6:30 am, Sunday. Cubbon Park, Bengaluru. Laughter and the scratch of pencils fill the air. Under the shade of towering trees, a group of children sits cross-legged, their imaginations spilling onto the page, some discovering the magic of storytelling for the first time.

At the centre of it all is 16-year-old Vidhi Golchha, a student from The International School Bangalore (TISB) and the founder of CleverBox, a unique initiative that uses creative writing to empower children from underprivileged communities.

“These children have so much potential, and all they need is an opportunity to express themselves,” Vidhi says, her eyes lighting up as she watches one of her students eagerly narrate their story.

For the children from the slums of LR Nagar, a community battling poverty and limited opportunities, these creative writing workshops are more than just an escape — they are a gateway to confidence and self-expression.

A passion turned purpose

Vidhi’s journey with writing began long before CleverBox. “Writing has always been a way for me to make sense of the world,” she shares. “Vidhi as a child, always used to relate things with one another. She also spent most of her childhood reading books,” shares Shikha Golchha, Vidhi’s mother.

Her love for storytelling grew into a desire to help others find their voice and express with no boundaries — a passion that took shape in 2021 when she enrolled for an international course called the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

“I attended the course online and I was introduced to the idea of product development as it helps to see the tangible impact of your ideas. I decided to use creative writing and build a product on the concept that I love,” shares Vidhi.

Winning the third prize for her idea of a creative writing kit, she realised she had the foundation to turn her dream into reality. With the initial validation, Vidhi began developing CleverBox from the prize money she had received, pouring her heart into creating a resource that would make creative writing accessible to young learners.

Along the way, she balanced

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