Youth Changemaker | Student Advocate for Water Security

Krishna Pegadaraju is a Grade 10 student from San Diego and a 2026 India Philanthropy Alliance High School Finalist. His work focuses on water insecurity and its impact on health, education, and rural communities, particularly the challenges faced by women and girls. 

Through his writing and advocacy, Krishna highlights practical approaches to water conservation, clean-water access, school WASH facilities, and the role young people can play in creating social impact. He envisions building student-led initiatives that connect youth in the United States with meaningful water-security projects in India. 

At TALTalks San Diego 2026, Krishna brings an important youth perspective on how awareness, technology, philanthropy, and collective action can help address one of the world’s essential challenges.