Way to Go: Sanskriti Bimal, Mineola

A Mineola High School junior is striving to bring increased awareness to the plight of underprivileged girls in India. Sanskriti Bimal, 16, has been promoting the need to educate girls by writing, speaking and organizing events through her position as a youth ambassador for the Long Island Volunteer Center in Hempstead.

Her efforts resulted in collaboration between two nongovernmental organizations in Mumbai and the Long Island center, which has launched its first international campaign, titled "Educating the Girl Child." The campaign will raise funds to help the organizations improve the lives of girls in Mumbai slums through education and vocational training.

"Educating the girl child will not only help them succeed, curb social evils and reduce poverty, but will also promote gender equality," said Bimal, who spent two weeks last summer teaching kids in Mumbai with the organization Aseema.

In addition, Bimal has earned two Silver Key distinctions in the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers' 2015 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, as well as the President's Volunteer Service Award for more than 100 hours of community service.

She has written more than two dozen articles for publication in local newspapers — including the Mineola American. Bimal is an editor on the school newspaper, captain of the cheerleading team, and a member of Key Club and the National Junior Honor Society.