Arjun, a 13-year-old from Austin, Texas, is a survivor of child sexual abuse who transformed his pain into purpose by dedicating his life to empowering young people. Of Indian and Iranian descent and from a low-income background, he founded TLEEM, a nonprofit that helps students build networking skills through school and community clubs. Believing that creativity should not be limited by age, Arjun has worked to make networking opportunities—often expensive and exclusive—accessible to youth, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds. His parents’ support and the mentorship of teachers and peers enabled him to channel his vision into meaningful action.
Through TLEEM, Arjun has already helped over 4,000 young people across 37 clubs in 11 countries, with plans to reach 10,000 by 2025. He has organized events, sponsored hackathons, and even introduced microgrants for student-led initiatives, giving children the tools to innovate and lead. Beyond TLEEM, Arjun is a senior programmer, open-source advocate, author, and speaker whose projects have been used by companies like New Relic. His activism also extends to policy, having proposed legislation in Texas to lower the age of candidacy for state representative. Arjun’s work exemplifies how determination, creativity, and resilience can enable children to shape a more inclusive and equitable future.
, a 13-year-old from Austin, Texas, is a survivor of child sexual abuse who transformed his pain into purpose by dedicating his life to empowering young people. Of Indian and Iranian descent and from a low-income background, he founded TLEEM, a nonprofit that helps students build networking skills through school and community clubs. Believing that creativity should not be limited by age, Arjun has worked to make networking opportunities—often expensive and exclusive—accessible to youth, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds. His parents’ support and the mentorship of teachers and peers enabled him to channel his vision into meaningful action.
Through TLEEM, Arjun has already helped over 4,000 young people across 37 clubs in 11 countries, with plans to reach 10,000 by 2025. He has organized events, sponsored hackathons, and even introduced microgrants for student-led initiatives, giving children the tools to innovate and lead. Beyond TLEEM, Arjun is a senior programmer, open-source advocate, author, and speaker whose projects have been used by companies like New Relic. His activism also extends to policy, having proposed legislation in Texas to lower the age of candidacy for state representative. Arjun’s work exemplifies how determination, creativity, and resilience can enable children to shape a more inclusive and equitable future.