Equity and inclusion can take many forms. A wonderful example of this was the 60th birthday celebration of James Anthony, a custodian at Hickerson Elementary in Tullahoma, Tennessee. When he opened the door to the kindergarten classroom, he was greeted by a group of children wishing him a happy birthday. But since Anthony is deaf, the children learned how to sign the song in American Sign Language (ASL) for him.

Anthony, known as Mr. James to the children, had worked at the school for 15 years up to that point. The video, which dates back to 2018, shows the custodian visibly moved and shrieking with excitement. The group of children follows the lead of teachers Allyssa Hartsfield and Amy Hershman, who taught the kindergarten children how to sign that very same day.

“Everybody loves him,” school secretary Vonni Scott told Today. “They wanted to surprise him with it.” The custodian is described as a favorite among students and has a deep bond with the school children. “They high-five him through the hallway all the time,” Scott said. “He signs with a lot of the special needs kids.” Although he has been deaf since birth, he speaks and reads books to preschool children.

Anthony told FOX 17 that the kindergarten kids's birthday signing “touched his heart.” Scott added that the custodian “was in tears and very humbled by it.” After all, he has taught some of the other kids how to sign and is seen as a great role model for the students. “Mr. James teaches the kids sign language every now and then, teaches them good manners and how to treat other people,” said Hickerson Principal Jimmy Anderson.

Today, Mr. James is still a beloved part of the community. For the summer holiday period, the school launched a project starring him. Titled “Flat James,” it features school children and their families on vacation, posing with a picture of him wherever they are in the world, much to Anthony's delight. As of writing, 50 children have submitted their images, taking the custodian to places as far as Rome and Punta Cana. You can browse all the images on Hickerson Elementary's Facebook page.

Want to learn how to sign happy birthday? Follow along with a short ASL lesson:

Sources: Hickerson Elementary on Facebook; Middle Tennessee kindergartners sign ‘Happy Birthday' song to custodian who is deaf; Kindergartners sign ‘Happy Birthday' to deaf custodian in heartwarming video

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READ: Kindergarteners Learn How To Sign “Happy Birthday” To Celebrate Beloved Custodian Who Is Deaf

Photo: Image Press Agency/Depositphotos

Life on the road as a musician isn't easy; not even if you’re part of the most successful acts in the planet. Singer Olivia Rodrigo knows this all too well, having toured the world since she was only 19. From the long hours of rehearsal and traveling to being away from home for months at a time, it can wear down even those who have done it for decades. To protect the mental health of her band and crew, guitarist Daisy Spencer reveals, Rodrigo paid for everyone in her touring party to get therapy.

“On the Guts World Tour, Olivia and our tour manager, Marty Hom, made accessible and free therapy for all of the touring personnel,” Spencer told The StageLeft Podcast. “I have never had anything like that. And that reignited the importance of therapy to me because I had just kind of fallen off for so long, and then suddenly I had this free resource of incredible therapists, and I utilized the crap out of that.”

Spencer added that this service included both the time they are on tour with Rodrigo and the breaks between the tour legs. “Honestly, that was one of the coolest things that has ever happened on tour,” Spencer added. “Like, seriously, one of the best things you can give to people is accessible free therapy, because it can get kind of expensive.” Rodrigo, whose father is a family therapist, is keenly aware of the importance of mental health.

Mind, a UK-based mental health charity, has reported that people in the music industry are “more prone to mental health problems than the general population,” due to the financial pressures and frantic lifestyles that come with touring. The organization has also found that musicians are “up to three times more likely to suffer from depression.”

For Spencer, therapy has allowed her to process not only her current lifestyle, but also everything that has brought her to this point. “It’s been a gift for real. I feel like it is such a gift to be able to look within yourself and have someone else help you bring some stuff out of you that you might otherwise on your own not be able to get there,” the guitarist added. “That’s the gift that therapy has given to me, is that I am able to really flesh out some stuff from my childhood that needed a voice.”

