Dylan Mahalingam

Dylan Mahalingam

Dylan Mahalingam co-founded Lil’ MDGs, a unique international development and youth empowerment organization based inNew Hampshire, at the age of 9. Lil’ MDGs’ mission is to leverage the power of the internet, digital, and social media to educate, engage, inspire, and empower children in all corners of the world to forward the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To date, they have mobilized over 3 million children worldwide to work on a variety of issues. They now have more than 24,000 regular volunteers hailing from 41 countries.

Dylan travels internationally to speak at UN conferences, summits, schools, and various youth groups. Dylan is the Chief Strategist and Project Ambassador for Under the Acacia, a non-profit organization working on projects in Africa. In this capacity, Dylan was part of an international team that helped build a school for a remote Maasai community inLoita,Kenya. After two years of fund-raising, the school opened its door in Jan 2010 and now has an enrollment of 209 students.

Dylan serves as an organizing partner and panel chair for the World Summit Youth Award events held under the umbrella of the UN Global Forum on ICT and Development. Dylan also serves on the National Board of Directors member for the Nestle Very Best in Youth Foundation and as President of the Board for the international non-profit Kodomo MDGs inJapan. Recipient of numerous international and national honors, Dylan was recognized as one of Teen People’s “20 teens that will change the world.” Dylan has also been recognized by The Most Rev. Dr. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as by three U.S. Presidents.

Dylan is 15 years old and is a junior at Pinkerton Academy.