Dylan Mahalingam

United States of America

Dylan Mahalingam is an extraordinary young philanthropist, child welfare, environmental activist, and social entrepreneur most
famous for founding Lil’ MDGs, a non-governmental organization that seeks to encourage children from all over the world in
supporting the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by utilizing the power of the Internet through digital
and social media.

Why Dylan Mahalingam is Extraordinary

Dylan Mahalingam is an extraordinary young philanthropist, child welfare and environmental activist, and social
entrepreneur that is most famous for founding Lil’ MDGs, a non-governmental organization that seeks to encourage
children from all over the world in supporting the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by
utilizing the power of the Internet through digital and social media.

What’s so amazing about this organization is, since its inception way back Dylan was only nine years old, the
foundation has grown so large that it now has over 24,000 regular youth volunteers who actively participate in
furthering the goals of Lil’ MDGs.

Lil’ MDGs’ Raise $10,780,000 for Tsunami and Hurricane

Victims
Through his foundation Lil’ MDGs, Dylan was able to reach out to thousands of children from over forty one
countries all over the world and encourage them to actively engage in helping societies worldwide through giving
financial aid to relief operations, and raising money for the construction of several establishments that are key to a
community’s growth. In fact, through Lil’ MDGs, Dylan was able to raise over 780,000 dollars to provide relief for
tsunami victims, and has raised over 10 million dollars for hurricane victims all across the world.

By mobilizing thousands of children online, Dylan was also instrumental in the construction of a dormitory in Tibet,
a school playground for the AIDS orphans in Uganda, and a mobile hospital for the citizens of India. In an interview
with Dylan, he summarized the work of Lil’ MDGs in this statement:

“Our work has focused on transforming entire communities in sustainable ways, and our work has the ability to
have a positive impact on both the current and future generations. Our work sets the foundation for children in
each community we work with, but we also present the opportunity for every child to be born into the
community to become beneficiaries of our work. Our approach on building self-sustaining communities involves
the communities taking ownership, thereby creating the potential for the community to become independent and
confident to create a better future for itself with the resources provided to it.”
Caring for the Environment through Green Your Lives
If you think that Dylan has his hands full with his work with Lil’ MDGs due to his young age, you will be surprised
that this boy wonder is actively engaged with other philanthropic organizations. Aside from Lil’ MDGs, Dylan also
founded Green Your Lives, a project focused on environmental care and awareness on the current state of our
environment.

Joining Nestle Youth Foundation, Kodomo MDGs, and Under

the Acacia Foundation
He currently serves as a board member of the Nestle Youth Foundation and as the president of the Japanese youth
organization Kodomo MDGs. Dylan is also the Chief Strategist and Project Ambassador of Under the Acacia
Foundation, a non-profit organization whose work is focused on communities in Africa.

Dylan also goes around the world, speaking in various conferences and charitable events, constantly encouraging
and empowering children to do their part in changing not just their society, but the world. He says often during
interviews:

“I would have to say that the main message is to use our success with Lil’ MDGs as a source of inspiration to
learn that they too can make a difference in a global way. I want them to realize that they are never too young
to make change.”

Due to his continuous work in making the world a better place to live, Dylan has been a recipient of numerous
awards, honors, and accolades from big names in the philanthropic industry. Several times he has received a
presidential award for his efforts in promoting child welfare and environmental care, and he has been invited in
numerous occasions to be honoured by the very foundations that he has supported, which simply shows the kind of
influence that Dylan has.

Dylan has also been included in several lists of young people that have made a huge impact on the world, such as the
Youth Service America’s list of the 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People in the World.

Lil’ MDGs, Inspired by the United Nation’s Millennium

Development Goals
One reason for Dylan’s success in running Lil’ MDGs has been his perspective in helping people. Whenever he goes
out to speak on stage, he always reminds his audience that every small action has a big impact in some way, and that
even the smallest effort from a little child can help make a huge difference in the life or lives of people not just in his
community, but even on the other side of the world. This is what encouraged Dylan to do what he is doing today. He
knows that everyone wants to help; they just don’t know where to start. Dylan said in an interview:

“After seeing how small actions on our part can help the most marginal and vulnerable kids worldwide to
realize their full potential, I am inspired to continue to provide the tools and resources they need to make their
dreams come to fruition.”

