Twenty-year-old Saini, Charter President of the Rotaract Club of Delhi Genesis Midwest, developed his initiative, Shiksha Ki Seedhi: The Empowerment Academy, in response to the pressing need for educational equity. Through Shiksha Ki Seedhi, he has built a scalable, youth-led model addressing educational inequity among children aged 6–15 from underprivileged backgrounds, particularly those of construction workers in urban Delhi. The project delivers a three-tiered intervention—foundational academic education, life skills and career readiness training, and sustainability awareness—to create long-term, measurable change.
To date, this initiative has impacted over 150 children with the help of 40+ youth volunteers, providing access to essential learning resources alongside workshops on health, hygiene, CPR, and career development. The program currently operates weekend learning centres in areas such as Pushp Vihar and Paschim Vihar in New Delhi, fostering sustained community engagement and consistent student participation.
For more than 120 years, Rotary has addressed the needs of communities across the globe. To recognize these efforts, Rotary honors six sustainable and scalable initiatives annually through the People of Action Honors program. Alongside Saini’s work, this year’s recognized initiatives include:
- Creating a first aid training program for teens in Italy,
- Transforming a community justice system in the Philippines to engage youth stakeholders in conflict resolution,
- Developing a skills-building communication and leadership program for deaf and hearing youth in Colombia,
- Empowering youth to fight the stigma around mental health and drive resource awareness in Kentucky, and
- Improving educational resources and launching job skills training for students in Uganda.
“Shiksha Ki Seedhi began with a simple belief that where a child is born should not define the opportunities they receive,” said Vansh Saini, project founder and Charter President, Rotaract Club of Delhi Genesis Midwest. “Through this initiative, we are not just teaching subjects; we are building confidence, nurturing aspirations, and equipping young minds with the skills that will help to shape their futures. When youth come together to empower people, the impact creates a ripple effect that can transform entire communities.”
“Improving society begins at the local level by addressing the issues communities face,” said Francesco Arezzo, Rotary International President. “By leading projects that provide educational resources to those in need, foster personal development, support mental health, and champion conflict resolution, these honorees are creating more peaceful and resilient communities today, and unlocking their own potential to become the next generation of service-minded leaders.”
Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, help mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment. Over the last 100 years, US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service.
