Mamta Gupta's Leadership Impact Project is helping to ensure that youth is not wasted on the young. A mother of kids aged 11 and 14, Mamta knows firsthand the issues related to teens and pre-teens. "I believe in building the children instead of repairing the adults," said Mamta. "For many of us, leadership training comes when we are 25 or 30; but if we teach these concepts to kids when they are young and can absorb it, that would be awesome." Toward that end and to fulfill her impact project requirement, Mamta founded the Indo-American Teen Community Builders (IATCB) for kids aged 13 to 19 in the Raleigh, NC, region. She first recruited kids of Indian origin through her Hindu temple's newsletter and other contacts, taking care to convene young people from various regional communities of Indian subcontinents. "Once we are so far away from our country, we are all Indians," Mamta said. "We must come together as an integrated Indian community."

As a precursor to her program, Mamta gathered the kids for an interactive leadership workshop to equip the young people with basic leadership skills she learned through APAWLI. Through cyber meetings and gatherings, the group took shape and began forming their mission, which includes at least four community service projects per year. "This is a great opportunity for kids of Indian origin to network," Mamta said, "but this is more than hanging out together. It's a great way to make these kids think about people who are not as fortunate as they are and then go out and contribute to the community-not through financial donations, but by giving themselves totally. It's a different way to give. I want them to develop humility." IATCB plans to work with the Food Bank of North Carolina and Habitat for Humanity. They also plan to stage a coat drive to help a shelter for people in need. Mamta said of the age group, "This is the only time we have with them. Once they leave the house after high school, we are out of the molding stage. We can't approach them." And though Generations X and Y often get a bad rap, Mamta sings their praises: "I think these kids are much smarter than we give them credit for; at least this group is so mature, so sensitive, with a lot of positive energy and talent. I was so proud of these kids." Mamta envisions expanding IATCB, perhaps adding a younger group of kids aged 8 to 13. "I strongly believe that to be able to utilize your fullest potential, you have to understand your roots," she said. "If you have strong roots, you can put the plants anywhere and they will blossom, even in a foreign land."
Mamta Gupta, Class of '98, is a Senior Advisor for NORTEL Research in North Carolina.