Miracle Foundation India’s Youth Ambassadors, drawn from Child Care Institutions and local communities, play a vital role in raising awareness about the importance of a family for every child and driving meaningful impact. This month, we celebrate Akhila Butta from Telangana, whose journey with Miracle Foundation India began in 2014; she eventually became our Youth Ambassador in 2022.

Living with her mother and grandmother, Akhila struggled to stay motivated amidst the family’s financial difficulties that also hindered her pursuit of education. At the age of 10, a relative placed her in a Child Care Institution (CCI), where she stayed until her first year of graduation, following which she was reunited with her mother. Despite all challenges, she eventually earned an MBA in Finance, and embraced opportunities for both personal and professional growth.

Motivated by the desire to give back to her community and to be their voice, Akhila has been raising awareness on important issues such as preventing child marriage, conflict management, mental health, and the importance of education. As a Youth Ambassador, she has facilitated life skills education, teaching young people about empathy, responsibility and aspirations. Miracle Foundation India has played a pivotal role in Akhila’s journey, offering her guidance, mentorship and networking opportunities, thereby helping her amplify her voice and expand her impact.

Looking ahead, Akhila aspires to secure a government job to better support those in need and advance her outreach. Her goal is to empower even more young people, particularly through initiatives focused on mental health, education and life skills in CCIs, government schools, and colleges. Akhila is also focused on developing leadership programs and collaborating with other organizations to amplify youth voices.

Recently selected for the Learning In Fellowship Together (LIFT) program by Udayan Care, a one-year fellowship focused on developing and nurturing care-experienced youth as agents of change, Akhila is excited about the future and remains committed to creating sustainable change.

Recently, on the occasion of National Youth Day on January 12, 2025, we asked the amazing youth who we work with: “Where do you see yourself at 25?”. Hear their voices as they share their aspirations, offering a glimpse into the bright futures they are working towards. Their stories further strengthen our commitment to helping every child reach their full potential.