NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Johns Creek, GA, October 1, 2025: Nazeefa Loladia, a high school senior at Lambert High School, has been honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest recognition a Girl Scout can achieve. She received her final confirmation on September 19, 2025, marking the culmination of a project that blended technology, education, and social impact — and extended its reach across borders.
Her project, titled “Bridging the Digital Divide,” addressed one of today’s most pressing global challenges — unequal access to technology and digital literacy. Through her leadership, Nazeefa empowered hundreds of students and families, both in Georgia and in India, to connect, learn, and thrive in the digital age.
Collecting and Donating Devices
Recognizing that many students lack access to computers and tablets, Nazeefa launched multiple device collection drives across her community. She gathered laptops, MacBooks, and other digital tools — both working and in need of repair — and partnered with Inspiredu, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that refurbishes and distributes devices to underserved families.
Her efforts helped children from low-income households gain the tools they need to participate fully in online education and access vital digital resources.
Taking her mission global, Nazeefa also collaborated with Leap to Shine, a nonprofit organization in India that provides tablets to underprivileged families. Through this partnership, her project extended educational opportunities to students thousands of miles away.
Creating Educational Tutorial Videos
Understanding that access to technology alone was not enough, Nazeefa developed 15 user-friendly tutorial videos in collaboration with Leap to Shine. The videos — shared via WhatsApp to reach families directly — guided parents and children on how to use tablets, navigate educational apps, and make the most of their new devices.
By ensuring that recipients could confidently operate their technology, she helped bridge not just the digital gap, but also the learning gap that often accompanies it.
Promoting Cyber Safety and Awareness
A key component of Nazeefa’s project was promoting responsible online behavior. She conducted cybersecurity workshops for over 120 elementary and middle school students, teaching them how to stay safe online, recognize scams, and use the internet responsibly.
Her sessions empowered young learners to protect themselves in the digital world — a crucial life skill in an era where children are exposed to technology at increasingly early ages.
Leadership and Lasting Change
Through these initiatives, Nazeefa’s Gold Award project has created a lasting ripple effect — empowering families, inspiring peers, and fostering greater awareness of the digital divide. Her project not only provided immediate relief to families without access to technology but also equipped them with knowledge and confidence to thrive in a connected world.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is reserved for projects that demonstrate extraordinary leadership, measurable impact, and sustainability. Nazeefa’s work embodies all three, serving as a shining example of youth-driven community leadership.
At just 17, she has shown that one student’s vision can help build digital bridges across continents — and inspire others to take action for equity and access in the modern age.
