A middle-school assignment evolved into a meaningful mission for Shady Side Academy junior Deven Nahata.
While in seventh grade at SSA, his teacher assigned individual student projects with a social-based focus.
“I did some Google searches for Pittsburgh nonprofits because I was really interested in the refugee crisis and found Hello Neighbor,” Nahata said.
Nahata, 16, of Collier Township is the recipient of the inaugural Hello Neighbor Youth Champion Award.
Hello Neighbor is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of recently settled immigrant and refugee families by matching them with neighbors to support them in their new lives.
Since its founding in 2017, Hello Neighbor has offered support to more than 800 refugees and immigrants from more than 17 countries.
Hello Neighbor supports more than 100 immigrant and refugee families a month through these programs: resettlement, family mentorship, smart start, study buddy and network.
He was honored for his almost five years of volunteer service to Hello Neighbor during a ceremony Sept. 18 at the Heinz History Center.
“I was super humbled and delighted to be honored,” said Nahata of receiving the award.
Nahata attended the event with his family. He is the son of Amit and Ekta Nahata.
Nahata’s volunteering has included hosting numerous monetary and supply fundraisers on campus to support Hello Neighbor.
He has raised more than $2,000 and has organized bake sales and drives for school supplies, cleaning supplies and gift cards.
Hello Neighbor distributed the gift cards to Afghan refugees residing in Pittsburgh.
Sloane Davidson, Shady Side Academy graduate and Hello Neighbor’s founder and CEO, presented Nahata with the award during the organization’s Home Sweet Home fundraising gala.
“Deven is amazing,” Davidson said. “He’s the future of not only Pittsburgh, but dare I say what we want to see in this country. I think the future is bright with people like Deven in anyone’s corner, and we’re so incredibly honored to have him in ours.”
Deven’s grandparents immigrated from India to Pittsburgh during the late 1960s.
“That was what got me thinking about Hello Neighbor. My grandparents came here and struggled a lot because they really didn’t have much money when they came here,” Nahata said.
Lauren Cannon, a social studies teacher at Shady Side Academy, taught Deven in middle school.
“I was always struck by Deven’s maturity and consideration of others. He had an innate sense of justice and always quietly did what was right. In social studies classes, he readily wrestled with moral issues and demonstrated an aptitude for considering events from other’s perspectives,” Cannon said.
For Nahata, paying it forward is a priority.
“I really hope to help Hello Neighbor in any way I can. Most recently, I became a tutor for their Study Buddy program,” Nahata said.
He is tutoring a sixth grade student.
Nahata is a member of the Shady Side Academy golf team, a vice president on the debate team and enjoys watching sports.
After high school, he plans to study computer science.
