Stories of 5 Inspiring Youngsters Making a Difference and Helping Others

Amidst all the negative news and challenging times, it's refreshing to hear stories of young individuals who are making a positive impact on the world. From addressing environmental issues to helping the less fortunate, these inspiring youngsters are leading the way towards a better future.

In this article, we bring you the stories of five such youngsters from India who are making a difference and helping others. These individuals are not only an inspiration to their peers but to all of us, reminding us that no matter how young or old, we can all contribute towards creating a better world.

Palak Agrawal

Palak Agrawal, a passionate young woman from Udaipur, Rajasthan, is making a positive impact on society through her work with Narayan Seva Sansthan. After graduating with a business degree, Palak decided to blend her passion with her profession to help those in need.

Inspired by her mother's philanthropic spirit, Palak has worked tirelessly on various social issues including education, healthcare, child development, women empowerment, and gender equality.

Her efforts have led to over 10,000 school uniforms, sweaters, shoes, text materials, and school bags being provided to marginalized communities. She has also supported 510 girls with their education and helped an orphanage of 150 children with operational expenses. Palak's kindness and dedication to creating a better world are truly inspiring.

Hemesh Chadalavada

Alzheimer’s is similar to forgetfulness. It destroys memories and other brain functions. A study reveals that every 30 seconds, one individual in the world develops symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Hemesh’s grandmother who lived in Hyderabad was one of many suffering from the disease. This is a huge problem that he wanted to solve.

Since the age of six, Hemesh was captivated by the internet. He remembers watching many YouTube videos about arts and crafts and using them to learn skills and put them into practice. Soon, he started working on basic electronic projects like building electric cars, fans, etc. By the time he was in fifth grade, Hemesh learned to code and progressed onto more useful projects.

The young innovator worked on a Stem-based app and wearable device that would not only monitor her movements but also give families a respite from the endless worry. The young innovator received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Shakti Puraskar 2021 for his unique invention.

His device, Alpha Monitor, signals caregivers, and family members when a patient wanders off, and also sends vital stats, thus helping in the care of such patients.

Rainna Goel

In the summer of 2020, Rainna (16) was given a school project that would allow her to explore her passions. She took some time to think about what truly ignited her fire and eventually landed on two things – fashion and philanthropy. But how could she combine the two?

After scouring the internet for inspiration, Rainna stumbled upon an issue that ignited her creativity. People with disabilities needed special clothing to aid their movements, but not many brands catered to their specific needs. And even if they did, the clothes were often too expensive for most people to afford. Determined to make a change, Rainna decided to take matters into her own hands.

But first, she sought the guidance of the co-founder of EKansh, a Pune-based NGO that supports people with disabilities. With their help, Rainna delved deeper into the clothing requirements of those with mobility limitations. But her research didn't stop there. She also consulted with orthopedics and pediatricians to better understand the needs of senior citizens and those recovering from fractures.

Through these interactions, she discovered a common problem - people with arm fractures couldn't lift their arms to put on t-shirts. This inspired her to launch ‘Cur8ability’ – a clothing line for people with disabilities and design clothing that was easy to slide over the body and clip-on at the side or back.

Lalit Dogra

Lalit's journey into social work began in his hometown of Dharamshala. In class 8, he was introduced to a charitable trust that inspired him to make a difference in the world. Fast forward to 2019, Lalit is now the president of the National Service Scheme (NSS) club, and he's determined to tackle water scarcity in his district.

With the help of his mentor, Dr. Malkiat Singh, and other volunteers, Lalit launched the Jal Jeevan Abhiyan, focusing on restoring ancient water resources called baudis that were left neglected and unused. These spots were once sources of drinking water for villages but were ruined by urbanization and waste. Lalit and his team identified the baudis with the most potential and began their mission in Kangra village.

They worked tirelessly, cleaning up debris and adding fertile soil to improve water retention. Within 15 days, they witnessed their hard work pay off as the water flowed naturally, filling the stream once again. Lalit's passion for social work has led him on a journey to make a tangible impact in his community. With his dedication and willingness to take action, he's proving that even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way.

Aditya Banger

Did you know that India's landfills were overloaded with over 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic in 2019? That's a startling amount of waste that's hurting the environment. But not everyone is turning a blind eye to this problem.

Meet Aditya Banger, an 18-year-old from Bhilwara, Rajasthan, who's taking the initiative to reduce plastic waste. Aditya is a Class 12 student at Mayo College and has come up with an ingenious way to recycle plastic bottles, wrappers, and covers. He transforms them into a fabric that's not only stronger than cotton but also more durable.

Aditya's company, Trash to Treasure, has been recycling up to 10 tonnes of plastic every day since its launch in January 2021. It's inspiring to see young individuals like Aditya taking steps to tackle environmental issues. With his innovative approach to recycling, he's proving that there are solutions to even the most pressing problems.

Roshini Muthukumar

Roshini Muthukumar, a native of Chennai, started her career as a content writer but made a switch to journalism to pursue her passion. She has experience writing about human interest stories, innovative technology, entrepreneurs, research blogs, and more. Previously, Roshini has done internships with The Hindu, Metroplus and worked as a correspondent with The Better India.