“When I was eight years old, I used to be bullied by my so-called friends. I remember one incident where they pulled my pants down in front of the entire class. I was completely shocked. I had no idea what to do. So I ran to the bathroom, and I cried. I remember feeling so helpless, lost and unloved at that moment. That is a feeling that no one should go through. And that is one of the core principles of my Anti-Bullying Squad (ABS),” shares Anoushka Jolly.
At thirteen, Anoushka, a teenpreneur is pushing for conversations that will not just ensure reporting the act of bullying but also finding an end to the problem entirely. ABS is a social initiative she has put together to minimise bullying by raising awareness. The digital platform acts as a community where specialists come together to organise one-on-one sessions in schools against bullying. “I started by creating a small website where I posted information about bullying. I researched, wrote the blogs and designed the space with the help of my mentors. During the pandemic, I started taking online sessions with schools, and I came across many bullying victims. I remember a young boy telling me that he was getting physically bullied—he was being slapped and kicked—and when he tried to reach out to his teacher and his mom, no one did anything. Hearing these stories made me realise that while I am doing a good job raising awareness, I have to think of making a big impact as well. I created my online program with videos that speak about bullying in great detail. I wanted people to stop feeling ashamed of being bullied, speak up, and report it. Because unless bullying is reported, it is not going to stop. This led to the creation of my app, Kavach, which has a reporting mechanism that will help schools deal with the issue of bullying at its root.”
Anoushka was seen as one of the contestants on Shark Tank India, where she got funding of ₹ 5 lakh to develop her app further. “Because of Shark Tank India, I got a lot of support and recognition, which is what we need while fighting social issues like bullying,” she shares. “I was always a fan of Shark Tank, and I love seeing how entrepreneurs could take action and do something about the problems they see around them. I wanted to be that change maker and do something about bullying.”
“If we wish to combat bullying, we require a behavioural change and a different mindset. It is tough to bring about that change as we’ve spent decades not correcting it, but as humans, we need to evolve, adjust and change ourselves. Teachers, parents, and school authorities need to realise the power that they have as authority figures and how they can use that to implement measures to stop bullying,” she adds.
While she combats a social evil, she also finds the space to manage her studies and balance her routine. What’s that like? “Being a teenpreneur gives you great exposure and is an amazing experience. Yes, there’s a bit of a struggle as I have to manage my work, studies, and everything in between. I think one piece of advice I would like to give to other budding teenpreneurs is that don’t get caught up in the what-ifs. There will be some hesitation over how you will manage everything; what if you fail or aren’t able to do it all? I am just going to say, go for it! You really won’t have the answers unless you do it. I started with a small website, and now here I am, connecting with investors worldwide and living out my passion.”
She adds that having a good support system and believing in your work are keys to succeeding. “When you are a teen entrepreneur, you have to deal with many unsolicited opinions like ‘concentrate on your studies’ or ‘you are too young to do this’. Take it in your stride and work towards proving these people wrong. I always like to take criticism and find some positive in them. You should also have a good support system and parents willing to help you with everything. Ultimately, when you are such a young person doing so many things at once, it also boils down to your mental health and state.”
“We have to be very careful that we are not burning ourselves out and we’re not taking up more than we can handle because ultimately, we are still growing, and we’re still learning,” she suggests.
For Anoushka, her biggest support system has been her parents. “My dad is an entrepreneur himself, so he’s always helped me out. He is a great public speaker too, and I get that from him. Watching my mom working so hard also inspired me. I feel that if it weren’t for a supportive environment at home, where ideas were always encouraged, I wouldn’t be here.”
“I think the reason I can do it is when I hear from a victim of bullying, and they talk about how my work has helped them, I realise that I am indeed making a difference,” she signs off.