Post by Vivaan Berry

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I’d be standing on the TEDx stage—but on August 8th, 2025, I had the privilege of sharing my story at TEDxYouth The Shriram Millennium School, Noida. My talk was a journey back to 2020—the silence of lockdown, and the messy little video of planting a tree in a plastic bottle that accidentally set me on a path of change. From that small beginning, my journey of service and empathy grew. I spoke about my experiences with Hari Koshish, where I learned that empathy isn’t just about people—it’s about rivers, trees, and nature itself. I shared my work with Project Kitab, which has evolved into a network of over 600 volunteers across nine states, reaching more than 15,000 children with books and educational initiatives, including the Kitab Cup and Har Haath Mein Kitab. I also spoke about joining Eye Care Equality, through which we raised $10,600 and provided vision care to over 5,000 blue-collar workers who keep our cities running yet often live in a blur. Through my role as Head of Shri Sahyog, I reflected on learning from differently-abled athletes, children from shelter homes, and communities that teach us what true strength and dignity truly look like. For me, the central message was simple: real change begins with empathy, and empathy grows in community. You don’t need to be a CEO, politician, or even an adult to make a difference—you just need to care, to notice, and to act. I’m deeply grateful to Rita Sinha Ray for this incredible opportunity, and to Uttara Singh Ma’am, Ramanjit Nagi Ma’am, @Piya Chatterjee Ma’am, Aparna Rishi Ma'am, Annapurna Das Ma’am, Sonali Gupta Ma’am, Anuradha Gupta Ma’am, Anjali Uppal Ma'am, Nidhi Mehra Ma'am Shashwat Agarwal, Harsh Kedia, and Naman Sonpar for their constant encouragement and support. It was also an honor to share the stage with such inspiring speakers and to be part of a community that believes in the power of ideas and action.