Have you ever imagined a world without oceans? Hard to picture, right? Our beautiful blue oceans cover over 70% of the Earth and are home to the most amazing creatures and ecosystems. That’s why World Oceans Day, celebrated every year on 8 June, is so important. In 2024, the theme is Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate. It’s all about encouraging everyone, especially young people like you, to take action that helps our oceans thrive while tackling climate change.

Why Should We Care about the Oceans?

Our oceans do a lot more than just make our planet look pretty from space. They produce half of the oxygen we breathe, help feed millions of people, and regulate our climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. Plus, they’re the playground for dolphins, whales, and millions of other fascinating species! But our oceans are in trouble — from pollution, overfishing, and the effects of climate change like rising temperatures and acidifying waters. That’s why taking care of them isn’t just important — it’s essential.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post World Oceans Day 2024: Dive into Action! appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Laxmi Gautam was moved by the plight of widows in the holy city of Mathura. The heads of young widows were shaven and they had to wear only white saris for the rest of their lives. Child brides became widows before they became women. No one respected them after they became widows. Penniless, they had to depend on others for food and clothing. This forced some young widows to become prostitutes for their survival. Heirless widows were not given a decent cremation. Many bodies became prey to street dogs. Laxmi resolved to do something for them when she grew up.

Born in 1963 in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, Laxmi studied Hindi and History at Agra University and obtained her doctorate. She was then appointed associate professor at the Institute of Oriental Philosophy, Vrindavan.

After her classes, Laxmi would go to the Yamuna cremation ground, collect abandoned dead bodies, even the rotting ones, and give them respectful cremations. She has performed last rites for more than 500 widows, and has been carrying out this noble deed for the last 30 years or more.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Angel of Vrindavan appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Children’s Day is celebrated in India on 14 November every year — the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (the first Prime Minister of India). He was known to be extremely fond of children and wanted to create an atmosphere in the country where the attention would be constantly focused on children and their welfare. To celebrate this day many educational and motivational programmes are held for children. Children are the future of our nation, and the education, skills and welfare of the nation will depend on the well-being of its children.

This Children’s Day, we must pledge to instil the entrepreneurial spirit among the children of our nation. We must instill in them curiosity, a love for reading, creative thinking, innovation and a quest for lifelong learning. Entrepreneurs are our nation-builders; they are the reason for a nation’s growth and progress. Children who have a zest for creative thinking, innovation and thinking out of the box will be able to construct a beautiful and bright future for themselves.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Happy Children’s Day appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Whenever we talk about mental health issues or someone says they need to visit a counsellor, it’s considered a matter to be ashamed of. Why does this happen? Is our brain not a part of our body? Krishna Saproo is making a difference in our thinking today. At the young age of 17, he has become a changemaker and has gifted many people with a smile and a healthy life worth living. What makes him special is his sensitivity to see pain amongst the people around him unlike many of us who are ignorant. Currently studying in standard 12, he is the founder of Maunitva Nikaran, an organisation that spreads awareness about mental health. Maunitva Nikaran means ‘inner peace’ in Sanskrit.

Krishna says about this movement: “It all started three years ago in high school. I saw students battling with mental health concerns at school and in my neighbourhood as well. Problems did not necessarily arise as a result of study; they may have begun in their own homes. It always pained me, and that is when I resolved to work for the society in some capacity, which gave rise to Maunitva Nikaran. I enlisted some of my schoolmates and created a club that began assisting kids in and outside our school and helped them overcome it. Mental health is an often-overlooked topic, and discussing it is still frowned upon in our culture. It is commonly misdiagnosed as a psychiatric condition, which it is not.”

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Krishna Saproo: A heart that beats for the mind appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Do you know of a friend, family member or even a distant relative diagnosed with cancer? Unfortunately, most people answer ‘yes’ to that question. The statistics agree that around 1.3 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in India, and 800,000 pass away. That’s over half the patients who were diagnosed. 

Such an alarming statistic is attributed to the financial toxicity of cancer treatment in India, wherein over 50% of patients consider or do drop out of chemotherapy. The average cost of the treatment is twice the annual income of the average Indian. The impact of this toxicity can be debt-accumulating for several generations, child labour within the family and even the need to work overtime or take up part-time jobs, sometimes even during chemotherapy. 

Shaken by this statistic, Varshini Vijay started looking up important stories and talking to patients. One such story is of Anchal Sharma who was diagnosed with third stage cancer. She faced financial difficulties initially, since she came from a humble family, with six people living in one room. She had to sell everything she had for her treatment and even borrowed money from her friends; in spite of this she hid her condition from her parents as she didn’t want to worry them. Strangers pitched in to help finance her treatment and provided support, too. While undergoing her treatment, she would talk to other patients, providing them with motivation and optimism. She would help provide meals to people even when she was unable to raise funds for meals by cooking on her own.

