MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE
This eleven-year-old UN delegate is steadfastly advocating for causes closest to her generation’s heart — from child rights and cyber safety to sustainability, peace, and inclusive futures. Maxima Poonia speaks to MOSAIC about navigating the spaces between school, society, and global policy to make every child’s voice count
Interview by Voice of Mosaic
When Philip Barantini’s psychological crime drama Adolescence premiered last March, it brought to the fore how cyberbullying can affect not just a teenager’s life but also the ecosystem around such emotionally vulnerable humans. Such is the world, cluttered with rapidly shape-shifting phenomena called social media, we live in today that young children are being hurled involuntarily into virtual realms where they have to constantly navigate through manipulative influences, and peer pressure, while not being misled by such overbearing formats.
In the series, 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested as a suspect for the murder of his classmate Katie Leonard. A carefully constructed plot reveals that the victim had actually cyberbullied the boy after rejecting his romantic advances, which motivated him towards the heinous, impulsive act.
At this juncture, it is fair to mention voices that are engineering an awareness against digital dangers that’re creeping into mainstream consciousness every single hour. Maxima Poonia, from Jaipur, might be two years short of the protagonist in Adolescence, but her quiet yet powerful opinions and decisions are shaping significant conversations on some of the world’s most crucial issues.
Growing up, Maxima was influenced by her family’s commitment to community service through the RCF Foundation — an organisation founded in 2013 that seeks complete upliftment of underprivileged communities. The young girl recalls her early visits to communities with her parents where she met and saw the lives of people starkly different from her. Such exposure to inequality, at a tender age, ignited in her a deep sense of responsibility, propelling her towards advocacy. Sustainability, she believes, should be human-centered wherein Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a means to safeguard the dignity, safety, and future of every child. For the young pre-teen, small gestures do have a transformative impact.
But mere witnessing wouldn’t make the cut for this girl, who forayed into youth advocacy when she should have been blissfully going through the familiar rhythms of school life. As she met out-of-school children with untapped potential, often stifled by circumstances, she realized that meaningful change required action more than empathy.
A sad incident of cyberbullying in a Jaipur school, apart from other untoward experiences, led Maxima, toughened and wiser by now, to launch Cyber Smart Kids — an initiative focused on online safety, responsible digital behaviour, and mindful technology use. Through workshops, peer support, and community engagement, the youngster has championed digital well-being as well as inspired children to become responsible digital citizens.
Her work, however, doesn’t end at cyberspace; Maxima is involved with everything from children’s safety and responsible technology to peace and inclusion. With SDG Aware Kids, she translates complex global goals into relatable lessons for children, empowering them to see themselves as active participants in building sustainable, inclusive futures. Her experiences have turned her into a new kind of leader, one who does not wait for the adults around her to shape the world.
Her efforts have been noticed at national and international forums. From representing India at the AYIMUN in Bangkok and the UN ESCAP Headquarters to addressing the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on National Girl Child Day, she has participated in multiple global events as a young delegate and advocate for child right to education and social impact. “The future we are building must not only be high-tech, but also high-heart,” the enterprising girl shares the mantra guiding her endeavours
MOSAIC: How did the leap from observing social issues to leading your own initiatives happen?
Maxima: Growing up, I was always aware of vulnerable communities. I often joined my family at the RCF Foundation. I would visit and interact with families, which helped me to look at life from their perspectives. A turning point came when I met a child who had never attended formal school. He was full of ideas, and quite creative, but lacked opportunities. Experiencing several gaps in our society from the lack of educational support for children from disadvantaged families and campaigns on internet safety for children, to the absence of young voices in important discussions, led me to start SDG Aware Kids. This initiative highlights the key issues faced by society. I also started Cyber Smart Kids to address digital safety and awareness, bring internet literacy in the true sense.
MOSAIC: Speaking out on sensitive issues isn’t easy at a young age. Did you ever feel adults didn’t take you seriously, or did you face insecurities?
