Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveThe great Indian kickoff: Rising Indian footballers find a place in international leagues

The great Indian kickoff: Rising Indian footballers find a place in international leagues

Written by: Team GI Youth

(April 28, 2024) The craze of football is rising in India. Over the years, India has produced some amazing talent. Some got an opportunity to play in prominent foreign leagues, others got a glimpse of the big football leagues, albeit fleetingly. These upcoming Indian footballers have shown the roadmap to the kids of Gen X – to play in the big leagues in Europe or on foreign soil. Taking inspiration from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, these youngsters are taking the game to another level.

As the Indian national football team prepares for the World Cup qualifier match, Global Indian takes a look at these elite footballers, who have played in foreign leagues and have inspired the future generation.

Sarpreet Singh, 23, Bayern Munich

Starting his football career at 10, New Zealand-born Sarpreet Singh is an attacking midfielder. He grew up playing for local club Onehunga Sports, and even represented Auckland at the Australian National Futsal Championships, winning the Most Valuable Player award. Born to Indian parents – a Sikh father and a Christian mother – in Auckland in 1999, Sarpreet has a brother and a sister, who are currently pursuing their degrees. Well-known among Indian football fans, Sarpreet’s impressive performances attracted the attention of many top clubs.

Sarpreet Singh

At 21, Sarpreet became the first Indian-origin footballer to join Bundesliga, a professional association football league in Germany. Currently, he is playing for 2. Bundesliga club, on loan from Bayern Munich II, Sarpreet also represents the New Zealand national team. Although Sarpreet was on the bench for a few fixtures in 2020, after making a comeback, Sarpreet scored seven goals from 20 appearances and was the team’s second-highest goal-scorer in the season.

While speaking to the press during a media interaction, Sarpreet had mentioned that he didn’t believe it when he first received the news that Bayern Munich was interested in him. He expressed that it was a dream come true for him and he is learning as much as he is enjoying the game.

Ishan Pandita, 23, Lorca FC

Bengaluru lad, Ishan Pandita, created history by becoming the first Indian footballer to sign a professional contract with a Spanish La Liga club in 2016. Nicknamed as the Super Sub because of his ability to score late match-winning goals in the game, the 23-year-old Ishan Pandita has scored more than 80 per cent of his goals after the 75th minute.

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Ishan signed a one-year deal with Tercera Division Club Lorca. He played 26 matches and scored six goals and was the top scorer for the club in the 2019–20 season. After spending a term of six years in various lower-division Spanish clubs, he returned to India and signed for FC Goa ahead of the Indian Super League in 2020-21. However, surprisingly, he joined Jamshedpur FC ahead of the 2021-22 Hero ISL.

As a teenager, Ishan shares that he was juggling between swimming and football. He believes it was his stint in Spain that helped him transform into a better footballer. During an interview, Ishan had shared that playing for the Spanish FC was a learning experience for him. The exposure and facilities there brought out the best in him.

Shubho Paul, 20, Bayern Munich

The first Indian footballer to get a place in the Bayern World Squad in Munich, 18-year-old Shubho Paul from West Bengal scored a total of eight goals in 11 games for the U17 national side in his international career, in 2021. The footballer, who until a few years ago played barefoot and reached the training grounds on a borrowed cycle, started his career at the age of 15.

Before bursting onto the senior squad, Paul was part of Minerva FC’s youth squad for whom he played in the AIFF Youth league scoring 14 goals in 11 appearances, and this performance paved his way into the first team of Minerva FC. His performance in the youth leagues also earned him a call up to the U-17 Indian national team.

The news of his call up to the World Squad was emotional for his elder brother, Raju Paul, who left football 10 years ago due to family’s financial constraints. During an interaction with the media, Shubho shared that his brother gave up on his dream and took up a job as his family couldn’t afford both the sons playing football. Crediting his brother for his success on the field, he said that he only played cricket growing up, but his brother motivated him to think about football seriously, and took him to the coaches.

Ashiq Vithayathil, 25, CD Tablero

The Kerala-born 25-year-old defender left the country after earning a trial with Italian club A side AS Roma, where he played for the reserve team as a teenager. Currently playing for the Spanish side CD Tablero, Ashiq Vithayathil brushed shoulders with the likes of Edin Dzeko, Stephan El-Shaarawy and Francesco Totti in what was a “dream come true” moment.

