{"id":21655,"date":"2022-09-07T07:00:53","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T01:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/\/?post_type=story&p=21655"},"modified":"2022-09-07T12:08:30","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T06:38:30","slug":"srijanita-up-teen-collaborates-with-youth-across-the-world-to-spread-awareness-on-animal-welfare","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/srijanita-up-teen-collaborates-with-youth-across-the-world-to-spread-awareness-on-animal-welfare\/","title":{"rendered":"Srijanita: UP teen collaborates with youth across the world to spread awareness on animal welfare"},"content":{"rendered":"

(September 7, 2022) <\/strong>17-year-old Srijanita Maurya belongs to Mau, a town in Uttar Pradesh which is also known as Maunath Bhanjan, one of the oldest places in the region. The city has a rich legacy in the sari industry but somehow it takes time for outsiders to fathom where it is. Whenever Srijanita introduces her town to others, she quickly adds \u2018near Varanasi\u2019 to give an idea of exactly where she stays.<\/p>\n

The Covid-induced first phase of lockdown saw Srijanita deeply worried as “humans were sheltered inside their homes but the poor stray animals were left to fend for themselves. Since I was nine, I have been rescuing stray animals with my mother,\u201d she tells Global Indian<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Srijanita

\u201cMy mother is not a known animal activist but has been doing her bit in her small way and has laid the foundation to make a difference; in me as well,\u201d says the youngster who has received recognition in the form of President George W Bush’s foundation\u2019s 2022 Points of Light Inspirational Honor Roll<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Using the internet for good\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Inspired by Delhi-based Palakh Khanna, the emerging youth icon who is working with youngsters from across the globe to raise awareness about taboo topics, Srijanita decided to do something similar. For about a year she has been spreading awareness about animal welfare through the Internet. \u201cAwareness at community levels is important to protect animals who cannot voice their feelings,\u201d she believes. Her deep concern has taken shape in the form of her online platform \u2013 The Animal Patronage.<\/p>\n

On the path of going global\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Working on her idea for a couple of months on her own she was soon able to reach and attract the attention of the school and college students from countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and India, who are now part of her 20-member team.<\/p>\n

Youngsters voluntarily work on welfare awareness campaigns handling different departments like content creation for awareness programmes, promotional activities, managing events, and coordinating with guest speakers for the Animal Patronage podcasts. Srijanita, who has been a TEDx speaker, hosts the podcast inviting young environmentalists and animal welfare activists as guests.<\/p>\n

\"Srijanita

Eighteen collaborations\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Animal Patronage team has managed to garner 18 collaborations with other youth-led organisations from countries like South Korea, Africa, the UK, Australia, and the US to support the reach of their initiatives and in return increase Animal Patronage\u2019s reach in their localities. \u201cThe most prominent collaboration is with Crimson Youth Entrepreneurship Society, a youth-led organisation by Harvard students,\u201d tells Srijanita.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople shy away from offering just one chapati<\/em> to a stray dog. In such a scenario, looking into the well-being of large animals like elephants who need more food and care is unimaginable. But they need care too.\u201d Animal Patronage\u2019s goal is to make people more mindful of animals and their needs and do their bit in whatever way they can, beginning with stray animals nearby.<\/p>\n

Turning heads\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cI am the first girl in my district to work on something like this,\u201d says the 12th grader from Kids Kingdom Senior Secondary School. Many juniors in her school approach her for guidance on similar initiatives that can help them create an impact in the society.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of a bold statement from a 17-year-old but I truly mean to motivate every single youth regardless of gender, economic condition, or geographical location so that they can contribute to society in some way or the other,\u201d remarks the teen who has been recognised as Harvard Innovation Fellow by Harvard University students\u2019 body.<\/p>\n