How a 12-year-old is helping children breathe easier, build sustainable future

When emergency alerts related to a recent regional conflict started appearing in the UAE, 12-year-old Nakshatra Prem experienced the same fear as many other children. Her mother and mentors taught her deep breathing and affirmations to manage her anxiety. Recognizing that these feelings were widespread, Nakshatra decided to use her skills to help others.

Using her talent for coding, she created a free app called Al Amal, which means "The Hope" in Arabic. The app shares calming techniques with children aged eight to 15. Nakshatra has already shared the app with her classmates and other students, and it is now available on the Google Play Store. She has received positive feedback from her peers, who have reported feeling more secure and less anxious during emergency alerts.

Now, Nakshatra plans to expand the app's purpose to support children's general mental wellbeing. Shifa Yusuf Ali, a mentor of Nakshatra's, recognizes the potential of her project and is assisting her in developing its next phase. Nakshatra gauges the app's value by asking the children who use it if the exercises help them feel reassured, which tools they find useful, and what changes could make it more effective.

This direct feedback gives her the clearest evidence of meaningful impact. The idea of creating the app came to Nakshatra when she was six years old. Her public speaking skills led her to participate in the World Children Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals, where she was appointed as an SDG Child Ambassador. This experience introduced her to the 17 Global Goals and sparked a lasting interest in environmental action.

Nakshatra's passion for sustainability is evident in her book, #ForOurPlanet, which explains the Global Goals in language that young readers can understand. She connects sustainability to everyday actions, such as conserving water, reducing waste, reusing possessions, protecting animals, sharing with others, and encouraging families to participate.

Nakshatra believes that anyone, regardless of age, can make a difference by taking small steps. Through her STARKID kindness movement, she has inspired children to think about what they can change within their homes and communities, promoting the Global Goals through kindness and responsible citizenship. Nakshatra's commitment to education became evident during a visit to the Blue House Project, where she met children whose schooling was affected by difficult circumstances.

After receiving the Sharjah Educational Excellence Award, she used the prize money to fund the educational expenses of four children, ensuring they can continue their studies with better opportunities. Her projects encompass climate awareness, emotional wellbeing, and access to learning, all rooted in the problems she has witnessed or experienced.

Nakshatra's approach demonstrates that a child can believe she can address something others have accepted by starting with the people around her, listening carefully, and creating the first practical step.