Neha Gupta
2011 Youth Winner
USA & India

At a glance:

• Neha empowers orphans by giving them love and a basic education
• She was moved to action while volunteering in an orphanage at age nine
• Her efforts have positively impacted the lives of more than 10,000 children

Neha Gupta began volunteering in orphanages while visiting her grandparents in India when she was only 9 years old. Realizing that these orphans were neither receiving a proper education nor the love and guidance of a parent, she was moved to do more. This is when she founded, Empower Orphans, which strives to help orphaned and underprivileged children gain a basic education and become productive members of society. The main of her organization is to elevate the well being of orphaned children and empower them to succeed by helping them help themselves. Neha’s efforts have already positively impacted the lives of more than 10,000 children in India and the United States by opening multiple libraries, computer labs, and sewing centers. Additionally, health clinics have been conducted and thousands of children have been provided with food,school books, bicycles, school fees, clothes, etc. Neha has effectively motivated her peers into action by developing a team of youth volunteers in USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India. The organization is now entirely run by youth volunteers who will soon help her expand Empower Orphans to African and other Asian countries this year.