Among the handful of Indians to play European football, Ashiq’s teammates call him “Thiago.” The Indian footballer, who has had stints with clubs in Germany and Italy as well, did admit his desire to play for his home team, Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters. During an interview, he had said that his game has always been aggressive and attacking the opposition goal, just like that of Kerala Blasters. He added that his training and tough conditions have trained him well to play for Kerala.

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Published on 28, Apr 2024

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Satvika Iyer: Indian-American Young Eco-Hero promoting plant-based diet in school cafeterias

(October 20, 2023) "Our school's lunch menu lacked diversity in all aspects, and I couldn't believe that the same five ingredients seemingly rotated into different meals somehow met the guidelines for a balanced meal," says Indian-American teen Satvika Iyer, who was keen to create a healthy and sustainable food system in schools by advocating for more plant-based nutrition and better waste management. The campaign earned the Milpitas High School student 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Award. "The US government continues to subsidise systems that are inefficient and exploitative. Factory farming is one of those systems. As a high school student, I decided to break free from the 'business as usual' model of school food by taking a few small steps with the help of my school’s cafeteria and nutrition staff, and it led to a rewarding and lasting impact," she said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_33678" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Satvika Iyer[/caption] Born to immigrant parents, Satvika had a hard time growing up as a vegetarian in California, and during lunchtime in school, she was asked to take pepperoni off the pizza. Despite her school catering to a 70 percent Asian population, they had only one Asian salad on the menu before featuring

rnia, and during lunchtime in school, she was asked to take pepperoni off the pizza. Despite her school catering to a 70 percent Asian population, they had only one Asian salad on the menu before featuring more plant-based options. This led to reaching the administration in her district with more plant-based options in school lunches, which set the ball rolling. "We began a district-wide Earth Day campaign to educate elementary, middle, and high school students about how and why choosing the plant-based option at school is important for combating climate change. We got incredible support from our cafeteria manager for the project," she added as the campaign has helped serve over 2000 vegan lunches in the last year in the school.

They initially came up with a plant-based pitstop decked out with colourful posters in one corner of the cafeteria, but it gave an impression "that a plant-based meal was different from one with meat." However, after feedback to the nutrition services staff about the placement of the plant-based options in the cafe, they were able to integrate it with a full-time cafeteria. "This experience shows that a high school cafeteria might need to be organized differently to support student participation in climate-friendly food options, and it's our job to be flexible and try new things," she added.

However, changing the perception of high schoolers on what they eat wasn't a "walk in the park" as many opt for beef tacos daily. "Resistance to eating more plant-based food is usually coupled with being uninformed on the nutritional and ethical values that different foods offer," the Global Indian said.

When asked why would school students opt for climate-friendly food, the eco-warrior said, "From an environmental standpoint, the amount of water and greenhouse gas emissions saved by choosing one plant-based meal over a meat and dairy-based entree in your cafeteria is significant." That's not it! Even from an ethical point of view, "each conventional beef patty represents the cruel, inhumane practices of industrial animal agriculture. The price we pay for seemingly 'cheap' industrial meats is animal cruelty."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnnEJjZrm8k

The campaign helped Satvika's school district to introduce a permanent plant-based menu with meat-free alternatives and salad bars, in turn making a significant impact on school nutrition at her high school. The teenager, who believes that science and education can help solve global issues, shares friendly advice with other students who plan to tread a similar path. "Confront any fear with action. Instead of being overwhelmed by the daunting task ahead of you, celebrate the little wins. From reaching fellow students, finding plant-powered regulars, educating others, volunteering to help distribute meals, or even getting someone to try something from the plant-based menu just once — these are all wins and signs of progress!"