Rodrigo and Spencer are currently on the final leg of the Guts World Tour. Having wrapped their first Latin American tour in the spring, Rodrigo and her band are now playing festivals around Europe. They will return to North America later in the summer to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago and Osheaga Festival in Montreal. To learn more and get tickets, visit Olivia Rodrigo's website.

To protect the mental health of her band and crew on tour, Olivia Rodrigo paid for all of them to have free access to therapy. The perk also covered the breaks between the tour legs.

Photo: Regina Sienra / My Modern Met

“On the Guts World Tour, Olivia and our tour manager, Marty Hom, made accessible and free therapy for all of the touring personnel,” Daisy Spencer, Rodrigo's guitarist, told The StageLeft Podcast.

 

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“Honestly, that was one of the coolest things that has ever happened on tour. Like, seriously, one of the best things you can give to people is accessible free therapy.”

 

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Una publicación compartida por Daisy (@daisyspencer)

Olivia Rodrigo: Website | Instagram
Daisy Spencer: Instagram

Sources: Olivia Rodrigo paid for her entire touring crew to have therapy; Music sector guides at Mind

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READ: Olivia Rodrigo’s Guitarist Reveals the Singer Paid for Everyone on Her Tour To Go Therapy

Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash

According to Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, in 2023 there were 9.1 million workers aged 65 or older. This means one in four seniors were still in the workforce, looking for extra income to supplement their pensions. This is particularly hard for older women, many of whom don’t have a college degree or work experience. In an effort to support these seniors, a company has set up OK Obaachan, which means “Ok granny,” and allows people to “rent” a grandma for an hourly fee.

OK Obaachan is run by Client Partners, a company that finds job opportunities for women of all ages and skills and has defined itself as a “women-only handyman company.” The OK Obaachan division is made up of about a hundred ladies aged 60 to 94. To join this program, all the women need is the wisdom they’ve accumulated over their life.

“There are many people who want to contribute to society even as they get older,” says the company. “And in fact, the experience and abilities of older people are of great use to society.”

There’s a myriad of things people rent a grandma for. The most common include teaching them how do chores, babysit, or just have someone to listen to them. Many call on these grandmas for advice on things like getting along with relatives or a broken heart. They also lend their elegant penmanship to write things by hand, cook hearty homemade meals, and can be hired to knit or sew a garment.

They’re open to more random tasks as well. The OK Obaachan site lists things their grandmas have done and could do. For example, they can mediate family disputes, help break up with a boyfriend, teach a new mom how to raise a kid, and provide support to gay men coming out to their families. Someone rented a grandma when they didn’t have enough living relatives to join them at their wedding, while another wanted a grandma-like figure to cheer for their kid and take videos at a sports event.

The grandmas offer their services for a ¥3,300 ($22.48) per hour rate, plus an additional ¥3,300 fee to cover transportation, although it’s also subject to the location, time, and tasks. The company states that these fees are non negotiable, and the hourly wage will not be lowered just because they are seniors, out of respect for their experience and abilities.

While applications are open, not everyone can be an OK Obaachan. Client Partners says the perfect grandma is kind, committed, hardworking, and cares about the feelings of others. Additionally, they have to have an open mind, as they may have to deal with things that can be frowned upon by Japanese society, such as single mothers. This vetting process has resulted in people describing their assigned grandmas as very friendly and reliable. In turn, many of the grandmas found purpose in their missions.

“The merit of age is the ability to remain unfazed by small things,” adds Client Partners. “Their consideration for those who need it most, and while they may lack the physical strength and agility of their younger counterparts, their housework and child-rearing skills honed over years of being a housewife, their communication skills honed through relationships with neighbors and relatives, their rich life experience having endured the good and the bad, and their friendly, warm presence are all irreplaceable strengths.”

In an effort to support Japan’s female seniors, a company has set up OK Obaachan, a program that allows people to “rent” a grandma for an hourly fee.

Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash

There’s a myriad of things people rent a grandma for. The most common include teaching someone how to do chores, babysit, or just have someone to vent to.

Photo by Joris Beugels on Unsplash

Still, they are open for more random tasks, like mediating family disputes, attending weddings, knitting something, breaking up with boyfriends, and serving as a grandma-like figure at sports events.

Photo by Antoine Sanchez on Unsplash

Sources: Rental grandma service growing in Japan, can help cook or break up with boyfriends; Senior Division “OK Grandma”

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READ: You Can “Rent a Grandma” in Japan To Learn How To Cook and Break up With a Boyfriend

During Glastonbury 2023, Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi was forced to cut his set short due to difficulties managing symptoms of Tourette syndrome and anxiety on stage. He thought he’d never perform again, but after taking time away to focus on his mental health, Capaldi made a powerful return at Glastonbury 2025. Now, in a gesture of gratitude and support, he’s partnering with BetterHelp to donate 734,000 hours of free virtual therapy to anyone who needs it.

The 734,000 hours symbolize the 734 days Lewis Capaldi spent away from the spotlight to focus on his mental health. He’s offering 1,000 hours of free therapy for each day since he last performed. “Therapy is the reason why I am able to be a musician again,” the singer says in a video announcing his effort. “In partnership with BetterHelp and to reflect my experience of therapy and the importance I feel it has in my life and other people’s lives, we’re giving away 734,000 free hours of therapy.”

In the video interview with BetterHelp, Lewis Capaldi opens up about his experience with therapy and admits he’d neglected to look after himself in the past. Although he’s tried therapy before, it wasn’t until he found the right therapist that he really started to see an improvement in his mental health. In a reflection of how far he’s come, Capaldi shared that in the lead-up to this year’s Glastonbury he had “no anxiety or fear or impending doom.” He even did a series of “secret gigs” in Scotland to get comfortable with performing live again.

During his emotional return to the Glastonbury stage, Capaldi was met with an outpouring of love, as thousands of fans sang along to his iconic song, “Someone You Loved.”

“Therapy has been such a massive part of my last two years, and is a reason why I am able to be a musician again,” the artist admits. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop going to therapy… and giving access to online therapy to my fans who have supported me throughout my journey is so important to me. This is my way of giving back.”

Learn more about Capaldi’s partnership with BetterHelp and how you can access one month of free therapy to support your mental health.

Sources: Lewis Capaldi on Mental Health, Music and His Return to the Stage; Your Comeback Story Starts Now: Lewis Capaldi x BetterHelp

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READ: Lewis Capaldi Partners With Betterhelp To Donate 734,000 Hours of Free Therapy

Photo: Aaron Burden via Unsplash

For many high school seniors, graduating can be a bittersweet moment, packed with excitement but also with doubt. Aware of this, a high school principal went out of his way to give some long-lasting words of encouragement. Principal Jason Mutterer, of Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, Texas, wrote a personalized handwritten letter to each of the 443 graduating students, motivating them and reminding them of why they are special ahead of a monumental time in their lives.

Mutterer gave the notes out to the seniors along with their diplomas at the school's graduation ceremony. “He, at one point, goes to tears a little bit. I knew that was going to happen, then he started talking about personal letters and 443 of them and I was like dang,” Eduardo Estrada, one of the graduates, told NBC DFW. “I'm like there's no way he just wrote 443 letters to every student in here.”

When sharing the reasoning behind this gesture, Mutterer said he once got an encouraging note, just like the ones he gave out. “I have a letter that I got from a teacher back when I was in high school and I still have that with me today,” he said. “I was supposed to be a fourth or fifth generation farmer. My government teacher just said that you can go to college and can succeed in college and I kept that because somebody saw something in me that I didn't see in myself.”

Mutterer, who has worked at the school for 23 years, is a basketball coach turned principal. “He didn't want everyone to see him as the principal; at the end of the day, he was a coach, a teacher,” says Andrea Lozada, another graduate. While Mutterer didn't get to be a teacher to any of the seniors, he knew all of them well. The notes praised each student for individual achievements, addressed them by their nicknames, and wished them well in the schools each of the students are going to.