These stories and statistics led our founder, Varshini Vijay, to pursue her passion for helping people. “Having a family member diagnosed with cancer was extremely painful for me. The impact on the whole family, the financial burden, the emotional trauma, and the big question, ‘Will they survive after all of this?’ all haunted me. After doing some research, I was shocked to find out that there are very few international cancer NGOs for teenagers currently. I realized that this needed to be changed, and I saw myself contributing to find a solution to innovate and play a part in bringing this change. Because of this vision I had, I created my non-profit venture to help the underprivileged.” 

Thus started Teens for Cancer Patients (TCP), an international youth-led organization dedicated to battling cancer. Since launching in September 2021, TCP has served over 400 persons in 12 countries with 10+ chapters, hosted the successful event, “Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Prevention”, with over 90+ attendees, provided 10,000 menstrual products to combat cervical cancer, and fundraised over 3 lakhs for financially sensitive patients.

Our success is largely owed to our motivation that we find in seeing the smiles of patients when they receive treatment. It is a truly humbling and inspiring experience that makes all our hard work worth it. Our work has taught us that no matter who you are, or where you come from, you can be a changemaker in your community and society at large. 

Experience the joy of joining a close-knit, international family that wants to make a difference and the joy of volunteering, giving back, and of saving lives. Go to teensforcancerpatients.org or e-mail teensforcancerpatients@gmail.com and review linktr.ee/teens_for_cancer_patients for more information.

The post Teens for Cancer Patients (TCP): Youth-led organization combats cancer appeared first on The Teenager Today.

It is encouraging to note that young committed students facing various obstacles are coming forward today in their efforts for climate change and their care for the environment. One such example is Sanjoli Banerjee whom we featured in the March 2022 issue of our magazine. Our December 2021 issue had highlighted the initiatives of young Vidyut Mohan and that of 14-year-old Vinisha Umashankar who have taken steps to reduce carbon emissions in their environment. We happily present in this issue the story of Ishan Kapur from Delhi who has found an alternative to wasteful plastic bags. This simply proves that it is possible for our youth to bring about big changes through small attempts as well.

As we celebrate Earth Day on 22nd April, Mahatma Gandhi’s oft-quoted saying, “Be the change you want see in the world” is worth pondering. Even the small change one initiates can make a big difference to the future. The happy future of our earth is in our hands. By caring for the earth we care for ourselves. Taking a cue from the young role models referred to above, we can take active steps to reduce, reuse and recycle all kinds of waste by bringing about changes in our food habits and lifestyles which will help protect our flora and fauna, even as we actively search for creative alternatives on every front. We can bring about this change by starting with ‘me-you-us’ today! Indeed! Following Mahatma Gandhi’s maxim, we can be the change we all desperately want to see!

The post Be the Change You Want to See! appeared first on The Teenager Today.

“I have always believed in the power of an individual, and more specifically youth. It is often said that the future lies in the hands of youth. Well, I believe even the present is not in the best hands if youth is not involved.”
~ Sanjoli Banerjee

Imagine a person earning the tag of an ‘activist’ at the age of four and half! Sanjoli Banerjee became a social activist when she asked these bitter questions: What is female foeticide? Why isn’t there male foeticide? Why do people support the killing of my unborn sister? Her young mind was disturbed deeply by the fact that her little sister’s life was being threatened as her mother was being pressurised to go for an abortion because she was expecting a second daughter. Many acquaintances of the Banerjee family thought that a second daughter would be a burden to the family. A son would, on the contrary, bring honour and prosperity; he would grow up to take care of the parents; he would do the last rites, and he wouldn’t have to leave home after getting married! So, the best way out is to abort the baby in the womb, and try again for a boy!

But four and half-year-old Sanjoli was already ignited with the fire of passion for gender equality; she stood up to those who wanted to kill her little sister for her gender in the womb of her mother. Fortunately, unlike many parents in India, Sanjoli’s parents answered her questions honestly rather than shrugging them off. Her father gradually guided her to the path of activism. Her mother, defying the pressures from society, stood like a rock to save her unborn baby and delivered a beautiful bundle of joy, Ananya, little sister to Sanjoli.

Thus began the journey of activist-changemaker Sanjoli Banerjee. The birth of her little sister gave her a purpose in life. “Since then, I have fought many fights, big and small, against female foeticide, for environmental protection, for mental and menstrual hygiene, and for empowerment through education. I continue to work through my NGO Sarthi,” she says.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Sanjoli Banerjee: The Fearless Activist and Changemaker appeared first on The Teenager Today.

