PURE People for Urban and Rural Education | Youth

PURE Youth Novi

Michigan

PURE Youth, a leadership program, specifically aims to facilitate discussion and awareness of the impact that education has on society through numerous projects and fundraising. PURE Youth also supports projects from all program areas and causes PURE champions which gives the ambassadors an opportunity to understand the depth and breadth of the issue, solution and impact on the lives they are helping change.

Our PURE Detroit chapter started out as a group of five friends that wanted to make a difference in the world. We found out about PURE and decided to make our very own chapter in Detroit! One of our directors, Trishika Kalapruam, was the one that created our chapter. Trishika’s mom, Padma Kalapuram, talked to Shyla Thalluri, the founder of PURE, about PURE. This sparked us to start our very own chapter in September of 2019. From there, we expanded to seven members. Our goal was to help Mandat Parishat Upper Primary School in India and our local community in Detroit. In less than three weeks, we managed to successfully complete two events and get recognized by one of the Michigan state representatives, Padma Kuppa. Our PURE group has a passion to not only help ourselves but others too. We want to show that even though we are a group of high schoolers, we can make an impact that affects the entire world.

Event list for 2019:

Event #1: Bathukamma

We set up a booth at the Bathukamma event in Farmington Hills on October 5th,2019 and sold food and drinks. We also went around to the people at the event to inform people about PURE.

Event #2: Diwali Mela

We set up a table at the Diwali Mela event in Burton Manor on October 13,2019. We sold a variety of foods, in a bake sale manner. We also passed out flyers to everyone in the function, and were successful. We also had various political figures visit our stall such as Padma Kuppa and we explained to them all about PURE, and why this was important to us.

Volunteer Hours:

In total, our PURE chapter has volunteered for a total of 108 hours since the start of our chapter in 2019.

Year	Ambassadors	Hours
2019	8	108
2020	8	0

Total:108 Hours

Led By Children, For Children

Testimonials

When I first joined PURE, I was excited to be a part of this new team, but I didn’t know what I was really going to do. As I learned more about the purpose of this organization, and why it was important, I developed many important skills that I would carry on throughout my life. Fundraising taught me confidence, and brainstorming ideas taught me the value of teamwork. Being a part of PURE made me realize how privileged I am, and how the simple things that I do can make a great impact on a kid’s life.
- Sahithi

Joining PURE has changed the way I view life. Hearing about underprivileged kids did not really affect me that much in the past but personally helping and working for these kids made me realize how privileged I am. PURE also helped me develop leadership skills along with better communication skills by not being shy with strangers through all the fundraisers I’ve done. This organization is a wonderful opportunity for me to create relationships throughout the world. Even though I may never meet these kids I am helping, all that matters is that I’ve been able to bring a smile on these children’s faces.
- Trishika

As a youth member of PURE, I feel happy to be able to make a person’s life better. PURE has helped me grow in many different ways. I developed my communication and leadership skills while raising money for amazing causes. I love being a part of a great organization like this since it helps me think in a way that not only affects me but also affects the entire world. Joining PURE is one the best decisions I made. I get to have fun with my friends while helping out in the community.
- Sohan

When I first heard of PURE and what they were doing, I immediately wanted to join. I loved how PURE wanted to help underprivileged children and their underdeveloped schools. After I joined the team, I learned more about the organization and how they raised money to help their cause. I also improved core skills through the PURE fundraisers we set up. It helped boost my confidence and helped improve my public speaking skills. Being in PURE helped me understand how little fundraisers can help people build and supply products to underdeveloped areas around the world.
- Spandana

Being part of PURE has helped me grow as a person in a way that I could never have imagined. Through the many fundraisers and meetings we’ve had, it has helped me build my leadership, self-confidence, communication, etc. Being part PURE helped me realize the problems going around in my community and around the world. PURE just didn’t help me realize the problems, it has helped me to think outside the box and figure out how to help with these issues.
- Harshi

I am always active on Facebook and I saw Shylagaru posts about PURE and its services serving unfortunate kids through some common friends. The way Shylagaru handled, inspired me to know more about PURE; it’s services for orphan kids really interested me and I started following her posts regarding the different services PURE was doing with selflessness. I did a lot of donations to different organizations but never heard how the money was spent later. Shylagaru was posting about how they spent and on what purpose they spent the money donated to PURE . That was the reason for me to join PURE by messaging Shyla garu on how I can join my daughter Trishika in PURE YOUTH. I feel blessed that I am a mentor could be a little bit of help in serving the needy on behalf of PURE YOUTH Detroit.
- Padma Kalapuram

Achievements

Harshi Kommidi

I go to Walled Lake Central High School. Play varsity Tennis and Track. All-Conference for Tennis and Track.

Sohan Madishetty

One of my main hobbies is to play tabla. I have been playing for four years. It helps me focus and think faster. I also play tennis. I play for my school team. Both of these hobbies are very fun and help me get my mind off school.

Sahithi Gokavarapu

I started running in fourth grade, but did track for about 4 years, and I really enjoy it. Other than that, some of my hobbies include cooking and painting, because it relaxes me and puts me in a good mood.

Trishika

One of my biggest achievements is dancing. I have been dancing for over 10 years and for the past 3 years I have been learning indian classical dance. I have participated in many dance competitions over the years and won many of them. I also have been competing in beauty pageants and won Miss Teen Tana in 2019. I also got the best personality for this pageant in the finals.

Spandana Kodali

I danced for more than 8 years and I have been in tons of dance performances and have been in a few dance competitions. I also have been playing tennis since I was a child and am on my school's tennis team.

What Does Giving Education Volunteering Mean to You

What does volunteering mean to you?
What do you think of giving the gift of education?
How can Education help a person?
What are your thoughts on Giving/Sharing in general?

Sahithi: Volunteering for me means helping out my community when one is in need. Education is something most of us take for granted, but it truly gives a person so many opportunities that we don’t even realize.It is a basic human right, and everyone should have the ability to pursue it. Education helps us gain knowledge, which in turn impacts our future, and the decisions we take. Being able to do something as simple as fundraising affects another person's life greatly. Knowing this, it makes me want to give even more, as it makes me, and the person I am helping happy.

Spandana: Volunteering is a way to help my community and it's also another way to try to help less fortunate people who do not have all the resources like we do. Through volunteering I understood how lucky we are and how we have all these facilities and resources that we take for granted. Education is a very important factor in determining your future. It helps you acquire knowledge that can be helpful later on in their journey. I personally think that giving and sharing is an important thing everyone should do. Being able to give and share gives us the opportunity to grow and help other people in need.

Trishika: Education is a gift that sadly everyone is not given. Having the ability to help these children receive this right through volunteering means a lot to me because I am helping make a difference in the world. Education gives people a foundation to improve upon and to achieve future goals. Being able to give to someone is a high privilege and if one has that privilege then they should definitely help those in need of proper schools and basic necessities.

Sohan: Volunteering for PURE gives me an opportunity to give back to my community while spending time with my friends. PURE helps me improve one's education while being thousands of miles away. Giving and sharing has always been a main goal of mine. It makes me happy while making others happy. Putting these all together, volunteering, in general, has always made me smile and can have an enormous impact on one’s life. Therefore, giving back and sharing can help me grow as a human and help another person sitting on the other side of the globe.

Harshith: Volunteering to me is a way that helps me grow as a person and helps me realize the horrific problems going on around the world. Education is very important for one to be able to grow and have a bright future. Therefore I think that gift education is a necessity that everyone should have. Giving and sharing is an important thing one must have. It helps a person grow and make their community better.