Also hoping to inspire them to pay it forward, each note included a $1 bill, meant to show how a small act of kindness can go a long way. While each of the $1 bills may seem “small and insignificant,” the $443 together can amount to a monthly car payment, a family's electric bill, or new shoes.

“I have done a small random act of kindness by providing each of you a handwritten letter with a dollar 443 random acts of kindness can start a ripple of positive, impactful change,” Mutterer wrote on Facebook. “No act of kindness is too small, so take the Summit Love you developed at Summit [High School] to a world that desperately needs IT and needs YOU.”

The principal also addressed all graduates, reminding them to not forget where they came from, but also to look forward. “Graduation is simultaneously an ending point and a starting point. Today you experience both the ending and the beginning. You have walked in the shadow of others, such as your parents, grandparents, and siblings, but now, BUT NOW, it is time to step out of those shadows, so the world can experience the light each of you have to offer.”

Principal Jason Mutterer, of Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, Texas, wrote a personalized letter to each of his 443 graduating students.

The notes praised each student for individual achievements and asked them to pay it forward to “start a ripple of positive, impactful change.”

 

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Sources: Jason Mutterer on Facebook; Texas principal who wrote 443 graduates personal notes known for going the extra mile

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READ: High School Principal Handwrites a Personalized Letter to Each Graduating Student

For the past 40 years, Dr. Michael Zollicoffer—affectionately known as Dr. Z by his patients—has dedicated his life to caring for residents in Baltimore’s most underserved neighborhoods. Whether or not they could afford to pay, he never turned anyone away, driven by a simple passion for helping others. Unfortunately, the 66-year-old family physician recently became a patient himself after being diagnosed with two types of cancer—renal and rectal.

In addition to his diagnoses, Zollicoffer found out he didn’t have insurance due to an issue with his Medicare paperwork. He had no way of paying for the radiation treatments he desperately needed, which were going to cost around $150,000. Thankfully, one of his high school friends, Michael Haynie, started a GoFundMe campaign, and his community stepped up to help.

In just a short time, more than 3,400 people donated to help Zollicoffer, raising over $280,000 to support him during his time of need. Many of the individuals who donated also reflected on their gratitude for Zollicoffer’s goodwill over the years. One person who donated $1,000 wrote, “I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for all the care, compassion, and dedication you have shown to my son. Your kindness and patience have made such a difference in our lives, and we are incredibly fortunate to have you as his doctor.” Another person wrote, “Dr. Z you’ve inspired me to pay it forward. You’ve truly restored my faith in humanity.”

Zollicoffer received the treatment he needed and is predicted to fully recover. Plus, his insurance has been reinstated, and he now plans to use any leftover funds from the crowdfunding campaign to support the community.

“You know what, I’m going to say something that may seem crazy as heck,” Zollicoffer said. “I’m thankful that I got cancer, because I am the happiest man on the planet, no matter what the outcome. What we have shown, and why we’re sitting at this table right now, to show America: this is what you’re about! We are about giving! I can’t make it without them, nor can they make it without me.”

Find out more about Zollicoffer’s story in the video above and and you can still donate to his GoFundMe campaign here.

Sources: Support Dr. Mike Zollicoffer's Cancer Battle; For decades, a doctor refused to charge patients who couldn't pay. When he couldn't pay, his patients came to his aid

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READ: Family Doctor With Cancer Receives Support From Baltimore Residents He Spent Decades Helping

Albert Camus talks with two young women at the Nobel ceremony. (Photo: Jan Ehnemark via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

In 1924, two decades before the publication of The Stranger, author Albert Camus was a boy growing up in poverty in Algeria. Noticing his potential, a teacher named Louis Germain took him under his wing, even giving him free lessons to help him secure a scholarship. That's why, when Camus won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957, Germain was one of the people who came to his mind. The author then sent him a moving letter, which continues to resonate with teachers and pupils today.

