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VTSEVA Youth volunteers cleaned local streets and parks of trash or litter, working to keep our cities clean! Before Covid, volunteers used to go together and adopt a street. Now guidelines have changed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. It is now an individual activity. Each member provides a date and time they plan to do the activity. Then after they finish their trash picking they collect the following information. Time, date, location of the activity, how much distance they covered and names of the streets/how much trash was collected

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As a part of Environmental Sustainability effort and Climate Change Action , Volunteers took apart if the Green Initiative by taking shorter showers, conserving energy, etc. one volunteer wrote “During the green initiative activity, I take measures to reduce my carbon footprint and save as much of our resources as possible. Some ways I do this is by using natural light instead of turning on the lights in my room when daylight is still there, using the bus to go to and from school everyday rather than using personal transportation, and buying locally sourced food from stores such as Lucky's and Safeway rather than other food. Although these measures taken are small, they eventually add up in the long-term and end up reducing the amount of waste I produce in regards to the resources I have access to. I find these actions really important for our environment and our future so I do them gladly.”

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According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), organic waste makes up more than 28% of landfills. Unfortunately, landfills lack the necessary conditions for ample decomposition. Rather than adding to landfills, composting is a much better solution. By composting we are able to reduce the amount of waste that ends up at landfills, and instead, we let the nutrients return back to Earth so it can be recycled naturally. This event focuses on having volunteers make compost in their own gardens. Volunteers will take pictures each weekend on how the compost is coming along.

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𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 & 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗶𝘁. To do that they rely heavily on volunteers like us. Stickies, sock loops, ticket stubs, fabric, buttons, you name it, they use many different materials and textures to inspire our students during their STEM Programming. 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟯𝟰 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗩𝗧 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 & 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 two 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗶𝘁.

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We have successfully completed 6 weeks VT SEVA Summer Camp 2022. It’s a Triple Bottomline project - to engage our children productively during summer, to enhance leadership & communication skills of our youths as they are the tutors and to support the education of the visually challenged. Highlights of VT Seva Summer Camp 2022: 1. Total 57 students registered in the Summer Camp for Elementary, Middle, and Highschool classes. We raised 7k plus for the visually challenged kids of Nethra Vidhyalaya with His Grace. 2. This summer camp is youth-led in which more than 30 Highschool youths are delivering lessons with the back-support of Certified Instructors and SMEs as their mentors. 3. Subjects taught: For Elementary schoolers –Math, ELA, Art, Dance For Middle & High schoolers – Python, Web Design & Cyber Security, App Building, Advance Art 4. Summer Camp Kickoff with Hands-on CPR on June 4th, 2022, in which more than 40 youths learned how to do CPR effectively. 5. Update on Elementary, Middle, and Highschool Summer Classes: Elementary Classes Update: a. Math & ELA: Total 36 students were registered for these classes with 24 youth tutors. We ran 90 sessions of 45 mins every week for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. We have 3 Mentors to back support our youths. b. Art: We have 36 students in the class. This class is once a week in which students learn the fundamental elements of art – line, form, shape, value, color, and texture. They use watercolors and card stock paper for their art creations. All students made loving, caring cards on Father’s Day, June 19th which was highly appreciated by all. They are learning how to make flowers with paper and various other craft items. We have 2 youth tutors and 1 mentor. c. Dance: We have 30 students and 1 youth tutor, and 1 mentor. All students are split in 2 groups and each group learn 1 dance every week. It’s a good physical exercise for the children. Each week they are learning new dance and are truly enjoying dance classes. Middle and Highschool Classes Update: a. Python: We have 22 students registered for this class. In this class, students are learning to identify, interpret, and apply core programming building blocks in Python code, use algorithmic thinking to breakup problems into smaller pieces and solve each piece individually, recognize and apply best industry practices for program, and interpret, use, and build on existing code and Python libraries. It’s a weekly class and class notes, and recording are shared with all after the class. We have 2 youth tutors and 1 mentor. b. Web Design & Cyber Security: We have 22 students registered for this class. This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to HTML and CSS used in designing and creating web pages. Students will have a complete and wide array of customization freedom in the creation of their own web pages. The class also stresses on cybersecurity theory and the tools needed to plan and carry-out strategic cybersecurity defensive tactics. Class notes and recording are shared with all after the class. It’s a weekly class which is led by 2 youth tutors and 1 mentor. c. Advance Art: This is our Advance Art class in which we have 22 students. These online art classes provide instruction on everything from simple craft project like making cards of Father’s Day to intermediate activities like acrylic painting, canvas painting, making flower bouquet, pot painting, and much more. It’s a weekly class led by 1 mentor. d. APP Building: This hands-on mobile app development camp unravels the inner workings of mobile apps. The course engages students in creating personalized apps using the block-based language to program app logic and behavior. The course reinforces computational thinking and design thinking as students design, develop, package and share a series of multimedia mobile apps and interactive games using the App Inventor’s visual drag and drop coding interface. Overall, VT Seva Muscle, our youths are delivering excellent lessons and giving their best to the community. VT SEVA Summer Camp 2022 was a big success in terms of youth empowerment and money raised for the visually challenged kids of India.

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World Medical Relief collects and distributes recycled medical and dental supplies and medicines to help thousands of sick and poor people around the world. These goods are distributed in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, gender, and religion, nationality, or political beliefs. It was an amazing experience to be able to sort and repackage supplies that will be shipped to Ukraine during their terrible times and meeting their medical needs.

