Young Changemakers of NorthSouth – Our Impact
Learn more about the program's impact
Past and Current Projects
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Operation Hurricane Relief
Operation Hurricane Relief is the current initiative by the Young Changemakers of NorthSouth (YCNS) aimed at supporting communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which brought widespread devastation to the Southeastern United States in late September 2024.
Weeks after the hurricanes, families across the Southeast are still grappling with the overwhelming aftermath. Thousands remained without power for days, even weeks, leaving many in prolonged hardship. Hundreds of roads were blocked by debris and damage, cutting off essential routes and making recovery efforts difficult. Schools were closed for nearly a month, causing significant learning loss for countless students now struggling to catch up. For many residents, access to food, water, and shelter has been scarce, leading to further loss of life even after the storms subsided. These communities face a lengthy journey toward recovery and require sustained support to rebuild their homes and restore normalcy.
The Young Changemakers of NorthSouth are committed to shining a light on the ongoing struggles that persist long after the hurricanes. By mobilizing our creativity, resourcefulness, and leadership skills, we aim to raise funds and awareness to support the people and communities most affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Devices for Education
In 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted everyone’s sense of normality, the young changemakers of NorthSouth, equipped with the tools of changemaking, saw an opportunity in adversity. They realized that communities around them were in desperate need of help, especially students in economically disadvantaged communities who could not continue learning remotely due to a lack of electronic devices. The young changemakers wanted to help bridge the digital divide. What began as a humble fundraising effort quickly snowballed, surpassing everyone’s expectations. By the end of December 2020, “Devices for Education” had raised over $100,000, including a matching grant from NorthSouth, and delivered 706 Chromebooks to 13 schools and districts across several states.
Operation Breathe
In 2021, India was hit by a second wave of Covid-19, with a sudden surge in cases due to new and stronger variants of the virus, which left many families devastated due to inadequate healthcare resources. This took the country by shock, and with no time to gather the resources to help people, it resulted in more than 4,500 deaths per day. A majority of these deaths were due to the deficit of oxygen and ventilators in hospitals across the country.
Motivated by the success of “Devices for Education,” the young changemakers responded to the crisis in India with Project “Operation Breathe”. A group of passionate young school students, who were deeply moved by these mortifying statistics, came together with a plan to aid India during this hardship. Their mission was to help treat the onslaught of patients and curb the number of children being orphaned from this pandemic by addressing the immediate and short-term needs in urban and rural hospitals by collaborating with credible grassroots organizations. Their efforts raised $37,000 and provided COVID relief and prevention resources to rural schools and families in India.