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Power of Linguistics: Prasiddha Sudhakar’s path to the Critical Language Scholarship

(May 19, 2024) United States-born Prasiddha Sudhakar has grown up in six different countries. “I have an international background, and this really shaped my worldview. I think that learning languages was always a big part of it,” said the 23-year-old. Prasiddha, a master's student at the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at the Carnegie Mellon University, has been chosen for the 2024 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS). Through this immersive program, she will have the opportunity to delve into intensive Hindi language studies in India. The CLS is a highly competitive scholarship programme, with an acceptance rate of approximately 10 percent. It offers U.S. students a chance to deeply engage with languages and cultures vital to U.S. security and economic well-being. [caption id="attachment_37865" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Prasiddha Sudhakar | Photo Credit: CMU[/caption] Prasiddha realised that learning Hindi would be crucial for understanding the cultural dynamics shaping the online Indian communities she studies as part of her research. She applied for the CLS and was thrilled to be selected. At home, the Indian-origin youngster speaks Tamil and sees the scholarship as a great opportunity. “Being able to reconnect with my heritage in some way, like learning Hindi, is something I've

CLS and was thrilled to be selected.

At home, the Indian-origin youngster speaks Tamil and sees the scholarship as a great opportunity. “Being able to reconnect with my heritage in some way, like learning Hindi, is something I've wanted to do since I was a child. I’m really excited and thankful for the opportunity,” she said. She can also converse in French, Dutch, Spanish, German, and Persian.

Combining passion and work

In addition to being a master's student, Prasiddha works as a civic technologist at the Network Contagion Research Institute in the US. Her passion for languages extends into her work, where she focuses on countering hate speech and misinformation. She monitors emerging social issues on the internet, performs cyber forensics, and uses datasets to uncover inauthentic or harmful online activities.

The Pittsburgh based youngster has published papers examining anti-Hindu and anti-Muslim movements, and her contributions have been featured on platforms like the Washington Post. Prasiddha embraced multilingual education from a young age. “It was always an integral part of my life. You would be in a country where you don't know the language, so you'd have to pick it up rapidly,” the Global Indian remarked.

[caption id="attachment_37849" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Prasiddha Sudhakar[/caption]

In 2022, Prasiddha graduated from Rutgers University with a double major in computer science and economics, alongside a minor in critical intelligence studies. During her undergraduate years, she earned a prestigious public policy and international affairs fellowship at Heinz College of the Carnegie Mellon University. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she has consistently advocated for adopting a global outlook when addressing pivotal societal matters. She served as the president of the Rutgers Hindu Students Council.

Love for India and its culture

Although Prasiddha was born and brought up in the West, she is deeply connected to her native country. “In my childhood, there was not a single summer that I didn’t go to India,” she recalled. “As a youngster brought up in the West, I turned to religion instead of moving away from it,” she added. In her native place, Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, Prasiddha loved walking barefoot, absorbing the spiritual energies of the place.

In the U.S., she would go to temples and observe rituals there as well as at home, questioning their significance. “However, I realised the deeper meanings only later. I think that’s a natural progression for young Hindus,” she explains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFeIOhD2sO0

“I wear a bindi and other symbols that openly show me as a Hindu, but this often leads to not just light questioning but hostility. I have been asked, ‘Why is your head bleeding?’ and have been called ‘dot head’ in classrooms and other academic settings. This is not just ignorance but hostility towards who I am,” she said in a BBC podcast. Prasiddha speaks vociferously on Hinduism and its impact and is frequently invited to discussions at prestigious forums.

“I’ve been asked so many times, ‘Don’t you have 33 million gods? What’s the point?’ There isn’t a model Hindu education system in the West, leading to such ignorance. This is something the Hindu community should address by creating more educational opportunities in the West,” Prasiddha Sudhakar stated in an interview with the BBC last year.

Follow Prasiddha Sudhakar on LinkedIn and Twitter

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Indian American scholar Sadhana Lolla aims to make AI accessible to all

(March 07, 2024) As a young kid, Sadhana Lolla was fascinated with machines and various equipment. But, growing up whenever she would visit India with her parents, she would observe her grandmother's toil without the availability of any assistive technology. "The experience greatly inspired me to delve into artificial intelligence solutions aimed at delivering robotic assistive technology to marginalised communities," the young scholar shared during an interview. Fueled by a desire to make a global impact through her innovative work, Sadhana secured the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. This scholarship allows students to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field at Cambridge University in the UK. "I'll be delving deep into the intricate connections between technology, public policy, laws, and governance," shared an elated Sadhana, adding, "This intersection is pivotal in an era where every process is digitising, and the significance of AI is continually growing. I hope that my studies could significantly contribute to the global discourse on technology and its profound impact on society." ALSO READ: Meet Vaibhav Mohanty – an accomplished scholar and musician Of hard work and grit A curious kid from the beginning, Sadhana took part in various academic and cultural competitions. "In high school, I was

ology and its profound impact on society."

