Swasti Jain
Helping others is the best way you can help yourself.
Swasti Jain (16), moved from India to the United States, where she faced confusion, isolation, and being singled out while navigating an unfamiliar school system. Rather than let those struggles hold her back, she turned them into purpose.
Trained as a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Facilitator, Swasti conducted over 100 in-depth interviews with teen girls and boys across Central Texas, uncovering gaps in school counseling, mental health access, and belonging—especially among immigrant youth. She carefully coded and analyzed this research to identify recurring policy gaps, then translated her findings into concrete law proposals on teen mental health access and school counseling, which she’s set to present to Texas state legislators in August 2026. Beyond research, Swasti mentors younger girls as a “Big Sister” in GEN’s program, leading empowerment workshops on identity, self-efficacy, and stress management.
With support from her parents, who helped her turn early struggles into purpose, Swasti has empowered over 100 young people across Central Texas—transforming their personal stories into a collective voice now shaping state policy, with plans to reach even more through a dedicated advocacy platform.
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