Sometimes, change doesn’t come from massive organisations or big campaigns. It begins with one person, one camera, and a whole lot of heart in the world of social media, which is flooded with endless content.
Ashwani Thapa from Bihar chose to create something meaningful. And in just 30 days, he changed the lives of dozens of children in the remote mountains of Sikkim.
A hidden school in the mountains
Ashwani was casually scrolling through social media when he stumbled upon Grace Academy — a tiny school nestled in Sardong, a quiet village in Sikkim.
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The school is founded by Lakpa Dhava Sherpa, a former mountain guide who gave up his trekking career to teach the children of farmers, daily-wage workers, and single mothers. He even turned his own cottage into a hostel for 21 kids.
But what Ashwani saw when he volunteered broke his heart: no library, no clean water, no proper lights, and yet the children came every day with glowing eyes and big dreams.
A camera, a cause and one viral idea
Instead of feeling helpless, he picked up his camera and started vlogging his everyday moments at the school where he taught maths, laughed with the kids, and lived among them. His daily reels weren’t fancy, but they were full of soul.
And soon, the internet noticed. Within a month, his raw, heartwarming videos helped raise Rs 10 lakh for the school through donations.
Watch the video here:
A heartwarming gesture and a hopeful future
One child, in particular, left a mark on Ashwani — Samnima, the youngest in the hostel.
“She kept giving me flowers; she has all my heart,” he said in one of his vlogs. His vlogs capture not only the struggles but also the joy, resilience, and unbreakable spirit of the children.
Today, Grace Academy is being renovated with a new building, computer lab, and playground in sight. All thanks to a 30-day journey powered by kindness and content creation.
Ashwani proved something powerful: when used with intention, social media can transform lives, uplift communities, and spark real change.
