Freya Prajapati

Freya (15), is from India. Growing up in a family of doctors, Freya always had a sharp sense of social responsibility. Her mission became personal when her elder brother was diagnosed with Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) in Grade 4, finally explaining the struggles he’d faced for years in art class, science experiments, and everyday life. Freya decided no other child should go undiagnosed and unsupported.

She pioneered India’s first student-led school screening program for CVD, mobilizing volunteers to carry out a public health initiative most adults wouldn’t attempt. She reframed CVD as a children’s rights issue, arguing that early diagnosis protects a child’s right to equal education, so no student is penalized for tasks requiring color-coded answers. Beyond screening, she designed and distributed labelled colored pencils as a practical tool, and spread over 5,000 bilingual educational brochures to schools and parent groups.

The impact has been massive: Freya’s program physically screened 10,600 students across 30 schools, while her online outreach reached even further. Thanks to her work, CVD has shifted from an overlooked problem to a real priority in educational planning, proving that one personal experience can spark change for an entire community of students.