Malika R

When visiting India and the villages her parents grew up in, Malika was struck by the spread of disease and poor sanitation in those communities. She saw many people who were unable to afford clean water, let alone a toothbrush. She felt an immense connection to the people she met in the villages and felt that she could play a role in changing this situation. Malika, then 14, founded the HelpHygiene Foundation with her friend, Simran Bhargava, as a way to support the young people in villages with education, funds, and products to address the sanitation challenges. Fundraising more than $50,000 and implementing education programs in more than 25 classrooms is just the beginning of Malika’s impact as she plans to expand to regions affected by natural disasters.