From a silk flag at Buckingham Palace to a nature podcast

Online classes during covid-19, evenings on the recliner playing FIFA or Fortnite. Then an email from his Bio teacher: the Commonwealth, under River of Hope, was organising an art competition related to the SDGs. She knew, he says, that he had a small connection with everything related to nature. He decided to give it a try, submitted his artwork and forgot about it.

Then another email. He had been adjudged the winner, he says, first place, and the only one from India. His artwork would be turned into a silk flag and be part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebration at Buckingham Palace, after going on display at locations in London. "This whole event, looking proudly at my artwork on the television outside Buckingham Palace made me believe that this is what I want to do," he says.

“The future isn’t something we inherit, it is something we create!!”

Vivaan Mathur

That is how EarthWise began. On the podcast he interviews experts and talks about everything related to environment and sustainability, with guests who speak about being close to nature, protecting it and being mindful.

The book came next. "The idea came from the thought, how do I reach young kids, those in school?" he says. They would not listen to his podcast. Last year he wrote The Green Guardians to draw young people towards climate action, and schools and small clubs invited him for book reading sessions. "I went everywhere I was invited." The book was chosen, he says, to be exhibited at the International Book Fair.

In Year 11 his Psychology teacher, who also listens to the podcast, suggested a mini series on mental wellbeing. "That stayed with me over the weekend and on Monday I introduced MindWise," he says. For it he has called neuroscientists, researchers and educators to speak about the brain, the mind and mental well-being.

Vivaan, of Noida, is at Genesis Global School. He was recently awarded the King Constantine Medal, he says, for his efforts towards the community. In the pipeline now is Guardians of the Mind, a sequel to his book in which his heroes will talk about mental health, and he wants to finance it entirely on his own. "But I am optimistic as always that I will be able to do it soon and also release a digital version of both my books."