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Of hard work and grit

A curious kid from the beginning, Sadhana took part in various academic and cultural competitions. "In high school, I was the captain of my Scioly team and competed in biology and Earth and Space Science events. I was also on the competitor logistics committee and also helped out with events," the scholar shared. Soon after finishing school, the youngster joined the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is a fourth-year undergraduate, majoring in computer science and minoring in mathematics, "And literature. I have quite a busy schedule, but yet outside of school and planning committees that I am a part of, I still find time to bake, cook, and read," the Global Indian shared.

A part of MIT's Distributed Robotics Laboratory, Sadhana has been working day and night on her research under the guidance of Professor Daniela Rus, focusing on safe and trustworthy robotics and deep learning. Her investigations encompass debiasing strategies for autonomous vehicles and streamlining the design processes of robots. Said the scholar, "My research focusses broadly on the application of deep learning to robotics and on designing and deploying uncertainty-aware artificial intelligence with Dr. Ava Amini."

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Also, at Microsoft Research and Themis AI, I have contributed to the development of uncertainty-aware frameworks for deep learning, with applications spanning computational biology, language modeling, and robotics," shared the scholar, who has showcased her research findings at prestigious conferences such as the Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) and the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML). "Through this SuperUROP project, I want to become more involved in applying deep learning algorithms to robotics. I hope to apply knowledge from previous machine learning classes and research to an exciting new area of study," she added.

Scaling heights

While she might sound like a nerd, the young scholar is involved in tonnes of activities outside academics as well. Despite a very tight schedule, the young scholar is leading initiatives at MIT to make computer science education more accessible globally. "I instruct class 6.s191, MIT's Introduction to Deep Learning, a course that reaches millions of students globally. As the curriculum lead for Momentum AI, I contribute to the only U.S. program offering free AI education to underserved students. Additionally, I've had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students in Northern Scotland through the MIT Global Teaching Labs programme," she said.

Sadhana also serves as the director for xFair, MIT's largest student-run career fair. Furthermore, she holds an executive board position for Next Sing, where efforts are made to increase accessibility to a cappella for students from various musical backgrounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvUo1E38ZvY

When asked about her future plans, the young scholar said, "I aspire to spearhead discussions on deploying and developing technology for marginalised communities, including the rural Indian village my family calls home. Simultaneously, I am engaged in research focused on embodied intelligence."

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Aditya Dubey: This teen changemaker & Diana awardee is eradicating pollution

(March 26, 2022) It was his grandmother, MP Saroj Dubey, who taught him as a young boy that the greatest happiness is found when you bring happiness to others. Today, an 18-year-old Aditya Dubey is campaigning against single-use plastic by working with India’s National Green Tribunal to introduce environmental compensation from some of the largest organisations in India, including Amazon, Walmart-Flipkart, and Pepsi. The teen changemaker, who started the Plant A Million Trees campaign in 2016, received the prestigious Diana Award in 2021 for his efforts. "I live in New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with sinusitis, a respiratory infection caused by air pollution. When I started researching about it, I realised that if pollution levels don’t reduce soon, many could die or be severely ill," shares Aditya in an interview with Global Indian. "While people knew about the issue, not many were raising their voice against it. I did not want to sit quietly, thus I founded the Plant A Million Trees initiative in 2016," he adds. Since, over 1,80,000 trees have been planted under the campaign. [caption id="attachment_13340" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Aditya Dubey receiving the Diana Award[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13340" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Aditya Dubey receiving the Diana Award[/caption]

Rebel with a cause

As the movement gained momentum, Aditya decided to soldier on. In his quest to ban single-use plastic, the teen changemaker launched several campaigns including Kill Plastic and Revive Yamuna in 2019. To ensure smooth running, he even sold some of his belongings to fund them. "I did not want to ask for money, so I sold my golf kit to fund the Plant A Million Trees initiative. Later for another campaign, I sold my PlayStation as well," smiles Aditya, who schooled at Modern School, Barakhamba Road.

