Adhrucia Apana couldn't turn her back on the children she saw living in poverty in India. So, the Indian Hill High School student from Kenwood started a kiosk business, donating proceeds to Mother Teresa's orphanage in India, where she worked for one week last summer.

        For this and other work, the 17-year-old high school senior has won a Lighthouse Vision Award for Service to Youth.

        Lighthouse Youth Services gives awards annually to youths for outstanding contributions as volunteers. Three individual winners and one student group will be honored Jan. 20 at Kenwood Towne Centre.

        “I like the feeling of helping people,” Ms. Apana said. “I like the reaction you get. No one can give me a better gift in the world then have someone smile at me and say, "Thank you for all that you've done.'”

        Her drive to help children began in her sophomore year when she and three classmates raised $2,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She liked the feeling she got from helping others, so she started Child by Child, an organization in which children help other children.

        She and her two younger sisters ran a kiosk at Kenwood Towne Centre during summer 1999, selling hair decorations, fragrances and other items imported from India.

        They are working on establishing a Web-based business at www.childbychild.com, where they sell handbags made by Indian families, jewelry and other items.

        Ms. Apana continues Child by Child by enlisting classmates and friends in food, clothing and cookie drives for needy children. She also helped initiate the local chapter of Child Relief & You (CRY), an international organiza tion dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide.

        All of her work raises money and awareness about poor children in the United States and India.

        “It is unusual to see a teen-ager involved in serving the community in such a consistent and dedicated way,” said Dr. Sanjeev Ahuja of Kenwood, a neighbor who nominated her. “ She gives selflessly of her time and her own money for the completion of her projects for the community.”

        Other Lighthouse Vision Awards winners:
       

Service to Adults
Winner: Trudy Hoffard, 17, of Batavia, a Glen Este High School senior.
               Ms. Hoffard's volunteer work last summer at Stepping Stones, which provides programs for people with disabilities, was so rewarding that she plans to return over spring break and this summer.

        She clocked 180 hours in the Adult Rehabilitation Program, working with severely handicapped individuals to foster independence and improve quality of life. She took them on walks and helped them with crafts, specialized physical education exercises and swimming.
       

Service to Community
Winner: Mark Grome, 18, of Bridgetown, a LaSalle High School senior.
               Mr. Grome attended a program called TACKLE,(Teens Advocating Change through Knowledge, Leadership and Experience) through his church youth group. He learned about problems facing the homeless and wanted to do something.

        So, the LaSalle varsity wrestler initiated a program called “Help Wrestle the Weather,” which collected warm clothing for the needy.

        Mr. Grome, with help from his coach and the wrestling team, turned the idea into a school- wide project.
       

Youth Groups in Service
Winner: Aiken High School Student Leadership Team.
               “Learning by Serving Others” is the motto of the Aiken team.

        Thirty students from the diverse student body comprise a committee organizing projects and programs to help others in need. The day before the award was announced to the students, they had visited two senior citizen centers, distributing holiday gifts and singing carols. The group has also forged friendships with other student leadership groups in 14 neighborhoods served by Aiken.

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