VT Seva Detroit 6th Annual Outreach Project: When Youth Lead with Purpose

The VT Seva Detroit branch proudly celebrates the success of its Youth-Led Outreach Project 2025, which raised over $23,800 to support the education of 65+ visually challenged students at Nethra Vidyalaya. Renowned for its commitment to holistic education, Nethra Vidyalaya empowers students to grow academically, personally, and with confidence - and this project focused on ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive.

3 Months, 28 Team Leads, $23,800+ Raised, 65+ Students Empowered

One of the most inspiring aspects of this initiative was the leadership shown by our youth volunteers. As they advocated for the cause and shared its impact with diverse audiences, they strengthened their communication skills, learned resilience in the face of rejection, and transformed challenges into meaningful learning experiences. This journey shaped them into empathetic, purpose-driven leaders, while creating lasting impact for the students they served.

Our heartfelt thanks to every youth volunteer, mentor, donor, parent and supporter who made this possible. Together, we are not just funding education - we are shaping futures.

Meet the incredible youth leaders who led this outreach project with commitment, resilience, and a shared vision to create lasting impact:

Oviya Jaisankar, Sai Sriram Karnati, Kaustubh Dingari, Shruthi Adduri, Adhip Pisipati, Raja Ameya Yeddula, Dritihi Reddy Bhatula, Deekshi Chittala, Arya Patel, Rathneesh Balamurugan, Advithi Kothapalli, Shreya Shetty, Harini Kopparapu, Arnav Vinjam, Aadya Kamath, Sri Vasudha Vundi, Manish Megeri, Swathi Aayushi Alluri, Shalini Srinivas, Siddarth Ram, Ella McCleery, Shipra Valli Putrevu, Shreeya Sahu, Akshita Sakthi, Sreenika Perumalla, Andrea Zou, Avantika Nair, Kishore Parthiban

Reflections:

Oviya Jaisankar (Supported 21+ students):

I am so glad I was able to be part of the Outreach Project again in 2025. This marks my 6th year doing this project, and every year it becomes more meaningful and successful.

Over the years, I’ve seen my confidence and speaking skills grow as I continue stepping out of my comfort zone, talking to people I barely know, sharing a cause that resonates deeply with me, and inspiring others to invest in the future through their support.

This year stood out in a special way because I was able to donate from my own savings and personally impact the very kids I’ve been speaking about for the past 6 years. With the incredible support of my family, friends, and local businesses, who continue to believe in our cause and support my fundraiser year after year, I was able to raise enough to support the education of 21+ students for one full year. Thanks to all of the donors and thanks for the opportunity. I am beyond grateful to support the students of Nethra Vidyalaya and allow them to reach their dreams.

Sai Sri Ram Karnati (Supported 15+ students):

The Outreach project is something I genuinely look forward to because it lets me directly support students who need it most while also helping me grow, both in how I communicate and my persuading skills. Each donation felt like someone standing beside me, saying they believe in this mission too, and that sense of shared purpose was incredibly motivating. Supporting visually challenged and tribal students at Nethra Vidyalaya is truly inspiring, and I’m grateful that this year I was able to help provide a full year of education for more than 12 students. Yes, there were challenges along the way, but seeing people come together to uplift these students made every moment worthwhile. This project always reminds me of what we can accomplish when a community unites with compassion and determination. I’m deeply thankful to VT Seva for giving me another chance to contribute to such impactful work.

Kaustubh Dingari (Supported 6+ students):

Overall, the outreach experience was great. I was able to reach out to many familiar and unfamiliar faces that I have not talked to before one example that really stood out to me was my neighbor who was completely unaware of the Nethra Vidyalaya schools and everything associated with it she was pleasantly surprised to find out and even donated $100 to help support the cause. another example is one of my dad’s friend. It was also his very first time hearing about our cause, and he was so touched by the movement that he donated $500..

Shruthi Adduri (Supported 3+ students):

What I enjoy most about outreach is the opportunity to make a difference for the Nethra students and the satisfaction I feel each time a donation is received.

Youth Leads who supported 1+ students:

Dritihi Reddy Bhatula:

Participating in the VT Seva Outreach Project was a great experience. It’s a truly wonderful opportunity to give back to others, and it feels amazing to know that my efforts helped support the students at Nethra Vidyalaya. This project also taught me a lot, helping me improve my communication skills. My favorite part of outreach was the wonderful feeling of helping others.

Deekshi Chittala:

Outreach helped me realize how important school is for all children regardless of their conditions; everyone deserves an education. I was able to raise $400 to support these children through my parents, family friends, and work donations. In upcoming years, I hope to raise even more money to donate for children’s education as I now have experience from doing it twice. I hope to reach out to people from all over Michigan. Overall, this project has made me feel extremely proud as I am able to say that I funded at least one student’s education.

Arya Patel:

I had so much fun at this year’s outreach event. This was my second time being a team lead, and even though I’d done it before, I still learned so much. I was able to support one student’s year of schooling, which is a big accomplishment. Overall, I am so thankful to be a part of and hold leadership in these types of events.

Rathneesh Balamurugan:

I was able to provide assistance for one student’s education this year through my donation, which was an extremely meaningful experience for me. Supporting one student shows how even small donations can create a major impact. I felt a stronger connection to the vision and mission of VT Seva, as well as our goal of making a positive difference. This year I learned that being a leader includes giving back and supporting others as much as participating at events. Donating to help one student grow gives me more motivation to continue supporting these projects. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help someone grow.