For the Kill Plastic campaign, Aditya approached Amazon and Walmart-Flipkart to stop using single-use plastic packaging material. However, when the companies refused to accept his request, he filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal against them. "I was young so a bit nervous. But, I was never scared to do the right thing. I think I got that from my grandmother. She taught me that one should never be afraid to raise their voice. Unfortunately, I lost her a few years ago. But. her teachings will always guide me," says the teen changemaker.

[caption id="attachment_13341" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Aditya during a campaign[/caption]

A big win for the teen changemaker was when his petition forced the giants to stop using single-use plastic, reducing plastic waste generation in India by thousands of tonnes each year. Another campaign by him against Pet bottling companies, resulted in heavy fines, running into millions of dollars, being imposed on Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Himalaya, Parle Agro, and Bisleri.

Beyond the rewards

Ever since he began working to save the environment, Aditya has received several awards and recognitions. While he is happy that his work is truly making an impact, the son of two accomplished Supreme Court lawyers - Anurag and Anu Dubey - feels that such recognitions help spread awareness. "I feel that if we continue to turn a blind eye to climate change, then we all will suffer due to extreme weather conditions and a lack of clean water or air. For me, the propagation of this idea is more important than the awards. Recognition is a tool that enables me to convince citizens, organisations, corporates, and political leaders to support me in my campaigns," says the teen changemaker who unwinds on Formula 1 when he gets time.

No time to waste

Upset that the governments are not taking adequate measures to eradicate pollution, Aditya is doing everything in his power to initiate change. The youngster, in collaboration with the Energy and Resources Institute, is working on a direct air capture technology that absorbs carbon dioxide from ambient air. If scaled up, it can be an important weapon in humanity's fight against climate change. “I have been working on this technology called CarbonX since October 2021. We have been able to finalise the design, and are now in the process of creating a user prototype and commencing trials," shares Aditya, whose only dream right now is to set up a million-tonne carbon dioxide extraction plant in India by the end of this year. Set to study BS in computer science in 2022, he hopes to leave behind an able team to continue his good work.

Follow Aditya Dubey on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram

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How international youth awards are creating global teen leaders, spearheading innovation

(January 19, 2022) Come February, the world will witness two Indian child prodigies - young innovator Vinisha Umashankar and teen golfer Avani Prashanth gracing the stage in Dubai to receive the Global Child Prodigy Award 2022. If one is an activist to protect green cover, the other teen wonder is India’s number one amateur golfer. It’s their contribution to the world of innovation and sports that’s made them stand tall among the 100 child prodigies from across the globe. https://twitter.com/Vinisha27738476/status/1470675490134388739 With their passion, dynamism, and appetite to learn and adapt fast, the youth of today is bringing an incremental change in society, and putting India on the global map. While their work is attracting global attention, their efforts are being lauded and recognised too, helping catapult them into the league of future leaders. Be it social activist Devanshi Ranjan who has won the Diana Award 2021 for her work to uplift marginalised groups in highly sensitive rural areas in India or teenage brothers Vihaan and Nav Agarwal who received the Children’s Peace Prize 2021 for tackling pollution in their home city by recycling household waste - these youngsters are making the right noise with their work and the well-deserved recognition.

l-deserved recognition.

Finding their tribe

It's these laurels and accolades that has made these youngsters a name to reckon with, and helped them find their tribe. Bengaluru's Sia Godika was a regular teenager working for a social cause until she found herself in London brushing shoulders with the bigwigs while receiving the Diana Legacy Award 2021. The girl behind Sole Warriors initiative that collects used shoes, refurbishes them, and donates them to the needy, has found an army of supporters and mentors, thanks to the accolades bestowed on her.

“The recognition which ensues is extremely helpful as it allows me to build a network of volunteers, supporters, and mentors. During the Diana Legacy Award, I connected with many international do-gooders. I met a co-awardee from Liberia who was so impressed with my initiative that he is helping me expand Sole Warriors to his country,” Sia shares with Global Indian.

Amplifying the impact through guidance

The awards ceremonies often work as the perfect platform for young minds to meet mentors, exchange ideas, and find healthy support systems. This synergy helps amplify the impact multifold. STEM innovator Niharika Shukla, whose ASD device helps detect autism, agrees, “The support and mentorship I’ve received from companies through awards, scholarships, and programmes have enabled me to learn more about technology and increase my impact through creating innovations to solve problems.”

