With technology and the increasing use of social media, many young and old people alike are making efforts to influence and create a social impact. They are all out there, addressing a social challenge in myriad ways- through dialogue, teaching, mentoring, and even working at grassroots levels to make society more accepting and better equipped to face challenges.
With a mindset that Anybody can make a difference with their work irrespective of their background, gender, educational qualification, etc…, LinkedIn has released its first ‘Top Voices in Social Impact list’, which celebrates impactful voices who have used their skills and experience to make a positive change in society.
Here are 15 social impact heroes, in no particular order, who are making society more liveable, one step at a time.
1. Archana Soreng
One of the seven members of the UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, Archana works toward documenting, preserving, and promoting the traditional knowledge and cultural practices of indigenous communities.
For her, creating an impact is all about “reclaiming spaces, raising awareness and advocating for recognition of the identity, culture, traditions, knowledge, history, language and livelihood of tribal communities.”
2. Atul Satija
He is the founder of Nudge Institute which works with private individuals and organizations to address and solve problems related to poverty alleviation, and is the CEO of GiveIndia- the country’s most trusted donation platform.”
3. Divyanshu Ganatra
Divyanshu is the founder and director of Adventure Beyond Barriers – a foundation that advocates inclusion through adaptive adventure and outdoor sports initiatives.
According to him, everyone has the ability to make a positive difference in the world within what they are doing, irrespective of the career they are in.
4. Kalki Subramaniam
Kalki is a transgender rights advocate and co-founder of the Sahodari Foundation, working for transgender and gender non-binary community welfare, and is recognized as one of the finest changemakers in the country.
5. Parmesh Shahani
Parmesh is an LGBTQIA+ inclusion consultant and author of the books Queeristan and Gay Bombay.
He feels that social impact Is about ‘empowering communities with the tools and skills needed to transform their own lives, and empowering allies of these communities with everything they need so as to share resources and make the world a better place.’
6. Anand Malligavad
He is credited with bringing dead lakes and habitats to life in Bangalore. He has already bought 12 lakes back to life, and his goal is to rejuvenate 45 lakes by 2025. He is motivated by his one purpose which is ‘to change people’s and other species’ life so it’s better than their current condition.”
7. Aanya Wig
Aanya Wig is the co-founder of a UN foundation collab- Girl Up Rise, that empowers women and girls across the world, to be a force for gender equality and social change.
According to Aanya, it is just intent that matters, in order to socially impact people’s lives. She urges people to take out time and help those who do not have access to the resources that they do.
8. Jyotsna Siddharth
Jyotsna is the Country Director at Gender at Work India, an organization that aims to create inclusive workspaces.
The organization also promotes gender equality by building networks of women leaders and of young professionals.
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9. Raju Kendre
Coming from a nomadic tribe community in Central India Raju Kendre is the founder of Eklavya India, which works towards promoting higher education and enabling grassroots leadership
He has been working for tribal and rural community development for the past nine years.
10. Ankita Mehra
Ankita is the Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Careernet and has held more than 300 LGBTQ+ awareness sessions. She uses her experiences and voice to urge people on how to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community.
11. Osama Manzar
He is the founder and director of the Digital Empowerment Foundation, an organization that works in 1500+ locations and 10 countries to digitally empower communities.
12. Shivya Nath
Shivya is the founder and publisher of the responsible travel blog ‘The Shooting Star’. She shares observations and stories on a host of topics that she encounters during her travels- climate change affecting communities, reducing the use of single-use plastic during travel, and connecting with local communities.
13. Rewaj Chhetri
Armed with a vision to create a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northeast India, Rewaj founded NE Origins-a platform that enables micro-businesses in Northeast India to sell a variety of products ranging from apparel to spices.
14. Virali Modi
Virali is a motivational speaker, disability rights activist, and model. An accessibility advocate, her campaign like ‘#MyTrainToo’ created enough buzz to make nine railway stations in the country more wheelchair-accessible.
15. Tanmoy Goswami
Tanmoy is the founding editor of Sanity by Tanmoy, a platform that sheds light on various aspects of mental health, keeping the underrepresented communities in low- and middle-income countries, as their focal point.