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Our flourishing community of VT Seva allows our young, ambitious volunteers to gratify their never-ending passions to always learn more. It always brings us joy to see their zeal of volunteerism as they experience different activities while interacting with their peers. It’s instrumental in expanding their creativity, skills, and knowledge and aid them to become better version of themselves. For this reason, we have introduced new, interesting classes in July 2022, our Crocheting & Knitting Classes! In our crochet class, Siri Arkatala, youth tutor taught the basics of crocheting, gradually enhancing students’ knowledge and finally taught how to make a stuffed toy. The first thing we started with is a slip knot and proper hand positions to hold the hook and yarn correctly. We learned 3 types of crochet stitches along with a technique called "the magic circle". Of course, we are working on improving on these concepts along with learning new ones. So far, it has been an interesting experience for both, for students and instructor. There were several obstacles that we all faced. Students were fast learners and it gave Siri the confidence to realize how eager the students were when they sent pictures of their little crochet work, asking her if it was correct, or when they asked questions and requested extra classes. Siri was confident that by the end of this class, we will all have lovely little stuffed toy creation by all. Even then, we will all still be improving and experimenting with different ideas, and that's what helps us grow! In our knitting class, as with crocheting, we started off with the basics of knitting. Our goal was to knit a simple purse. To start off, Nikhila Mannepalli, the youth tutor taught how to make a slip knot and the basic mechanics and positioning of the knitting needles and yarn. Then, we learned the ‘cast on,’ or the first row of stitches in any project. We continued on, learning the knit stitch, purl stitch, and finally our ‘cast off’ or the last row of stitches. With our newfound skills, we could finally start on our purse! However, this simply worded process was not without its trials. Teaching the students where each piece yarn went and on which needle and in which direction sometimes resulted in a tangled mess and we often had to take our stitches off when they didn’t come out as intended. Yet, again and again, I saw how motivated the students were as they put the stitches back on the needles and tried once more. Above all, what made the process truly worth it was the looks of concentration on their faces as they practiced their knitting. I could see a reflection of myself learning the craft many years ago and it pushed me to continue my instruction with even more effort. I hope, with the conclusion of these lessons, the students will not only leave with a cute handmade purse, but also with patience and the courage to try new things despite their difficulty. We raised $650 dollars for the food of Visually Challenged kids of Nethra Vidyalaya through these knitting and crocheting classes. These classes were highly appreciated by all.

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On july 29th, Seattle VTSEVA youth volunteers celebrated International Friendship Day with local community police in Sammamish City. Youth volunteers made special hand bracelets for this event which they used to tie like a "rakhi" to the members of our city police and the youth got to learn all the ways the city helps to keep our communities safe. Sammamish city police was very grateful for the hand-made bracelets signifying our community friendship and were appreciative of the lunch we provided.

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Crossroads community is a community garden, produce from which goes to local food banks bridging the gap to provide fresh produce to those in need. VT seva team cleaned the planting areas and removed all weeds using the rototiller. It was a great outdoor event on a summer day and was well spent by the volunteers giving back to the community. The youth volunteers also put up the reflectors to ward off the critters, birds & deer.

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VT Seva youth volunteers participate in “Letters to sign” every month. Volunteers sign up every month to write up to 4 letters and mail them to the specified address which then reach the seniors. Volunteers write a letter or make cards following guidelines provided on their website.VT Seva has been participating in this activity since 2021 and seeing increased participation from youth volunteers every month. This activity is about providing support and making elders happy by writing letters to them. In this activity, volunteers take a few minutes, sit down and write a letter. They tell them a joke, share a riddle, share how their day went and let them know they are loved. It brings a connection to the person where the letter gets mailed and makes someone feel good when they receive it.

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In the brown bag packing activity, a small group of people come together to make and pack bags filling them with different items such as chips, drinks, fuit, etc. Within these groups, the value of teamwork is built, and it's true importance is shown. After these bags are packed, they go to a homeless shelter to help those in need. This activity really helps in helping our community, as there are many people who cannot afford nutritious food. Packing brown bags for shelters help those that are not as fortunate as us, and makes their futures a little brighter.

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Our City is an urban forestry non profit organization that helps provide low income residents with lower cost trees. Many independent homes in Santa Clara county require owners to have a tree planted in front of their houses, the cost of these trees can become very expensive, which is why Our City Forest brings in volunteers to help in their nursery. Which will then be picked up by homeowners to plant in front of their homes. Our VT Seva volunteers go to the nursery monthly and help with plucking weeds, planting seeds, and mixing soil!

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“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” — Mahatma Gandhi. Our annual seedlings project “Grow Seedlings for a Good Cause” continues! A big shoutout to our youth and adult volunteers who participated. With your help we were able to prepare around 200 plants for sale. Our volunteers started early to beat the heat! Kudos to the youth volunteers who were up early with great energy to help :)

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VT Seva Detroit Youth Board conducted its 2nd annual walkathon.42 days, 31 Team Leads, 150 participants and with the support of donors and sponsors, we were able to raise good amount of money and supported the families affected by cancer through Angels of Hope.

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VTSeav Austin -Seeds for tomorrow for education and environment has conducted a 5K run and walk to support Saksham trust and Austin parks foundation.