Bengaluru :
All of 13, the young philanthropist, Nikhiya Shamsher from Bengaluru has bagged a gold medal and awarded with the stature of ‘National Honoree’ at the Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards 2016, held at New Delhi. Nikhiya has now been invited to Washington D.C to represent India in the felicitation events to be held on April 30, May 1 and 2.
She will be honoured at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. and will visit U.S Senators on Capitol Hill, share her experiences and ideas with the Spirit Honourees from other countries.
Nikhiya had competed with 4,000 participants in India and would be honoured along with 25 winners from 10 countries and 100 winners from USA.
The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards is the extension of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the largest youth recognition programme in the United States that identifies and recognizes school students who have made a positive difference in their communities through volunteer community service, across the world.
Nikhiya is a passionate blogger, a national level archer and has been the brain behind her initiative ‘Bags, Books and Blessings’ & ‘Yearn to Learn’. While Bags, Books and Blessings aims to collect re-usable bags, books and school supplies for less privileged school children, Yearn to Learn aims to set up Science and Math Labs in schools and primary colleges that do not have them.
Nikhiya Shamsher, Grade 8 student from Greenwood High International School, said: “I am greatly honoured and humbled to win the gold medal. The cash prize will be utilized towards launching laboratories in more schools. I did not make the journey alone. Many people have supported me on the way. I am grateful to my parents, school principal and teachers for encouraging and mentoring me to achieve my goals. I am also grateful to my donors and volunteers who have made my journey fruitful. Just knowing that we have helped so many students in their educational journey is a wonderful feeling”.
Nikhiya, who had participated in the individual category, has been awarded the Gold Medal, a Certificate of Excellence and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Sreemoyee Chatterjee / TNN / April 06th, 2016