A group of young entrepreneurs in the Kern High School District set out to bridge the gap between eager student volunteers and local nonprofit organizations. Recent Stockdale High School graduate, Shailesh Nagalingam, and his team of high school students from across the district created the platform Kern Volunteers United (KVU). The platform was designed to address a local challenge: connecting nonprofits with volunteers and helping students find meaningful opportunities to give back to their community.
As Community Service Director at his high school, Shailesh encountered a glaring disconnect: local nonprofits desperately needed volunteers, yet high school students like his club members struggled to find meaningful volunteer opportunities.
Determined to bridge this gap, Shailesh’s team embarked on a research project, surveying local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to understand the problem. The findings were clear: the challenge was not a lack of volunteers, but a lack of connectivity. It was this revelation that led to the birth of Kern Volunteers United (KVU).
The platform ingeniously connected NGOs to student volunteers through a centralized digital system, linking a secure website for NGOs with various social media platforms. This system not only streamlined communication but also brought to light the needs of smaller, lesser-known organizations.
Shailesh participated in ERC programs, Entrepreneurial Essentials & Endeavors, and Advanced Entrepreneurial Topics, where he obtained resources to transform his idea into an organization making real change. One concept in particular that Shailesh said helped him the most during his journey was learning about customer discovery.
“In the program, we learned the importance of customer discovery," said Shailesh. "This strategic approach enabled us to continuously refine our platform, ensuring it effectively met the needs of its users. The team's commitment to this iterative process led to the launch of four improved versions of the platform following the initial release, each one more attuned to the community's evolving requirements."
The app is continually being improved and is now in its fourth version. It is a user-friendly platform allowing nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities, set specific requirements, and easily communicate with interested student volunteers. On the other side, volunteers can browse opportunities and apply based on their interests and schedules.
In a successful launch, the KVU team garnered over 1,000 student volunteers who eagerly downloaded the app and signed up. The team then partnered with a local nonprofit, conducting a product test where the nonprofit achieved its goal of recruiting over 70 volunteers in less than two days. Looking ahead, the KVU team plans to expand and collaborate with additional nonprofits.