Deekshitha M Rise Global Winner 2024
Farmers’ daughter wins global challenge for developing innovative technology to assist paralyzed patients
Delhi, India, September 18, 2024
Rise, in partnership with Rhodes Trust and Avanti Fellows, announced the 2024 cohort of Rise Global Winners. One of Eric and Wendy Schmidt’s philanthropic initiatives to foster global talent, Rise supports promising young people, aged 15-17 and provides them with opportunities that allow them to work together to serve others over their lifetimes.
Among them is Deekshitha M, the daughter of farmers, studying at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School in Bangalore Urban. Her passion lies in serving others through medicine. Residing on the outskirts of Bangalore, she witnessed her grandfather struggle to receive care for his health challenges. This experience sparked Deekshitha’s Rise project, which is an affordable handheld device that can be used by bed-ridden and paralyzed patients to communicate with their caregivers. Her goal is to make healthcare more accessible in remote regions of India by using modern technology.
As a Rise winner, Deekshita will attend a fully funded in-person residential summit with other members of the Rise Global Winner cohort. She will also receive a full four-year, post-secondary education scholarship, including tuition and a living stipend to any university in the world. She will also have access to funding to further develop her idea and mentorship from leading thinkers and innovators in the world.
“Deekshitha will be the first in her family to attend a professional STEM degree. Our partnership with RISE helped us expand access to this opportunity to thousands of students like Deekshitha and help them see themselves as agents of change.”, said Akshay Saxena, Avanti’s co-CEO.
"This year's Rise winners are already addressing systemic problems in their communities and beyond, with innovation, foresight and leadership," said Wendy Schmidt. "We look forward to welcoming the 2024 cohort into the Rise network, where we hope they will build the knowledge and relationships they need to make a difference for our world."
The full list of Winners can be found at: https://www.risefortheworld.org/global-winners#all-winners
"Rise is more than just a program; it's a community of extraordinary young people who are passionate about serving others and making a lasting impact on their communities,” said Mark German, Executive Director of Rise. “The 2024 Rise Global Winners are a testament to the incredible potential of our next generation of leaders, and we are proud to empower them with the tools and resources they need to become agents of positive change.”
“We congratulate the latest cohort of Rise Global Winners and welcome them to the community,” said Elizabeth Kiss, Warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust. “These brilliant, passionate, and committed young people are going to make a positive impact on their communities and the wider world in the years to come. As a 121 year-old organization committed to fostering public-spirited leadership, we are proud to be a part of these young people’s journey and excited about the life-changing educational and networking opportunities they will receive through Rise.”
The Rise community – now spanning 400 Winners and 1600 Finalists from 103 countries and nationalities – is committed to improving the quality of life for more people, enhancing human health and opportunity, and preserving as well as restoring essential planetary systems now and in the future. For more information, please visit: www.risefortheworld.org.
About Rise
Rise is a program that supports promising young people and provides them with opportunities that allow them to work together to serve others over their lifetimes. The program starts at ages 15–17 and encourages a lifetime of service and learning by providing support that includes need-based scholarships, mentorship, networking, access to career development opportunities, and the potential for additional funding as Rise Global Winners work toward solving humanity’s most pressing problems. For more information about Rise, visit www.risefortheworld.org
About Rhodes Trust
The Rhodes Trust, based at the University of Oxford, is an educational charity that forges brighter futures for individuals and the world through a family of global fellowship programmes. The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s pre-eminent graduate fellowship, bringing exceptional people of character to the University of Oxford to study. Over 8000 Rhodes Scholars, from more than 50 countries, have gone on to serve at the forefront of education, business, science, medicine, the arts, politics and beyond. Alongside visionary partners around the world, we are proud to be a global family of programmes: the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Atlantic Institute, Schmidt Science Fellows, Rise, and Oxford Next Horizons.
About Avanti Fellows
Avanti’s (www.avantifellows.org) mission is to help students lift themselves & their families out of poverty in a single generation by helping them qualify for quality STEM courses & develop the skills needed to build successful careers.
Avanti works with large government school systems in 28 States and Union Territories across India to provide over 30,000 low income students in class 9-12, free coaching for Engineering (JEE, CET), Medical (NEET) and other STEM College Entrance exams (Architecture, Agriculture, Fashion Technology, Defense). In addition to rigorous academic tutoring, students receive mentorship and career guidance while preparing for entrance exams and during their time in college. Avanti students graduate college with an average starting salary of 6.5 lakh per annum ($8,000) - more than doubling their household income and lifting themselves out of intergenerational poverty.
Media Contacts:
Joash Cornelius | joash@avantifellows.org