Unstoppable at 13: Bihar’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi becomes IPL’s youngest star

events like the North America Fashion Week and has travelled to India multiple times for her performances.

Music with a purpose

"I'm using my success to improve the world by shedding attention to crucial issues," said the Global Indian. Majority of her songs have motivational lyrics. "I am deeply committed to speaking up for those who are unable to speak for themselves. For instance, as the Youth Ambassador for the group Unite 4 Good, I recently travelled to the slums of India to empower children. The youth are our future after all," she said.

Passionate about music since as far as she can remember, Hitha’s songs are based on her own struggles as a youngster entering adulthood. The teen singer writes and sings in the hope that through her songs young listeners can develop relevant insights about the new phase of their life.

Hitha’s recent single release touches upon the various facets of teen anxiety. The album titled In My Head reassures that not feeling at your best at all times is acceptable. "This song was intended to encourage teens and help them feel heard," she said. Similarly she was inspired to write We Will Last, when she realised that everyone needs support and someone or something to lean upon.

[caption id="attachment_34216" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Hitha[/caption]

Her song Tell me Why is about losing someone close to one’s heart. “We are emotional beings. Many times, losing someone may seem like the end of the world and we may not have all the answers. It is written to provide comfort to people going through this phase of life,” she said during the release of the song.

Finding her calling

Her affinity for music developed at a very young age. She was only four when her grandma introduced her to music and enrolled her to Indian classical singing classes. "But I never considered it as a possible career for me. Since my parents were immigrants and I was an Indian girl, I only saw people graduating from high school and going on to college to pursue careers in engineering, medicine, or the law," she said in an interview. That is what she believed her path would be.

However, as she grew up, her passion for music also grew. Hitha has been fortunate that her parents encouraged her to do what she loved. “Music became a viable career for me when I wrote my first song at 11 and released it at 13. It was at that time that I realised that there is nothing else I could possibly do.”

After writing her debut song, Standing Up with Pride, the youngster had realised that she needed to write music to motivate people. Since then the young artist has devoted her creativity to the purpose.

Supportive parent

Hitha’s father was the one who first encouraged her to pursue a career in music. “The first step in my professional career was realising that I had his backing,” Hitha shared.

The singer’s father has been her travelling companion in her tours to different cities for recordings and performances. “Without him, I would not be here, either literally or figuratively,” she said. More than just being an ardent admirer, her father is one of her greatest inspirations and Hitha tries to live by some of his morals and convictions.

“My dad is truly one of the kindest human beings I know,” she said while talking about a song she dedicated to her father. “It honestly felt like fate to release Forever on Father’s Day. It couldn’t have been a better time,” she said adding, “I am just happy I could share this song with other sons and daughters on such a celebrated day when fathers truly deserve to shine.”

The song is a thank-you letter wrapped in EDM music. “My love for my dad is all-consuming and will last forever. Both as a father and daughter and as a teacher and student, my dad and I get along well. I learn so much from my father, and without him, I genuinely would not be who I am today,” the singer said.

• Follow Hitha on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube

raised funds to support education and essential needs for disadvantaged kids. Their first fundraiser — a bake sale — raised just under $400. "We were over-the-moon ecstatic, and we knew that we had to keep going, and that there were more kids that needed our help," Vishal said​. What started as a small youth group soon evolved into Every Child Now (ECN), a youth-run nonprofit focused on alleviating child poverty and empowering young people.

Building Hope, One Step at a Time

Since its founding, Every Child Now has grown beyond anything the brothers imagined. They've raised over $100,000 and launched projects that have touched thousands of lives. Their efforts include building a schoolhouse in Rajasthan, providing clean water in Sierra Leone, and distributing school supplies to disadvantaged children. "We focus on providing children and their families with their five basic needs: education, food, clean drinking water, shelter, and health care," Vishal explained in an interview. The brothers' impact stretches from the streets of India to communities across Canada.

"We need to realize that we are a part of a global community." - @EveryChild_Now's Vishal & Ishan Vijay #WEareCanada https://t.co/9x72VkudHW pic.twitter.com/luZBjzUmof

— WE (@WEMovement) April 19, 2017

While their work started with a focus on India, the Vijays soon realised poverty wasn’t confined to one place. “This affects kids all around the world. We quickly realized this was not something that was isolated to the communities that we have visited,” Vishal said. Domestically, they’ve helped indigenous communities and children in need by providing school supplies and running educational workshops​​. Through partnerships and persistent fundraising, the nonprofit has supported projects in Canada, India, Nepal, and West Africa, helping provide essential resources, from clean water and education to health care and shelter​. Their efforts led them to receive Junior Citizen Awards in 2015 from the then Lt Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell.
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​Indians living in Canada, like the Vijay brothers, are contributing immensely to their communities. Canada’s Indian diaspora is known for its resilience, cultural contributions, and commitment to social welfare. For Vishal and Ishan Vijay, this connection to their heritage has fueled their work both locally and abroad.

[caption id="attachment_40318" align="aligncenter" width="788"] Vishal Vijay teaching students[/caption]

Adapting to New Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new obstacles. With schools closed, the educational gap widened. The brothers knew they had to adapt. "When the pandemic first hit, we were really noticing this divide that was starting to occur in education, where many children didn't have access to the resources and support that they needed at home," the Global Indian said. They responded by launching Social Educating, a program connecting kids in grades 4 to 8 with university students who tutor them online for free. This initiative helped bridge the gap for many Canadian students struggling with remote learning​.

The brothers believe that engaging youth is key to sustainable change. Vishal has spoken at youth conferences across North America, emphasizing that young people have the power to make a difference now, not just in the future. "Young people aren't just our future; they’re our present, too," he often says​.

Every Child Now is guided by three pillars: inspire, advocate, and impact. “When it comes to sustainable development and activism, collaboration is incredibly important. There is a shared sense of passion and belief in the mission,” Vishal said. He understands that tackling child poverty and promoting youth empowerment isn’t easy, but he and Ishan remain determined​.

Vishal who graduated from Western University’s Ivey Business School has been blending his passion for social impact with strategic thinking. His goal is to bring purpose-driven missions into whatever he does​.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TiEN56ljX0

A Lasting Impact

What started as a small, heartfelt effort by two brothers to help kids they saw in Faridabad has blossomed into a movement. They know there’s still more work to be done, but they’re not backing down. “We discovered that a lot of young Canadians are really interested in social impact. I think of us as the Purpose Generation,” Vishal said.

For Vishal and Ishan, the journey from a dusty street in India to building a nonprofit that inspires youth worldwide proves one simple thing: change can begin with a single act, as long as you’re brave enough to take that first step.

• Follow Ishan Vijay on LinkedIn