The letter is dated November 19, 1957, almost a month after Camus was announced as the winner. “I let the commotion around me these days subside a bit before speaking to you from the bottom of my heart,” the author writes. “I have just been given far too great an honor, one I neither sought nor solicited.” Still, Camus saw it as an opportunity to thank Germain for his efforts. “Without you, without the affectionate hand you extended to the small poor child that I was, without your teaching and example, none of all this would have happened.”

At 44, Camus was—and remains—the second-youngest person ever to win this award, only after Rudyard Kipling, who was 41 when he won in 1907. The Swedish Academy recognized the author and philosopher “for his important literary production, which with clear-sighted earnestness illuminates the problems of the human conscience in our times.” Despite his status, the writer never forgot where he came from, nor who got him there. Had it not been for him and the scholarship, Camus likely would have had to join the workforce to support his family.

Germain excitedly replied to Camus's letter, touched by the author's gesture. The teacher said that, despite his success, the author would always be his “little Camus.” “It gives me very great satisfaction to see that your fame has not gone to your head,” Germain added. “You have remained Camus: bravo. I have followed with interest the many vicissitudes of the play you adapted and also staged: The Possessed. I love you too much not to wish you the greatest success: it is what you deserve.”

Many whose careers and lives have been shaped by a devoted teacher relate to this exchange. Among them is Ian Wright, a British former soccer player and media personality. In 2024, Wright read Camus' letter aloud at London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall as part of Letters Live, a project that brings powerful correspondence to life—a moment that was poignant due to the ex-athlete's life story.

Much like Camus, Wright had his life shaped by PE teacher Sydney Pigden, who taught him how to read and write, as well as initiating him as a soccer player. Given he had an absent father and an abusive stepfather, Wright has described Pigden as “the first positive male figure” he ever had. After not seeing each other for decades, they had a tearful reunion in 2005, where Pigden told Wright, “I’m so glad you’ve done so well with yourself.” It was a scene that Camus and Germain surely would have found moving.

You can hear Wright's rendition of Camus's gratitude letter in the video below.

After winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957, Albert Camus sent a letter of gratitude to his teacher, Louis Germain.

(Photo: United Press International via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

“Without you, without the affectionate hand you extended to the small poor child that I was, without your teaching and example, none of all this would have happened,” he wrote.

Embed from Getty Images

Hear Camus's letter in the voice of Ian Wright, a British former soccer player and media personality.

Much like Camus, Wright had his life shaped by PE teacher Sydney Pigden, who taught him how to read and write. Watch their tearful reunion below:

Sources: Ian Wright reads Albert Camus' letter to the teacher that changed his life; I embrace you with all my heart; Ian Wright gets a big shock!; Ian Wright: Ex-England striker on troubled childhood and becoming a pro

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READ: Hear Albert Camus’ Grateful Letter to His Teacher After Winning the Nobel Prize

 

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Every Saturday morning, at the Addis Skate Park in Ethiopia’s capital city, countless girls gather to skateboard. That wasn’t always the case, especially because skateboarding has so often been associated with men. But once 27-year-old Sosina Challa founded Ethiopian Girl Skaters (EGS), the demographics of the park slowly began to shift. Now, as one of the country’s first female-only skateboarding groups, EGS offers its members a palpable sense of community, all while challenging stereotypes surrounding skateboarding.

“I had no idea how [EGS] would go, how people would see it, if people would consider it acceptable,” Challa reflected in a 2022 interview with Vogue. “People would say to me, ‘You’re a woman, you should be helping your mother.’”

Before founding EGS, Challa struggled to feel at ease at the Addis Skate Park—she was, after all, one of very few girls that would frequent the park. Eventually, the discomfort prompted her to work with Ethiopia Skate, a small nonprofit also dedicated to skateboarders across the country, to establish a separate all-female group. During the EGS’ first session a couple of years ago, only a few dozen women and girls joined, but they were still curious about how to put on protective pads and balance on a board.