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore

A fatal car accident fractured his thigh bone and tied the five-year-old kid to bed for days. Reeling in pain, Veer Agrawal couldn’t walk about like his companions.

Later, the grown-up Veer was reminded of the agony he had experienced whenever he saw any lame child. His parents could treat him; but what about those who cannot afford to pay?

Veer learnt that in India there are three crore people affected with physical disabilities; nearly 70 per cent of India’s disabled live in villages; most of them suffer from a high level of stigmatization with poverty and that disabled children are five times more likely to quit school than the national average.

The involvement of his grandparents and parents in social action influenced him. Veer was also inspired by the support given to needy students by Brother Joseph of St Catherine of Siena Orphanage, Bandra West, Mumbai. Why can’t I too do something for those who can’t walk, wondered the ninth grade student of American School of Bombay.

Veer learnt about the Jaipur foot from a distant relative, and that one foot costs around Rs 5,000. His father and friends assisted him in starting the website vhelptowalk.org for crowdfunding. He was surprised to see funds flooding in aid of the economically disadvantaged handicapped persons — a whopping 14 lakh rupees!

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Teenager makes the lame walk appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Gitanjali Rao’s profile and achievements defy conventional wisdom on human growth. At 15, this Indian-American girl hailing from Colorado (USA), is a scientist, an innovator and a motivational speaker who wants to transform the world and alleviate human suffering through science and technology.

In her Twitter profile, she calls herself a “student, fencer (cyber game player), author, speaker, community volunteer, science enthusiast, STEM promoter and board member.” The latest feather in Gitanjali’s cap is her being featured on the cover of TIME magazine as TIME’s 2020 ‘Kid of the Year’, chosen from among 5,000 nominees.  

At 12, she delivered her first TED talk that is usually reserved for persons of fame and experience. Till now, she has delivered three TED talks and several other talks to parents and educators to motivate them to help their children become innovators.

In an interview with Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, Gitanjali revealed the secret behind her extraordinary achievements: curiosity, concern for fellow humans and a propensity to pick a problem for solving it. “There wasn’t any aww moment!” she told Jolie on being asked about when she found the inclination to become a scientist. A blend of charm and confidence, her countenance during the interview stole everyone’s heart. She told Jolie that she aspires to study genetics and epidemiology at the famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and at the same time train to become a pilot.

In September, last year, Gitanjali’s book, A Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM: 5 Steps to Problem-solving for Students, Educators and Parents, was released. The idea behind the book, on sale on Amazon, is to make everyone a problem-solver. Her generosity to spread scientific temper is highly praiseworthy as she treats science as a means of solving the problem and not as something done in the isolation of a lab full of chemicals and devices.

In 2017, Gitanjali was awarded “America’s Top Young Scientist” by the Discovery Channel. Receiving the Award, with the simplicity of a young girl of her age, she said many of her innovations were inspired by just watching the news!

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post Gitanjali Rao: Defying conventional wisdom! appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Education is one of the modern world’s most important priorities because it has the power to liberate the intellect, unlock the imagination and is fundamental for self-respect. Human capital is a key driver of sustainable and inclusive economic growth and is often the only capital the poor have. By tapping it, society can improve productivity, and usher in prosperity and end poverty.

While government schools are the mainstay of school education for the poor, some exceptional private schools run by noble-minded champions are making it possible for the poor to on-board the new age educational revolution in which modern techniques and stimulating ambience are enhancing the learning experience. We do have a huge network of public schools, but government aid is badly administered making these schools shadows of their private counterparts. Fortunately, several passionate and visionary educationists are nurturing a network of private schools that are promoting inclusive and equitable quality education.

Tikiapara, a sprawling slum in Howrah, is a keen participant in a quiet revolution led by Mamoon Akhtar, now 49, that is transforming the lives of its residents, especially children. Mamoon was forced to drop out of middle school because his school in the slum had a roll of 3,000 students, most of them children of poor and unlettered parents.

Mamoon’s father was keen that his son got a good education. He put him in one of the area’s leading schools. After his father’s death, Mamoon was forced to drop out and take up a librarian’s job in a private school. Life would have gone on as usual but for his constant unease at being forced out of education.

Two incidents shaped Mamoon’s vision. One day, he found a man beating a woman because she refused to be a drug pusher. Mamoon intervened and got beaten up himself. The little boy, whose mother Mamoon wanted to save, later beseeched him, “Sir, I want to study.” He called the child to his home, and soon he was running evening classes for 20 children. Mamoon went around the community seeking help and enlisted the services of some girls as teachers at Rs 100 per month. Thus began Mamoon’s lifetime romance with education.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post A new age school for the poor appeared first on The Teenager Today.