By Sai Mohith Vissa


The Photograph That Changed Everything 

There are moments in life that quietly change the direction of your journey. For me, that moment began with a photograph. 

Photography had always been more than a hobby. It was a way of observing the world, capturing emotions, and telling stories that words often could not. I still remember the excitement of looking through a camera viewfinder and freezing a moment in time. Every photograph felt like a story waiting to be shared. 

But life had other plans. 

Born with vision in only one eye, I later lost sight in the other after multiple surgeries for retinal detachment. For a long time, I believed my photography journey had come to an end.  The camera that once brought me so much joy became something I thought I would never use again. 

Then came an unexpected turning point. 

The photograph I believed would be my last became my first major recognition.

In 2025, I was recognized among the Top 8 winners of the Global Ability Photography  Challenge (GAPC), organized by Youth4Jobs Foundation in partnership with UNESCO India  and UN India. Seeing my work displayed at UNESCO House, New Delhi, was a moment that reignited something within me.

Yet, the award itself was only a part of the story. 

What truly stayed with me were the conversations. 

During the event, I met professionals, changemakers, and leaders who encouraged me to  think beyond my own journey. One such conversation introduced me to the UNICEF Young  People’s Action Team (YPAT) and inspired me to apply. The idea of bringing an inclusion and  accessibility lens into youth-led spaces deeply resonated with me. 

That single conversation would soon open another chapter of my life.

From Photography to Advocacy 

A few months later, I was selected as one of four young changemakers representing India in UNICEF South Asia’s Young People’s Action Team (SAR YPAT), joining a regional cohort of  around 35 young leaders from nine countries across South Asia. 

For the first time, I found myself collaborating with passionate young people working across  diverse themes, from education and climate action to youth participation and social  protection. 

Through YPAT, I had the opportunity to design, plan, and facilitate initiatives that brought  young voices together. One of the experiences I am particularly proud of was helping  facilitate the Youth Action Café: South Asia Edition, creating a space where young changemakers from different youth networks could connect, collaborate, and learn from one  another. 

I also had the opportunity to engage directly with UNICEF professionals through youth-led conversations and knowledge-sharing sessions, gaining insights into how meaningful change is shaped through collaboration and participation. 

One of the most significant milestones in my journey was becoming part of the drafting team for the “Children & Youth Statement on Safe, Inclusive & Empowering AI,” developed  in collaboration with UNICEF India and presented at the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026.

That experience taught me a lesson I carry with me every day: 

Not every contribution receives immediate recognition. Sometimes small efforts,  conversations, and actions quietly accumulate until one day they become part of something  much larger than ourselves. 

It helped me understand that impact is rarely created through a single moment. It is built through consistency, collaboration, and a willingness to keep showing up. 

The Long Wait, The Open Door, and What Comes Next

While my advocacy journey was growing, another dream remained close to my heart. 

For over a year, I looked for an opportunity to enter the field of Digital Accessibility. As a student pursuing graduation, finding meaningful learning opportunities was often challenging. Many doors seemed closed before I even had the chance to knock. 

Yet I continued to learn, explore, and prepare myself. 

Then came SaralX Launchpad. 

What made this opportunity special was not just the training itself, but the belief behind it. SaralX looked beyond degrees and conventional qualifications. Instead, it recognized dedication, curiosity, and the willingness to learn. 

Through Launchpad, I was finally able to begin my journey in Digital Accessibility Testing while also taking my first steps toward professional and financial independence. 

For someone who had spent years searching for the right opportunity, that moment meant everything. 

Today, I am grateful to continue growing as an accessibility professional while also continuing my advocacy journey. I am equally honored to continue contributing through UNICEF India for another year, helping bring accessibility, inclusion, and youth participation into conversations where they matter most. 

Looking back, it is incredible to think that a single photograph led me here.

From photography to advocacy. 

From advocacy to accessibility. 

From personal passion to meaningful purpose. 

My journey is still unfolding, and I know there is much more to learn. But one belief continues to guide me every step of the way: 

“Inclusion is all about opening doors, not drawing lines.” 

That is the future I hope to contribute to—a future where every young person has the opportunity to participate, create, lead, and thrive. 

One conversation. 

One opportunity. 

One open door at a time.