“People wanted to know what it felt like, and they wanted to get past their fear,” Challa says.

Today, EGS boasts over 65 registered members and, in addition to skateboarding, it also provides activities such as one-on-one learning and counseling sessions. The atmosphere fostered by EGS is clearly one of empowerment, encouraging its members to explore skateboarding not only as a sport or hobby but also as a form of personal expression.

“When I skate, I dream big, and at the same time, I feel as though I have accomplished my dream,” Hiwot Hassen told Unicef in an article about the group.

“I believe skateboarding changed my life,” Denkneh Seble added. “Each person has unique traits and comes from a diverse background with colorful histories. A day with them is a day I never want to miss.”

To learn more about this extraordinary community, check out the Ethiopian Girl Skaters on Instagram.

Ethiopian Girl Skaters is one of Ethiopia’s first female-only skateboarding groups.

 

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The group empowers its members to explore skateboarding not only as a sport or hobby but as a form of personal expression.

 

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A post shared by Ethiopian girl skaters (@ethiopian_girl_skaters)

Together, they challenge stereotypes surrounding skateboarding as a male-dominated sport, as well as cultural and societal expectations placed on women.

 

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A post shared by Ethiopian girl skaters (@ethiopian_girl_skaters)

 

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A post shared by Ethiopian girl skaters (@ethiopian_girl_skaters)

“When I skate, I dream big, and at the same time, I feel as though I have accomplished my dream,” one of the group’s members says.

 

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Another EGS member says: “I believe skateboarding changed my life.”

 

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Ethiopian Girl Skaters: Instagram

Sources: On Saturday Mornings in the Ethiopian Capital City, A Skate Park of Their Own; Ethiopia's skater girls: ‘Someone had to be the first'; Freedom on skateboard takes girls to new heights

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READ: Meet the First Female-Only Skateboarding Group in Ethiopia

 

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Powerlifting, a strength sport focused on hoisting up the most weight possible, is often seen as a sport for young and muscular athletes. But Faith O’Reilly, an 82-year-old grandma based in Colorado, is ready to challenge this idea. In an exciting prospect, she'll soon get to showcase her abilities at a national competition.

Born in St. Louis, O'Reilly moved with her family to Des Moines. She then attended the University of Iowa, where she discovered weightlifting. “While I was in law school I kind of fell in with some people who were doing weightlifting, and they invited me to go to a powerlifting meet with them,” she told the National Senior Games. “I was watching it and thought, ‘Well, I can do that.’” And she indeed did it. O'Reilly committed to the sport, even winning multiple state championships. However, a career move to St. Paul, Minnesota, resulted in her having less and less time to practice, eventually leading her to drop lifting altogether.

Upon her retirement in 2007, O'Reilly rediscovered her love for the sport. Having fallen in love with Saguache, a small town in Colorado, during previous travels with her granddaughter, she settled there. With more free time and surrounded by green landscapes and fresh air, she started lifting again. She even has her own gym setup with special safety bars, allowing her to train on her own time and terms. Now, she has joined the impressive ranks of 95-year-old lifter Catherine Kuehn and 81-year-old Nora Langdon.

Having reaped the benefits of this discipline, O'Reilly recommends it not just for seniors, but everyone who is able to practice it. “It’s overall good for you physically, and as you age you can have problems with bone density and losing muscle tone,” she says. “So this helps you stay fit. I still do a lot of the outdoor yard work and chores of the lodge myself.”

O'Reilly last competed at the 2024 Summer Showdown and Team Cup in Colorado, where she was the oldest competitor overall. Her latest stats show that she had lifted a total of 281.1 pounds—77.1 pounds in Squat, 66.1 pounds in Bench, and 132.2 pounds in Deadlift.