The 2021 Science Fair Grand Champion and Broadcom MASTERS Top 300, Niharika is finding solutions to global issues, and believes that the support paves a way for better prospects. “Even though I’m only 14-years-old, and in middle school, support and mentorship from companies encouraging youth innovators goes a long way in helping me pave a way for my future in STEM careers and studies in college in technology and innovation,” adds the 14-year-old researcher.

Sia, too, believes in the power of such opportunities as they open the floor for interaction and knowledge dissemination. “During the Diana Legacy Award ceremony, I had the opportunity to meet CEOs, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and influencers who have their social ventures. They taught us how to manage stress, set SMART goals for ourselves, deal with the mental challenges which come with working in a challenging sector at a young age,” adds Sia, the recipient of APJ Abdul Kalam Social Volunteer Award 2021. She informs that she will be a part of a two-year mentorship programme where awardees like her are helped by mentors in their initiatives.

Motivation is the key

For some youth, motivation is the driving force to keep up the good work, and Feeding India founder Ankit Kawatra is the perfect example of it. After being selected as the United National Young Leader for Sustainable Development Goals in 2016 for tackling the issue of food waste in India, he received the Queen Young Leaders Award in 2017 for his contribution to solving India’s hunger crisis. His exceptional work has helped serve over 15.3 crore meals as of September 2021, and he takes every award as a guiding light towards fulfilling his mission.

Sharing a picture with Queen Elizabeth II, he tweeted, “Throwback to the day I was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen of England at the Buckingham Palace for my work at @FeedingIndia. Thank you @queenscomtrust and my fellow @QueensLeaders for motivating me to always work harder!”

Throwback to the day I was honoured by Her majesty the Queen of England at the Bukingham Palace for my work at @FeedingIndia. Thank you @queenscomtrust and my fellow @QueensLeaders for motivating me to always work harder! #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/22Z0eiDzTp

— Ankit Kawatra (@ankit_kawatra) January 3, 2019

Vinisha, who designed solar ironing cart, found her moment in the sun after she received the Children's Climate Prize 2020 and was the finalist for The Earthshot Prize 2021. Calling the award a stepping stone,she says, "I was happy that environmental innovations like a solar ironing cart got due recognition. It can play a crucial role in reducing environmental damage and climate change. I hope my innovation motivates students to innovate on products that could help protect the environment for future generations. I am happy that the solar ironing cart is my little contribution towards an ambitious goal.”

Paving the future

But more than anything, these honours are helping young minds carve a bright future for themselves. For the Indian American 2021 Global Teen Leader Jeeva Senthilnathan, such recognition has helped her in building trust within the community. The Chicago-based teenager, who is hoping to create change through leadership and mental health awareness, calls it the perfect validation for her work.

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“I want people to know that I am a trusted leader, and with these recognitions, I think that I know it will pave the way for me when I am older to gain other powerful political positions. We need more women in the office writing policies and leading the government. I hope to run for US Congress in the House of Representatives one day, and I want people to remember my name. These recognitions give me an opening into future college pursuits,” adds the winner of the Philanthropic Education Organization STAR Scholarship who ran for Parker Town Council.

Empowering youngsters

Awards are often a way of celebrating youngsters and turning on the spotlight on their work. Luke Tester, a judge for the Diana Award said in a statement, “Recognising young change makers can empower them, and those around them, to continue the good work – to let them know that the world has noticed and wants to say thank you. They may not be doing the task for recognition, but that certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve it.”

If the International Eco-Hero awards honour the work of young environmentalists, Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar recognises children with exceptional abilities and achievements and Jefferson Awards praise the local unsung heroes who are making the world a better place through volunteering. The recognition not just helps them spread their wings but also makes them confident leaders.

“International awards and recognition give a lot of exposure to the children which eventually supports them in building a better career. It also enables them to indulge in creative innovations. Not only this, these awards encourage youngsters to think and act as global citizens,” says Vibha Suri, a teacher at Bhai Parmanand Vidya Mandir School, Delhi.

As more and more Indian-origin youngsters are coming into their own as entrepreneurs, innovators, and activists, the recognition is helping them find the courage to continue their initiatives and keep creating a change in society.

(With inputs from Team Global Indian)