Pooja Nagpal

In 2016, five Indian-origin teens were announced as winners of the 2016 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Here are the stories of these five young leaders who are not only transforming their communities through their work, but are also encouraging others to take action.

A second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, Pooja Nagpal took martial arts training to a remote mountain village in India, and taught young girls how to defend themselves when she was just 15. Here's the inspiring story of this now 19-year-old, who was awarded the 2016 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.