Another extraordinary trait that Dylan possesses is his amazing ability to look into something and see the great
potential that it has for helping others. Since Lil’ MDGs inception, Dylan has constantly utilized the vast, almost
unlimited potential, of the Internet to help people from all over the world become involved in helping citizens of
countries plagued by poverty, tragedy and sickness.

He capitalized on the influence of online social media and digital media, and used them to educate people about the
United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. When he is asked during interviews about the help of the Internet
on what he does, he answers:

“I have always been fascinated with technology and the power of the Internet. Our organization has been
fortunate to capitalize on the fact that the Internet is an excellent communications medium and we have used
Facebook, Twitter, secure online forums, and YouTube, to name a few, to develop dialogs between our
organization and our target audience. We began using these social media platforms to spread awareness to our
target group. In addition, we have also shared facts about global issues, including childhood poverty, at
conferences that we have attended in various countries.”
But apart from all the things that Dylan has been able to accomplish, one thing that sets him above the rest is his
outstanding humility and great esteem for other people. In many of his interviews and speeches, he constantly makes
it known to his audiences that the reason behind the success of his organizations and projects is not him, but the
people who have responded to the call and gave their time, effort, and money in making sure that the goals are
achieved.

Dylan also places great honour on the people who mentored him, often stating that he would never have reached the
status he is enjoying today had it not been for the people who supported him and taught him. In an interview, Dylan
stated:

“I have had several mentors who have helped me over the past six years. None of what I have been able to do
and what Lil’ MDGs has been able to accomplish would have been possible without the selfless mentorship of
individuals from various countries. Without this support system, Lil’ MDGs would not be where it is today.”

Currently, Dylan continues to work with several organizations to promote and fulfill the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals. After seeing how powerful and significant technology has been in making the world aware of
the projects that charitable organizations throughout the world has been doing, Dylan continues to further develop
ways to use technology for the benefit of mankind.

Organizations and Programmes Supported

• Lil’ MDGs
• Green Your Lives
• United Nations Millennium Development Goals
• Under the Acacia
• Jayme’s Fund for Social Justice
• The 7 Campaign
• UN Global Forum on ICT and Development
• Nestle Youth Foundation
• CrowdOutAids
• New Eyes for the Needy
• Build-a-Bear Workshop
• We Are Family Foundation
• Kodomo MDGs

Awards and Achievements

• 2005 Received the Daily Point of Light Award
• 2005 Inducted into the Kids Hall of Fame at the Huntington Townhouse in NYC
• 2005 Received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Bronze Level)
• 2005 Received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Gold Level)
• 2005 Named as the Radio Disney Kid of the Month
• 2006 Received the Presidential Call to Service Award (Lil’ MDGs)
• 2007 Received the Global Perspectives Award in ThinkQuest International
• 2007 Included in the 20 Teens Who Will Change the World by Teen People
• 2009 Received the Environmental Leader of the Future Award from the United States Environmental Protection
Agency
• 2009 Received the Environmental Merit Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency
• 2009 Received the President’s Environment Award from President Barack Obama
• 2009 Received the World Summit Youth Award
• 2009 Named as the Very Best in Youth by Nestle USA
• 2009 Honored by the We Are Family Foundation at the 7th Annual WAFF Celebration
• 2010 Received the Daily Point of Light Award
• 2011 Received the Harris Wofford Youth Award
• 2011 Included in the 50 Most Influential People
• 2012 Included in the 25 Most Powerful and Influential Young People in the World by Youth Service America
• 2012 Received the National All-Around Student Scholarship
• Inducted into the National Junior Honor Society

“What we really need to do is not only accept and appreciate our

differences but leverage our diversity.”