Siddharth, 15, India

Basic need(s):

Education, Water, Health

Project:

Tutoring impoverished children and acquiring water taps and sanitation facilities for their community

The area near Siddharth's house is full of uneducated children who live in very poor and unhygienic conditions, with no sanitation facilities and only two water taps for the large community. One day, Siddharth decided to sit with the uneducated children and give them old books and comic books, but he learned that the children could not read. Siddharth took this opportunity to tell them about the benefits of education in order to motivate them to attend school. Now he regularly tutors the children on weekends and holidays and has convinced many to attend school. Inspired by this successful experience, Siddharth advocated for government-funded water taps and sanitation facilities. The community now has access to eight taps and four mobile toilets. Siddharth hopes to extend his outreach efforts to help eradicate poverty and improve living standards in India.

Photo: Benjamin Quinto