Divaa, and her team stepped in to offer low-cost insulins to these children through Samatavam. Their goal is to raise more funds to provide insulin pens, a less painful alternative to syringes, further enhancing the quality of life for these young patients.
Despite being passionate about Project Surya, many questioned her credibility initially owing to her age. "The major stakeholders that I pitched my project to initially didn't believe me. As I was only 13, many thought that this was some school project that I would get over within a few weeks. But I had to convince them how passionate I am about the cause." Fundraising, too, posed difficulties as the appreciation for the project did not always translate into donations. "Initially not many people showed up at fundraising events but then we were successful when almost 8000 people were in attendance. Right now, we are looking at accelerating the funding of the project."
Throughout the two-year journey of Project Surya, Divaa has experienced both successes and setbacks, but she has come to realise the impact that even a small step can have on someone's life. A passionate individual who enjoys playing basketball and engaging in debates, she firmly believes in seizing every opportunity that comes her way.
The impact
With the vision of making a significant impact, Project Surya took a deliberate approach, focusing on one-on-one interactions and targeting a smaller support group of 100 diabetic families over the last two years. "Directly, we have impacted 150 children and indirectly, we have impacted so many people as these children educated other children and families, thus creating a ripple effect," adds Divaa. To raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes among the masses, the initiative organized rallies, school sessions, and engaged with ASHA workers. The result was far-reaching, impacting over 2000 students through sessions held in seven schools, and creating a Domino effect of awareness as volunteers initiated drives in their schools and ASHA workers spread the word in their community. Passionate about the cause, Divaa has actively advocated for insulin tax bans and the inclusion of Type 1 diabetes in the Disabilities Act, furthering her commitment to creating a positive change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faokCq8SsMM&t=2s
Looking towards greater sustainability, Divaa envisions implementing an "adopt a child" plan as a funding option for Project Surya, where individuals can commit to supporting a child's insulin needs for a specified period, ranging from 5 to 10 years or until the child reaches adulthood. Alongside, she plans to secure additional funds from corporates and continue fundraising efforts. "We want to provide insulin pens and more effective diabetes management resources to these kids because the resources they currently have are limited and painful."
With 95,600 cases of Type 1 diabetes affecting children under 14 years of age in India, Project Surya is determined to make a positive impact on these young lives. "From creating awareness where people under what Type 1 diabetes is, its symptoms, and the lifestyle changes they can make to keep it under check, we also focus on the mental health aspect where we talk about the stigma surrounding diabetes. The right approach and information can go a long way. And that's what we are doing," she signs off.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy[/caption]
Gayatri Gopichand[/caption]
Jyothi Yarraji[/caption]
Sahith Theegala[/caption]
Litisha Bagadia and Siya Joshi[/caption]
The Ayika Cup[/caption]
The first cleanup at Juhu Beach[/caption]
Ayika Rajkot - Compost Making[/caption]
