Inspirational Stories: People witnessed themselves adjust to the changes the pandemic brought with it when the world came to a grinding standstill in 2020. A family in Bengaluru learned that their 9-year-old son Surya has Type 1 diabetes among the uncertainty and worry. Divaa Uthkarsha, his 12-year-old sister, was horrified by the news. “I had no idea what Type 1 diabetes was. My first reaction was he is just a child, how can he get Type 1 diabetes? I was shocked at my brother’s diagnosis and my lack of awareness on the chronic condition,” Divaa tells Global Indian.
The Journey of Project Surya and Divaa Uthkarsha’s Inspiring Vision
Due to this knowledge gap, she founded Project Surya in 2021 with the goal of raising awareness of Type 1 diabetes in disadvantaged children and helping them. Her initiative earned her the 2023 Diana Award. “It was a moment of pride because I have been putting my heart and soul into Project Surya. It is an inspiration and motivation to work harder and help more people and save more lives,” adds the 15-year-old. When her younger brother was identified as having Type 1 diabetes in 2020, a condition when the body stops generating insulin, Divaa’s life underwent a huge change. Fortunately, their medical professionals parents offered helpful guidance and support, helping her to understand the nuances of the illness. The entire family needed some time to get used to the new situation.
A Journey of Empathy and Action
The youngster who followed her brother to every appointment with a doctor continues, “Eventually within a few months, he became independent and could manage himself. To fully comprehend the topic, I would read the instructions and diet chart and ask them a variety of questions. I used to believe that diabetes only impacted grownups. Together, the family started a journey of lifestyle adjustments, changing their eating plans and routines to meet Surya’s needs. “It affects mental health in addition to changing one’s lifestyle,” Divaa got a profound understanding of the resources needed and the significant costs associated with controlling Type 1 diabetes after experiencing the difficulties personally. Children from less fortunate backgrounds lack access to necessary tools, information, and adequate healthcare facilities. This made her think about the condition of the less fortunate children who lacked access to necessary tools, information, and appropriate healthcare facilities. She started Project Surya in June 2021, spurred on by her personal experiences, with the goal of enhancing the lives of Type 1 diabetes children living in poverty in Karnataka.
How Project Surya’s Innovative Approach Raises Funds and Supports Type 1 Diabetic Children in Need
Divaa began the journey of conceptualising Project Surya after enrolling in the Future Leaders Programme by 1M1B, which aspires to develop one million young leaders with an impact on one billion people. “We began developing our plan of action after determining our problem statement and target audience. The National Public School student continues, “We came up with ideas that were really effective, sustainable, and had a huge impact on Type 1 diabetic youngsters. With the help of crowdsourcing, Project Surya has successfully raised $1,50,000 thus far. Additionally, we are getting $5000 from a US-based corporation. We are also in discussions with businesses about grants and CSR funds, the teen says. By giving money and insulin syringes to Samatvam, who then distributes them, the project seeks to assist disadvantaged children with Type 1 diabetes. Despite the fact that government healthcare facilities do not supply free insulin, Divaa and her team intervened to provide these kids with affordable insulins through Samatavam. They want to raise more money to give these young patients insulin pens, a less painful alternative to syringes, which will improve their quality of life even more.
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