Many high scholars of their ages could have well spent their summer breaks vacationing in Europe or making a trip to Disney World. Instead, these high school students from America, with Indian roots decided to travel to Indore, India, and help rehabilitate the lives of juvenile inmates and orphans alike, under the auspices of Uplift Humanity India Organisation.
In a first of its kind movement started by teenagers for teenagers, Uplift Humanity India is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of juvenile inmates in the South Asia. For the past three years, Uplift Humanity India has been running successfully in Zadora, Gujarat. Anushka Makhija, who is an 11th grader from Princeton, New Jersey, decided to bring this team together to start the Indore Chapter for the organisation. Anushka was born in Indore and moved to the United States at the age of 3.
However, her biennial trips to the city have exposed her to the city, and inspired her to make an impact in her hometown. The team conducted a two week-long project on self-development for 15 juveniles and orphans residing in the probation and observation homes, jointly with Department of Women and Child Development, city of Indore, India. They inspired the kids through interactive and educational sessions on Self Esteem, Anger and Attitude Management, Career and Ambitions, etc using a state-of-the-art curriculum — One Step Forward.
At the end of the program, two outstanding participants, Babita and laxman received a scholarship of Rs 15,000 each; based on their exponential growth throughout the program and another one Vikrant received a scholarship of Rs 10,000. All the three teenagers will be using their scholarships to further their education and careers.
The women and child development officer Indore Vishal Nadkarni told The Pioneer that this life-changing transformation of these juveniles has been made possible by teenage volunteers like Anushka Makhija, Snigdha Kasi, Aditya Makhija, and Sakshi Raina.
“Witnessing the transformation of these kids from the beginning of the program to now has truly been an inspiration. I started the Indore chapter and came to this program thinking that I will help transform the lives of 15 kids, but instead what has been truly transformative for me is how the interaction with these kids has changed me” says Anushka, also the Executive Director of Indore Operations for the organisation.