She rejected a lucrative offer to work in the UK so she could contribute to the development of India. She is young and filled with SOAP and GINGER.

Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of SOAP and GINGER. Today, I will be speaking with the amazing Palak Sharma. During this enticing talk, divided into three parts, I explored how she grew up, climate change, feminism, India, public policy, poetry, dealing with demotivation, and going against your greatest cheerleader. She is the ultimate shot shooter, she is quick to recognise opportunities, prepare for and maximise the opportunities. I hope you enjoy and learn a lot from it.............

Palak began working on education, sustainable development, and youth empowerment since she was 17-year-old. She gave up a place in the United Kingdom’s Civil Service to return to India to help the country meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She co-founded the ‘Green Governance Initiative’ to influence policy to reflect the development goals and make sure the SDGs are implemented at a grassroots level. A graduate from LSE, Palak has juggled her voluntary work with a full-time Master’s degree. Her focus is on showing young people they have the potential to change the world. She has now trained thousands of young people to understand the SDGs and connected policymakers with young people to create real change. Palak also collaborated with World Toilet Organisation to work in public toilets of rural Maharashtra to develop their sanitation system & promote menstrual hygiene that was affected badly because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Young Indian Changemaker, Palak Sharma was recently honoured with The Diana Award, the highest accolade in the world that a young person can receive for their work in humanitarian crisis by Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex. In the same week, she was awarded the Plan India Impact Award & the Bangladesh Digital Social Innovation Forum Award for going above and beyond to create and sustain positive change in her daily life.

At present, Palak is working on decolonising the narrative of climate change mitigation by unearthing the stories of resilience from the Global South. She is joined by 100+ volunteers from all over India to join the movement to Decolonise Climate Change.

Welcome to the second part of my talk with the fantastic Neha Shukla

At 16, She is already a TEdX speaker, an inventor, 2021 Global teen leader,  and a programmer.

She designed and invented 6-feet apart a wearable social distancing device to combat the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

But that is not all, at 5 years, she learnt to play the Piano.

At 7/8 years she taught herself how to program and started making computer and mobile application. At 10 years, she was playing the guitar, designing and printing 3D models.

Now at 16, she is interested in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and solving the neurodegenerative disease puzzle. she is one to watch out for now and in the future.

Music- Manwell by Ketsa

Welcome to another fantastic episode of SOAp and GINGER. Today I would be speaking with  the fantastic Neha Shukla

At 16, She is already a TEdX speaker, an inventor, 2021 Global teen leader,  and a programmer. 

She designed and invented 6-feet apart a wearable social distancing device to combat the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. 

But that is not all, at 5 years, she learnt to play the Piano. 

At 7/8 years she taught herself how to program and started making computer and mobile application. At 10 years, she was playing the guitar, designing and printing 3D models. 

Now at 16, she is interested in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and solving the neurodegenerative disease puzzle. she is one to watch out for now and in the future.

Music- Manwell by Ketsa

In this episode of SOAP and GINGER, I continued my discussion with Yi Kang on what growing up in Malaysia was like and the influences and models that shaped his life. We also talked the amazing work he is doing doing with CIVICUS.  I hope you enjoy this episode. Watch out for the next episode next week Friday at the same time

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Yi Kang Choo is a recent law graduate in Queen's University Belfast who possesses a genuine interest in Human Rights, Education, and Mental Health-related social work. Originally from Malaysia, he has been actively involved as a volunteer and youth leader in local NGOs, co-organising major youth learning camps and fund-raising initiatives since 10.

In the UK, he is a trained NSPCC Childline Counsellor and holds various leadership positions within student organisations. He frequently advocates for the welfare of international students during the pandemic as the President of the Malaysian Students' Society of Northern Ireland, the Supreme Councillor of the United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students, and the Founder of the Welfare Taskforce for Malaysian Students Abroad. He is also a One Young World Ambassador and CIVICUS Youth Action Team Member, representing young activists in the UK & the wider Asian region.

As a law student, he was invited by the QUB Human Rights Centre to contribute to Northern Ireland's 2021/22 Modern Slavery Strategy, and has supported pro-bono cases worldwide as an International Lawyers Project Legal Student Fellow. He is also a member of the Global Coalition of Youth, Peace, and Security Working Group co-lead by the United Nations’ OSGEY.

He was recently awarded the 2021 International Student Year Award by the Union of Students in Ireland and the Diana Award, which is the most prestigious accolade a young person aged 9-25 can receive for their social action or humanitarian work.”

Music- Manwell by Ketsa

In this episode of SOAP and GINGER, I discuss with Yi Kang on what growing up in Malaysia was like and the influences and models that shaped his  life. We also talked the amazing work he is doing doing. with CIVICUS i hope you enjoy this episode. Watch out for the next episode next week Friday at the same time

.........................................................

Yi Kang Choo is a recent law graduate in Queen's University Belfast who possesses a genuine interest in Human Rights, Education, and Mental Health-related social work. Originally from Malaysia, he has been actively involved as a volunteer and youth leader in local NGOs, co-organising major youth learning camps and fund-raising initiatives since 10.

In the UK, he is a trained NSPCC Childline Counsellor and holds various leadership positions within student organisations. He frequently advocates for the welfare of international students during the pandemic as the President of the Malaysian Students' Society of Northern Ireland, the Supreme Councillor of the United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students, and the Founder of the Welfare Taskforce for Malaysian Students Abroad. He is also a One Young World Ambassador and CIVICUS Youth Action Team Member, representing young activists in the UK & the wider Asian region.

As a law student, he was invited by the QUB Human Rights Centre to contribute to Northern Ireland's 2021/22 Modern Slavery Strategy, and has supported pro-bono cases worldwide as an International Lawyers Project Legal Student Fellow. He is also a member of the Global Coalition of Youth, Peace, and Security Working Group co-lead by the United Nations’ OSGEY.

He was recently awarded the 2021 International Student Year Award by the Union of Students in Ireland and the Diana Award, which is the most prestigious accolade a young person aged 9-25 can receive for their social action or humanitarian work.”

Music- Manwell by Ketsa

Demotivation is like that childhood friend we all know, It is always lurking around the corner waiting to catch up. We have experienced demotivation at different times in our lives. In this podcast, I give some insights into how I approach demotivation. briefly, they are

1) Give your self a break, celebrate and reset

2)Look outwards, beyond your comfort zone

3)Surround yourself with a good social support system

4) Learn from those ahead of you ( Ginger is transferrable)

5) Learn a new hobby ( excelling at a (different) task can rebirth motivation)

6) Declutter your head by meditating and/or praying (this is the fuel source)

I would be excited to hear your tips, questions, and thoughts. Shoot me a message on my Social media accounts as voice notes or texts.

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