Maxima: I’ve been very fortunate actually. My school, the teachers and my parents have always supported me and encouraged open conversations. Not everyone has that!
MOSAIC: Why did cyberbullying become your urgent call-to-action?
Maxima: A close friend of mine had faced cyberbullying and was too scared to report it. She confided in me, and together we reported and resolved the issue. It struck me that many children face this alone. You can imagine what it would do to them. That’s when I decided to create something meaningful, so that kids are aware about the lurking danger, the actions to take, the do’s and don’ts.
MOSAIC: What actions can one take in case of cy-ber-bullying?
Maxima: Report the bullying to a trusted adult or school authority. If that doesn’t help, report it to the cyber department of local police authorities. Technology is about responsibility, values, and emotional well-being, not just access. I encourage children to reach out to me or any trusted adult, and I try to help in my community through the various platforms that I am part of.
“A sustainable future cannot exist if children are unsafe, unheard, excluded, or left behind”
MOSAIC: Why is it important for young people to lead these conversations?
Maxima: Children live these problems making our perspective essential for real solutions. Adults can’t always see what we go through, so our voices matter. From climate change, alarming air pollution levels, cyberbullying, access to quality education-for-all, health and well-being; children are highly impacted and if they participate in the global discussions as stakeholders, they contribute from awareness to action.
“No matter where we come from, we share the same hope; to be heard, to be safe and a chance to do something meaningful”
MOSAIC: But doesn’t all this get too weighty for your young shoulders when you could have just been a regular school girl?
Maxima: I do not see my work and my childhood as separate things. I still enjoy spending time with my friends, going to school, creating art, learning music, and having fun. The difference is that I also enjoy using my voice to help other children and contribute to causes that matter to me. Both are equally important. For me, advocacy is not a burden; it has only expanded my world.
MOSAIC: What perception shifts in adults would you like to impact with your work?
Maxima: Many times our elders do not take us seriously. Adult attitude and pedagogy can impact how kids lead their lives in the long run. If adults were more receptive to the idea that children can make important contributions, a lot of us would be more confident to bring our ideas to the table. That’s why platforms like UN forums are important. They highlight that young voices matter, that we have valuable perspectives, and that we deserve to be heard.
MOSAIC: You have a good academic and extracurricular record. How do you balance that with advocacy?
Maxima: It is tough! But, I try to blend my advocacy work and studies by applying what I learn in both areas. I use interdisciplinary learning, so my work benefits my school life. My school is also my support system other than my parents, and while I also advocate for quality education, my parents surely teach me its value personally.
MOSAIC: Does it ever get overwhelming? What do you do to recharge?
Maxima: Yes, it can be overwhelming with exams, conferences, speeches, and workshops. I engage in creative activities, I go to the park, or travel with family to places across Rajasthan or Uttarakhand. Expressing myself in different ways surely helps. Dancing, be it Kathak or hip-hop, playing the guitar, journaling, taekwondo, basketball, the list goes on.
MOSAIC: What kind of books or films do you gravitate to? What or who keeps inspiring you?
Maxima: I love historical fiction and books about leadership, culture, and innovation. I believe they help me perceive the world better. Naturally, I draw a lot of inspiration from the things and people I read about, but also from the people I meet through my work and travel.
MOSAIC: You often say the future should be ‘high-heart’ as well as high-tech. What does a high-heart digital world look like to you?
Maxima: Technology should help us stay compassionate, and connected. A ‘high-heart’ world keeps empathy at the center of innovation. It means using technology not just for addressing and advocating on global issues but enabling people to connect for a happier and sustainable world. Ultimately, a high-heart digital world is one where progress is measured not only by technological breakthroughs but by the positive impact we have on each other’s lives.
MOSAIC: How do you see your role in the future?
Maxima: My dream is to use advocacy and action, create programs and connections that bring young people and decision-makers closer. I want a world where children are genuinely trusted, heard, and invited to shape the future. Progress must mean a world that is kinder and deeply human. Peace begins when people learn to listen, respect differences, and care for one another.