“Besides the workout, it gives you the chance to be involved in an athletic adventure, and the people that do this are a very open and friendly group of people,” O'Reilly says about competing. “You make a lot of connections and get support.”

The octogenarian will now compete at the National Senior Games, which will take place between July 24 and August 4 in Des Moines, Iowa. With powerlifting making its debut this year, O'Reilly is ready to take on the competition as the oldest female participant in this discipline. “It’s really fun to see and interact with other people who are enjoying being more fit than the rest of our age group,” she gushes. “You know, the oldest person who competed in Pittsburgh was 103, so that gives me a goal.”

Sources: Lifting and Loving Life; Powerlifting to Debut at US Senior Games Where 82-Year-old Grandmother Tops the Age Ranking; Faith O'Reilly (F) at Open Powerlifting

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READ: 82-Year-Old Powerlifting Grandma Is Proof That Strength Knows No Age

Photo: Government of the Republic of India via Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 4.0 )

How old does a person have to be to enact radical positive change in the world? A preteen known to some as the “Indian Greta Thunberg” has answered that question for nearly half her life. At the age of 12, Prasiddhi Singh has already planted over 150,000 trees in India, and has no plans of stopping at this already impressive number.

Singh is considered India’s youngest environmental leader. After being personally affected by a cyclone at just 7 years old, she began following her passion for environmentalism by replanting “fruit forests,” in the hopes that they would eventually be able to provide protection from future storms. This idea has yielded far more than just trees—it’s also given hope to many populations in India and beyond.

“Fruit forests” are Singh’s environmental specialty, and they follow a relatively simple but ingenious business model. By planting a variety of trees that yield fruit, these forests create biodiverse landscapes. These landscapes, in turn, are viable not just for reforestation, but also to provide protection and relief for food-insecure populations.

The concept has become popular around the country, and Singh has drawn in numerous volunteers to help plant her fruit forests. A majority of them hail from Tamil Nadu, Singh’s home state.

By the age of 8, Singh reported to the Times of India that she’d planted over 10 fruit forests with the help of volunteers. It was also at this age that she received her first award (and India’s highest civilian honor for children) in 2021 for her reforestation efforts, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraska.

Now aged 12, Singh’s experiences and accolades have grown alongside her. She’s planted numerous fruit forests, begun the arduous task of restoring lakes and mangroves throughout India, and spoken at a variety of events, including TEDx programs and UN Climate Change summits. Singh also founded the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation, and most recently, was named the June 2025 Young Planet Leader.

The Prasiddhi Forest Foundation was founded in 2018, and seeks to teach and inspire environmental reforestation and conservation efforts through workshops, events, and classes. The foundation centers itself around a “3G Network,” a clever play on a technological term that actually places emphasis on “generating” your own oxygen, “growing” your own food, and “gifting” these efforts to the community.

Prasiddhi Singh’s remarkable journey is just beginning, and shows that age is no barrier to making a difference. Through passion, purpose, and persistence, even the youngest of individuals can inspire the world, and plant the seeds for a more sustainable and supportive future.

To learn more about Singh's work and foundation, visit the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation website.

At only 12 years old, environmentalist Prasiddhi Singh has already planted over 150,000 trees in her native India.

 

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Singh's efforts began when she was just 7 years old, after suffering from a devastating cyclone.

Photo: alessandroguerr/Depositphotos

The environmentalist's “fruit forest” approach to reforestation in India offers a sustainable and supportive solution that protects at-risk populations in more ways than one.

 

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In 2018, Singh launched a foundation aimed at spreading sustainability awareness and practices. And this month, she was named the June 2025 Young Planet Leader.

 

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A post shared by Prasiddhi Forest Foundation (@prasiddhiforest)

Watch her Young Planet Leader video below:

Sources: 12-Year-old Girl Plants 150,000 Trees in India, Becoming a Reforestation Leader; Prasiddhi Forest Foundation

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READ: 12-Year-Old Plants Over 150,000 Trees in Valiant Reforestation Efforts in India