16-Year Old Teenager Receives Diana Award for Social Enterprise
Taarush Grover, a 16-year old student from Gurugram, Haryana, has been honored with the prestigious Diana Award for his exceptional contributions to social action and humanitarian efforts. The award recognizes young individuals who have made a significant impact in their communities through their selfless work. Taarush won the award for his outstanding efforts in establishing Volanity, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing non-academic education and 21st-century skills to underprivileged students in India.
Volanity is an innovative tech platform that connects more than 160 student and university volunteers with over 2,000 students attending non-government schools across the country. Taarush’s platform has not only facilitated the connection between volunteers and students, but it has also significantly increased the volunteer conversion rates from 14 percent to an impressive 78 percent. His organization has achieved this remarkable growth by leveraging automation and technology to streamline the process of contacting, scheduling, and executing educational sessions.
In recognition of his groundbreaking work, Taarush has received several accolades, including an exceptional grant from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through LwL, as well as the Pramerica Emerging Visionaries award. These awards highlight the significance of Taarush’s efforts in revolutionizing the education system and empowering marginalized students.
Taarush’s passion for social change was ignited during his childhood, where he witnessed the injustices prevalent in society. Inspired by the philosophy of seva, which he learned while spending time at Gurudwaras, Taarush developed a deep desire to give back to his community. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, he became acutely aware of the educational disparities faced by underprivileged students in his community. Motivated to make a difference, Taarush embarked on a mission to mobilize his community and address this issue.
Through extensive research and interviews with NGO promoters, directors, student volunteers, and school students, Taarush identified the pain points of the volunteering process. Guided by an enterprising spirit, he harnessed technology and media channels to develop an all-in-one platform that streamlines the entire process, reducing the average booking time from three days to a mere 54 seconds. In addition to this, he collaborated with experts in India and the United States to create validated Social Emotional Learning (SEL) content.
The impact of Taarush’s efforts caught the attention of Shoolini University, India’s top-ranked private university, which recognized the value and potential of his work. The university’s founders and student welfare association shared Taarush’s vision for soft-skills development, leading to a partnership that further empowered his mission. Poonam Nanda, Dean of Student Welfare at Shoolini University, commended Taarush’s dedication and resilience, emphasizing the positive impact he could have on the lives of underprivileged children.
Taarush’s remarkable achievements at such a young age demonstrate his unwavering commitment to transforming the education landscape and fostering lifelong self-learning among students. His dedication and innovation serve as an inspiration to the youth and reaffirm their potential to bring about positive change in society. The Diana Award conferred upon Taarush Grover is a testament to his extraordinary contributions and the impact he has made on the lives of countless students across India.
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