An unforgettable mission
Sophomore Nandini Shyamala founds Alzheimer’s Awareness club to raise awareness
Sophomore Nandini Shyamala plans to visit Alzheimer’s patients in nursing homes with the YMAA club. “When Alzheimer’s patients interact with other people, their brains are stimulated and they don’t go into the late stages as soon,” Shyamala said.
November 28, 2020
Millions of Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s, a disease that causes a loss of memories and identity. Sophomore Nandini Shyamala founded the Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s club (YMAA) to raise awareness about this disease.
“The club is actually a chapter of a larger non-profit organization. Our specific club’s mission is divided into five different branches: outreach, research, fundraising, events, and web development. Our main mission is awareness and volunteering.” Shyamala said.
Shyamala has a personal reason for starting the club.
“This club [was founded] because of my grandmother who is in her late stages of Alzheimer’s. Watching her slowly lose herself to this terrible disease, and knowing that there is nothing we can do to help her, made me realize that serious change and awareness needs to take place.” Shyamala said.
The YMAA club provides awareness opportunities for students interested in helping Alzheimer’s patients.
“We want to make as many events as we can to ensure that not only the TJ community, but the community in Northern Virginia knows about Alzheimer’s.” Shyamala said.
YMAA hosted a nationwide, virtual, youth town hall for high school and college students last month. Speakers from Harvard and Stanford research teams informed students about the causes and effects of Alzheimer’s. The club plans to continue hosting these events to awareness.
“Our next event is in December: a Christmas Game and Reading Night. We’re going to reach out to Alzheimer’s care taking centers and nursing homes, and hopefully pair up with a few patients. Just to play simple board games and give Alzheimer’s patient’s an opportunity to talk to other people outside of their homes.” Shyamala said.
By hosting events, the YMAA club hopes to lead change at TJ.
“Change and awareness needs to take place so we can tackle this disease head on,” Shyamala said, “starting with awareness in the TJ community”.
