Shanthi Hegde: High School CEO

Shanthi, a senior at Lambert High School in Georgia, has always been interested in Speech and Hearing Science. This interest combined with the personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage created by the pandemic, led to her founding Operation Masks Global, a collective of mask makers looking to serve their community. She took a few minutes out of her busy college application schedule to talk to us about how she was inspired to start this work and what she has learned in the process.

1. Tell us more about Operation Masks Global. What attracted you to this cause?

I am in the healthcare and biotechnology pathway at Lambert High School where I research at a local university and am interested in going into the healthcare field in the future. I understand how crucial it is to provide healthcare workers PPE.

During the beginning stages of the pandemic, I visited Kroger, Walmart, Publix, etc., and saw many of the workers did not have masks or gloves on. I was heartbroken that this basic protective equipment was not provided to these essential workers. Seeing the dire need for PPE in my local community and hearing about it at the hospitals made me want to do something to help.

I put out a call on the Forsyth County Place Facebook group and responses started flooding in through the google survey I posted. There were a lot of people in the county, across Georgia, and the U.S. that didn’t have access or couldn’t afford the masks they needed. I was truly inspired to make a change and started Operation Global Masks to provide masks for those in need.

During the 2020 Columbia University Girls in STEM summit, I conversed with a Speech Pathologist who stressed how difficult it was to communicate with her patients in this time of need. Masks cover half of the face which acts as a communication barrier for many people. I myself have a deaf cousin, so I understand that masks hinder communication for the hearing impaired.

Again, I was inspired — this time to design a mask that would help ALL people, especially those with hearing impairments and similar needs, better communicate and stay safe at the same time. These masks have a clear window enabling patients to see care providers’ lips when they are speaking through a 20-gauge clear plastic opening (which is proven breathable and safe to use). In our experimentation process, we are also testing different types of gauge in plastic and different types of clear plastic that would help transmit sound waves more often than absorb.

Via our website, we have created a centralized database where citizens can find places to both request and donate masks. The map feature on our site pinpoints locations in the United States that need masks and PPE. People who want to help can contact hospitals and other places directly and donate.

2. How has the organization grown and how do you hope it will continue to grow?

It has been exciting to see Operation Masks Global grow as something that started in my basement to a collective that has reached across the country. The map feature I developed for our website has allowed me to donate masks to NYU Langone, UT Austin, Emory University, families in Canada, Mexico, SLPs in New York, and families in Georgia. Through Operations Masks Global, my main goal was to bring change, positivity, and help others in this time of need. 

Currently my mom, friends, and I are sewing masks, 3D printing reusable masks, face shields, 3-D printed respirators, and ear guards to donate to anyone in need. We have worked to raise $1,000, donate 5,000+ masks to over 1,000+ families, hospitals, healthcare workers, and more all over the United States. Something that started as a project to help my community in need has fostered into a love for Speech Language Pathology. 

After working on the masks for the deaf, I wanted to spread the word about Speech Language Pathology through a series I recently started called the Lingua Project Podcast. I hope to connect with more SLPs, continue donating masks across the country, and share BIPOC SLP stories.

In addition to this podcast project, I’m hoping to start different Operations Mask branches across the United States. Post-pandemic, I also hope to keep this project sustainable by potentially mass producing the masks for the hearing impaired. I believe that working towards making these specialized masks more accessible will help break the communication barrier many are struggling with. I am hoping to collaborate with major manufacturers to try to get these mass-produced so those who are in need will be able to have these handy in different settings.

3. What were some of the challenges you faced in this process?

At times, it has been difficult for people to take me seriously because I am so young. There were companies and organizations who wouldn’t consider Operations Masks Global partnerships  because of my age. They didn’t believe I could spread the word. Although it was frustrating to not be seen professionally, I truly believe that age doesn’t matter when you are motivated to pursue something you are passionate about. I have been and continue to feel passionate about serving my community through this pandemic. 

In the beginning of my initiative, it was challenging to get Operation Mask Global up and running, especially since it started in the basement of my house. With minimal volunteers, supplies, donations, or helpers, I remember going out to JoAnn’s and buying yards of fabric out of my own pocket and feeling the excitement of making these masks with my mom. With only one sewing machine, I remember trading off with my mom as we worked through 2am and my exam season in the spring. We personally made 2 hour trips to deliver these masks to those who were in need. Although it took a lot of work and time in the beginning with minimal volunteers, these challenges pushed me to greater heights where I eventually was able to get the word out and raise money for donations, recruit volunteers, and buy new supplies like a 3D printer that would help me reach out and help those in need beyond Georgia.

4. What have you learned in this process?

I have learned the art of leadership and connected with my community more deeply. It has been so inspiring hearing different stories and perspectives in my community. I had nurses tell me stories about their experience before and during the pandemic. I’ve listened to members of low-income families as they shared the hardships they have faced with job loss. 

Connecting with so many different members of my community also taught me how many inequities exist in this nation. The Black Lives Matter movement in particular has increased my awareness about the racial divides in our country. I had the opportunity to donate masks to the movement and contribute to the fight for justice by keeping our community safe. 

I’ve learned that everyone has a different history, and it's been an incredible experience learning about different cultures and realities.

5. Is there anything else you would like to share?

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all those who have helped me in this process, especially my mentor, Mrs. Nia Thomas! I think it is really important during this current devastating situation to spread positivity and come together as a community. COVID-19 has affected a lot of people in different ways. I feel grateful to be a change agent for good. I love seeing people smile and being a servant-leader in my community as a girl scout and young scientist.

To learn more, you can visit our website. There you will be able to join us, donate, or request orders for masks. We have a growing network of sewers, and we would love to help you out in this time of need. We also have a slack on our website, which is a channel that connects mask makers all around the United States. Finally, we have a donations tab for anyone that wants to donate. You can also follow @operationsmasksglobal on Instagram to see updates on what we are doing and how we are making a difference. 

None of this would have been possible were it not for the volunteers and people who donated funds. It has been the community giving back to the community and we are humbled to play a part in this.

Shanthi Hegde

This HS Senior started Operation Masks Global from her basement.