Advithi Kothapalli:

This is my second year participating in the Outreach program to and it was truly a meaningful experience for me. At the beginning, it felt a little overwhelming to reach out to people and ask for donations, but as I learned more about the students and the impact this program has on their lives, it became much easier and more motivating. What stood out to me most was realizing how much of a difference even a small contribution can make. Hearing about the determination and achievements of visually challenged students reminded me not to take my own opportunities for granted. This experience also helped me improve my communication skills, as I had to step out of my comfort zone and reach out to more people than I normally would. Overall, this experience was both rewarding and impactful, and I look forward to participating again next year!

Shreya Shetty:

Working on this Outreach project gave me a chance to step outside my comfort zone and grow in ways I didn’t expect. I learned how important it is to listen, communicate clearly, and stay flexible. More than anything, seeing how people responded reminded me that even small actions can spark bigger change. One of the most impactful parts of this experience was learning more about the students at Netra. Sharing their stories with potential donors helped me understand their abilities, determination, and the challenges they continue to overcome. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of supporting their education and for the strength each student demonstrates every day. Overall, this program helped me grow in areas I didn’t realize needed strengthening, and it left me with new skills I know I’ll carry forward. Most importantly, it allowed me to contribute to a cause that genuinely matters. I’m grateful for the experience and for the opportunity VT Seva continues to give me to learn, contribute, and make a difference in my community.

Youth Leads fulfilled the minimum requirements:

Arnav Vinjam:

The VT Seva Youth-led Outreach program has shown me how small efforts can lead to such a big outcome. Collecting donations for people in need has opened my eyes in a way that other volunteering events haven’t before, and I’m grateful for this opportunity that I’ve been given to make a change in other’s lives.

Sri Vasudha Vundi:

The outreach project taught me more about helping people and supporting one another.

At first, I was very nervous and wondered how difficult it would be to raise money and support children. Slowly, I began to enjoy collecting donations and felt happy learning how the funds would help support students. I also learned how schools like Nethra Vidyalaya help visually challenged students succeed in their education, sports, and other activities.

Through this experience, I learned that raising money is not easy, but I still tried my best.

I am really proud of myself and all my teammates for getting the opportunity to contribute to such a wonderful cause.

Manish Megeri:

I joined VT Seva Detroit branch with the goal to help underprivileged kids in India have to same chance to succeed as us. With the that goal in mind I fundraised over 100 dollars to help the underprivileged kids in India. However, this is just the start I wish to help in so many more like next year I can set my goal to fundraise double or even triple that amount. Throughout the process of fundraising and volunteering I’ve learnt that it doesn’t just come to you, if you want it you have to earn it and work hard and diligently. My favorite part of this experience was just the supportive community that cares about the underprivileged kids in India. I’ve also realized that I’m so lucky that I have the life that I have because my life is someone else’s dream. Thank you so much for VT Seva for helping me realize this!!

Swathi Aayushi Alluri:

This was my first year being part of the outreach program, and I really loved it! It allowed me to support visually challenged students and other volunteering activities. It felt great to make a difference, and I definitely want to make it happen again and again.

Ella McCleery:

Participating in Outreach has been a life-changing experience for me. Only now do I realize how much the simple action of reaching out to family and friends can do for an amazing cause such as this. Seeing the “Smiles to Remember” video really impacted me, and to think i helped make those smiles appear was really special. It was really amazing to actually see the results of such a huge project, and I think about the kids in those schools now as I go about my day. It makes me so happy to think that I could’ve helped one of them achieve their dreams and goals, and the video highlighting what they wanted to be when they grow up really inspired me. Once again, thank you so much for this opportunity to give back to the world!

Shipra Valli Putrevu:

Raising support for VT Seva visually challenged students in Nethra Vidyalaya was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. Knowing that my efforts could contribute to the education and opportunities of these students was deeply fulfilling. It made me realize how impactful even small acts of kindness can be. This experience wasn’t just about helping others, it also gave me a sense of purpose and gratitude. It reminded me that when we take the time to give back, we not only make a difference in someone else’s life but also grow as individuals.

Akshita Sakthi:

This is my second year in VT Seva, and I’m so glad I got to be part of the outreach project this year. It is truly an amazing way to contribute. Learning about all the incredible accomplishments of the Nethra Vidyalaya students was so inspiring, and getting the chance to reach out to people and help raise funds made the experience even more impactful. Talking to all different people like parents, teachers, and family made me realize the difference one donation can make. Thank you so much VT Seva for this opportunity!

Sreenika Perumalla:

Being a part of VT-Seva’s outreach 2025 was once again another amazing opportunity for me to do something meaningful for my community. Being able to advocate for Nethra Vidyalaya and their students and also reach out to various groups of people to help in supporting these schools was such a fun activity. I was able to interact with new people and also spread more awareness about the missions of VT- Seva. Through this experience I was really able to understand that “every dollar count” because even the smallest donation contributed to greater cause.

Avantika Nair:

Participating in the Outreach Program this year was definitely a rewarding experience. It was really great talking to other people about the importance of Nethra Vidyalaya and how they make real impacts in the lives of many students. This experience really gave me a sense of purpose to make a difference for these young children in India and also made me realize how grateful I am for the things I have in my life. I’m glad I got to participate in this program for a second time, and I’m excited to do even better next year!

Blog Written By: Priya Jaisankar