Champions of Change: Celebrating their triumphs in 2023

(December 27, 2023) Exceptionally talented young individuals committed to betterment of their communites have been rewarded for their efforts in 2023. They have pushed boundaries with their remarkable work over the years to make life around them better. These inspiring young minds serve not only as an example for aspiring youth aiming to do meaningful work for society but have also set a personal benchmark that they hope to surpass in the upcoming year. Their dedication to making a difference within their communities uplifts the spirits of the Indians and the diaspora. Global Indian celebrates their achievements. 

Shriya Bopanna

Miss India America 2020, Shriya Bopanna who is also an activist, author, and on-air personality has been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Austin list of 2023, “I am honestly still shocked and incredibly grateful for making it to the list,” Shriya told Global Indian. “There is a certain amount of validation I feel in being authenticated and it has been a dream of mine to make it to Forbes 30 Under 30 since I was 16,” she added.

The multi-talented change maker who also works as a project manager and business analyst at Accenture in the United States, looks at the Austin list as a stepping stone to eventually making to the entire North American list of Forbes. Right from her school days, Shriya Boppana had been passionate about advocacy, and deeply involved in raising awareness and funds for causes like anti-sex trafficking. She would do whatever it took to achieve her goal – show up at community events to hand out flyers, volunteer, do community service, and more.

Read Shriya’ Global Indian story 

Shrusti Amulya

The Maryland based teenager has been named a ‘Woman of Worth 2023’ by L’Oreal Paris for fighting food waste in America. The United States discards more food than any other country in the world. Approximately 31 percent (133 billion pounds) of the country’s overall food supply goes is wasted by consumers and retailers, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS). To address this problem in her community, Shrusti, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School, began the Rise N Shine Foundation.

Shrusti Amula

The youth-led initiative aims to tackle the effects of food waste through composting and food recovery programmes, and in the process – avert climate change. Shrusti has received many awards and recognition, apart from the ‘Woman of Worth 2023’ title by L’Oreal Paris.

Read Shrusti’s Global Indian story 

Uday Bhatia

It was in the spring break of 2022 that the then 16-year-old Uday Bhatia embarked on a school project. His destination was the village of Bichpuri in Uttar Pradesh, where he aimed to mentor 30 students on financial literacy and ways to earn a sustainable livelihood. Little did he know that this endeavour would profoundly impact the lives of the village residents. It all began when his students turned up without homework the following day. When inquired, he learned about the frequent power outages plaguing the area, lasting between 6 to 8 hours each day, making it impossible for the students to finish their assignments. “The only alternative they had was kerosene lamps, which I found was harmful due to the release of carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide. Additionally, they posed risks of respiratory problems and eye irritation,” Uday told Global Indian.

Uday Bhatia

Motivated by the discovery, Uday delved into research and found that an inverter costs ₹10,000, the amount equivalent to the average income of many households in the village. This pushed him to find a low-cost solution, which he did with an emergency inverter bulb capable of providing 10 hours of power backup. The ground-breaking invention, that has illuminated 5000 households till now in five states, earned him the Diana Award 2023.

Read Uday’s Global Indian story 

Oviya Singh

When Sadhguru recognised Oviya Singh’s efforts to spread awareness on soil conservation, the joy and elation of 12-year-old knew no bounds. “His acknowledgment in one of the Save Soil Campaign events and later, a mention of my name in the ‘youth in action’ section on his website, are recognitions that evoke indescribable emotions,” she smiled. The youngster became one of the youngest TEDx speakers in India last year, gaining recognition in India and beyond. The powerful public speaker has been using her gift of gab to motivate not just youngsters but also industrialists, public figures and government authorities to do their part in making the planet a better place through initiatives like soil conservation and other measures to enhance sustainability.

In 2023 she became the recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award that came with the opportunity of visiting the University of Oxford to receive the medal and the certicate in person. It was presented at the Global Peace Summit organised by the NRI Welfare Society in the UK.

Read Oviya’s Global Indian story 

Anya Gupta

In 2022, Boca Raton, a city in Southern Palm Beach Country, Florida, announced that October 14 would be E-Waste Day. It was a triumph for Anya Gupta, the pre-teen environment advocate, and her efforts to protect the planet by addressing the elephant in the room – e-waste. Mayor Scott Singer passed the proclamation, helping Anya spread awareness about the harm caused by electronic waste on the environment. Anya has gathered over 1,000 pounds of electronic waste through her e-waste collection drives, ensuring that the e-waste generated by Boca Raton’s 100,000 inhabitants is reused or recycled, rather than ending up in a landfill.

At just 12 years of age, Anya Gupta is creating a significant impact as a passionate champion with a mission to safeguard the environment. The young environmentalist is the founder of the non-profit ‘Pennies for Penguins’ which she started with the purpose of ocean wildlife protection when she was barely five. In 2023 she won the Everyday Young Hero Award by Youth Service America for her committment to finding her voice, taking an action and creating an impact in her community. She has beem proud to pave the way for other young people, inspiring them to find their voice and take action.

Read Anya’s Global Indian story