Bright Future: Ohio Teen’s Mission to Support Education Worldwide

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Vibhaas Appaji. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Vibhaas Appaji is a student at Dublin Jerome High School in Dublin, Ohio. He has worked with PURE since he was eight and has been a PURE youth ambassador since the second grade.

PURE stands for People for Urban and Rural Education. Established in 2016, PURE is a volunteer-led organization that works to support quality education for underserved and marginalized populations. Based in the U.S., PURE has a global footprint, helping provide educational opportunities in the U.S., India, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Kenya, Barbados, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. With hundreds of volunteers, PURE has impacted over 200,000 lives, offering everything from skill development and menstrual hygiene awareness to improving school infrastructure and sponsorships for persons with disabilities

Vibhaas leads the PURE Youth Ohio chapter of the organization, where he organizes projects and other volunteers. PURE has been a life-changing experience for Vibhaas, and he enjoys the work he does for his community and communities worldwide.

What inspires you to volunteer?

My mom, the COO of PURE, got me started volunteering at PURE. Once she saw that I was interested in PURE, she started a chapter called PURE Youth in Ohio. This initiative began with the help of my brother and a couple of his friends.

One of PURE Youth’s first events was attending a cricket event and selling snacks to people in attendance. I decided to tag along to see what my brother and his friend would be doing, and it turned out to be an enjoyable day. I enjoyed selling snacks and speaking with other volunteers.
This event inspired me to volunteer and help kids through personal interactions. At that moment, I realized that donating would not be enough. I wanted to make a difference through my actions.

Tell us about your volunteer role with PURE Youth.

I am the chapter director for the PURE Youth Ohio chapter. My responsibilities include organizing projects, events and fundraisers. I also manage volunteers who volunteer their time both in person and online.

While working with PURE Youth, one of my most significant accomplishments was being able to create a sneaker recycling program. One day, I realized I had many sneakers in my home that I didn’t use anymore. This program allows people to donate shoes they no longer need to help kids who need them. The donated shoes are recycled and repurposed for playgrounds and other materials in underserved areas.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

My goal for PURE is to continue expanding in as many countries as possible. I believe it’s essential to continue expanding our footprint to impact people worldwide positively.

I would like more recognition for PURE Youth within our city and state. We hope that with more attention and support from our community, we can achieve our high goals and allow PURE Youth to continue to achieve great things.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The most rewarding part of volunteering at PURE Youth is the difference I make in my community and worldwide.
We do many projects and fundraisers, which allow us to see their direct impact across the country, the world or our community. Your hard work and efforts are making a difference for kids who don’t have much. It humbles me.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

Volunteering with PURE has taught me leadership. I’ve worked with many different people and helped others discover their strengths.
I have learned a lot about leading a group of ambassadors and helping them gain new opportunities. I’ve also been able to build upon essential skills such as bonding, teamwork and communication, which have helped me become a better leader.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs, or events that you are excited about.

We are working on a small project related to candle making. We will sell homemade soy candles at local markets and several festivals. This remains the chapter’s most significant source of income.

Then, on MLK day, we plan to make blankets and give them to the unhoused.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

From my experiences, I want people to learn that they can always make a difference, no matter where they come from, how old they are or what they want to do.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Vibhaas? Find local volunteer opportunities.