Hi, I’m Viraj, and I’ve been leading a youth anti-vaping initiative since 2019.  

 

A student initiative, originally launched in 2019 for the eCYBERMISSION competition with two of my teammates Nidhi and Samil, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping. The project was inspired by news of the vaping-related lung illness outbreak and the observation of students vaping in local schools. 

The project became a regional finalist and secured a $5,000 STEM-In-Action Grant. The funds were used to produce awareness materials like pencils, wristbands, and stickers, and to create a video distributed to middle schools in the Aurora–Naperville area. Presentations were also delivered in health classes.

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Since then, I have taken  sole leadership of the initiative, expanding its reach through presentations at various schools, community and charitable events. Activities include education and awareness sessions at back-to-school events, health fairs, Library, Parent university, National Night Out, the Aurora and Naperville mayors' offices, numerous educational and community events.

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I am passionately committed to the Vaping Prevention campaign due to firsthand experience with the severity of the issue among middle and high school students. My future goals include recruiting more volunteers and developing a tailored curriculum for the Chicagoland area. The ongoing initiative highlights the critical need for continued education on the risks of vaping.​​