A social entrepreneur at 15 and ardent campaigner for universal education
BENGALURU: At the age of fifteen, city girl Nikhiya Shamser is already at the top realm of social entrepreneurs in the country running a registered NGO and spearheading various campaigns. This has contributed to her achievements being recognised by the nation, honouring the youngster with the ‘National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement 2017.’
The award was presented to her by President Ram Nath Kovind in a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
A campaigner for providing equal opportunities for her counterparts to learn, build a career and live a life with basic necessities, Nikhiya believes that the national recognition would help her reach out to a wider audience.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it. While the world’s population of 7 billion is considered a burden by some, I see it as a huge opportunity and a statistical advantage If we can get 10 percent more students into technological fields, that leads to more solutions to bugger problems like climate changes, scarce resources and conflicts that plague us today,” said Nikhiya.
‘Bags, Books and Blessings,’ one of her initiatives helped distribute basic school supplies such as uniforms, pens, paints, crayons , and school bags to over 7,700 students in various schools across the state.
‘Yearn to Learn,’ another initiative spearheaded by the youngster led to the opening of free science and mathematics labs in institutions that lacked basic infrastructure to do so.
A class 10 student at Greenwood High, sh e also launched an e-commerce website named ‘knicnacs.com’ in order to raise funds to sustain her social initiatives.
Nikhariya was recommended by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka for the national award which won her a cash prize of Rs 10,000, book vouchers worth Rs 3,000, a silver medal, certificate and a citation from the President.
Swasthik Padma, a student from Dakshina Kannada district was the other award winner from the state for his contributions in the field of innovation in scientific experiment. The youngster has also won several other laurels at the state and national level for his participation and representation in various international science competitions.
The National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement was instituted in 1996 by the central government to recognise and encourage children between ages 5 and 18 with exceptional abilities and outstanding status in various fields including innovation in designs, academics, sports, arts, culture, social service, music and the like.
