{"id":15117,"date":"2016-10-24T19:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T19:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogbox.indianeagle.com\/?p=15117"},"modified":"2016-11-25T20:03:19","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T20:03:19","slug":"tedx-redmond-speaker-afeef-sheikh-founder-of-the-literacy-crusade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/tedx-redmond-speaker-afeef-sheikh-founder-of-the-literacy-crusade\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: 17-year-old Indian American Afeef Sheikh, the Literacy Crusade Founder in Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cEven a small stone cast across the water can create ripples.\u201d That is what 17-year-old Indian American Afeef Sheikh from Washington believes in.<\/strong> A crusader of literacy and young philanthropist, Afeef strives to make the best of technology for the benefit of humans, environment and the planet. One of the speakers at the 2016 TEDx Redmond, he is on a mission to help the needy and underprivileged children with learning materials across USA and developing countries including India. The US Department of Defense invited him to give a presentation on his cost-effective solution for amputees with rehabilitation challenges, which has fetched him several prestigious awards and titles at this young age.<\/p>\n

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IndianEagle catches up with Washington-based Afeef Sheikh, the founder of the Literary Crusade and the recipient of the 2016 American Junior Academy of Sciences Award<\/strong>, to share with you what keeps him on the go as a philanthropist, his views on the use of technology for noble purposes, and his inventions for the welfare of communities in the following interview at Travel Beats, a digital publication for Indian Diaspora.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Literacy<\/a><\/h4>\n

IE. \u00a0Would you like to brief us about the Literacy Crusade and its mission?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Afeef Sheikh:<\/strong> On February 4th, 2015, I founded a global initiative, The Literacy Crusade, with the intention of promoting literacy and a thirst for knowledge among underprivileged children and youth. Through The Literacy Crusade, I have experienced the challenges and struggles that children face across the world, and have come to realize that education can break the cycle of poverty and transform lives.<\/p>\n

The Literacy Crusade has donated over 2,500 books, notebooks, writing instruments, backpacks, and desks to schools, orphanages, hospitals, and libraries across USA, Africa, Syria, India, Nepal, and Pakistan to help disadvantaged, at-risk, and autistic children.\u00a0 The initiative has funded school transportation projects in India, and sponsored annual tuition fees of needy children in Pakistan. Over 150 young readers locally have benefited from the classroom reading sessions.<\/p>\n

The Literacy Crusade has empowered selfless individuals across the globe to make an impact in their local communities. We have appointed Global Champions in USA, Canada, China, and India. We also have a dedicated leadership team and student volunteer body at my high school. The Literacy Crusade has partnered with Project Launchpad, Hope Festival Foundation, and Sammamish Nourishing Network to increase its reach. Acknowledging these efforts, the SAMMI Awards Foundation recognized me as the 2016 Youth Spirit Honoree.<\/p>\n

IE. \u00a0Who or what motivated you to initiate such a noble campaign only at the age of 16?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Afeef Sheikh: <\/strong>Newton\u2019s law of inertia states that an object at rest stays at rest, unless acted upon by an external force. My external force came in the summer of 2012 (at the age of 13) when I had gone to visit my grandparents in New Delhi, India. I remember we had just had a very satisfying lunch at a popular restaurant and sat down in our car to drive back home. As I put on my seatbelt, I noticed a boy who could not have been more than a year younger than me. He had tattered clothes, dirt-covered skin, and a somber look on his face. He was probably homeless. Before I could react we began to drive away. As the distance between us grew, I saw his skinny hand reach out in our direction. I knew he wanted anything: food, money, a change from the difficult life he was living. As he slowly faded from sight, I made a promise to myself. No matter what it took, no matter who it was, and no matter how little I could do, I would reach back. On February 4th, 2015, I founded a global initiative, The Literacy Crusade, with the intention of promoting literacy and a thirst for knowledge among underprivileged children and youth.<\/p>\n

IE. \u00a0You were recently invited to speak at the annual conference of the 2016 TEDx Redmond. How was your experience?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Afeef Sheikh: <\/strong>Since I feel so passionately about The Literacy Crusade, I decided to share my journey and learnings at the TEDxYouth Redmond platform to inspire others. It\u2019s a sense of purpose that created an energy boost not only for myself, but for the audience as well. Overall the experience was very engaging and fulfilling. I am motivated to give a TED Talk in the future.<\/p>\n