Core Team

Founder

Lenora Felix

Class 7 · Trivandrum International School

I am a 12-year-old student of Class 7 at Trivandrum International School, and I believe that age should never be a limit to making a difference.

I enjoy academics, sports, dance, elocution and leadership, but the one thing I value the most is being able to use what I learn and what I can do to help others.

The idea for Beacon by the Bay began one summer afternoon when I saw women in my community struggling to support their children financially and keep them in school. I kept thinking about how difficult it must be to provide for your family and not always have the opportunity to earn enough. I wanted to do something that could create not just help, but an opportunity.

That thought became ‘Beacon by the Bay’.

Through candle-making, I hope to help women develop a skill that can become a source of income and confidence. What began as a small idea has taught me that meaningful change does not always have to start with something big. Sometimes, it begins with simply noticing a problem and deciding that you cannot walk past it.

Candle-Making Lead & Trainer

Mrs. Adreena Jeff

Every strong idea needs someone who helps turn it from a thought into something real. For Beacon by the Bay, that person has been my Aunt and Candle Expert Trainer - Adreena Jeff.

Adreena originally worked with resin art, but when Beacon by the Bay began taking shape, she took on the challenge of learning candle making herself. She then passed that skill on to me, becoming the person who helped me understand not just how to make a candle, but how much patience, precision and practice goes into making one well.

She helped me professionally train the women in our project, spending hours teaching them techniques, correcting mistakes and helping them build confidence in their work. From handling wax and colours to wick placement and finishing, she has been closely involved in the learning process.

But her contribution doesn’t stop at training. Adreena is involved in packing, product preparation, brainstorming ideas and solving the many little problems that come with building something from scratch.

There have been moments when the project felt difficult, but she kept showing up, figuring things out and helping me move forward.

Beacon by the Bay may have started with my idea, but it has grown through both our hands.

For me, Adreena is not simply a team member. She is a mentor, trainer, problem-solver and creative partner who has helped turn a student’s idea into a real project.

Youth Outreach & Marketing Ambassador

J Jordina

Kanyakumari

Meet my partner in Crime for everything! At just 12 years old, Jordina has become an enthusiastic young ambassador for Beacon by the Bay in Kanyakumari district. She helps introduce our candles to people in her community, shares the story behind them, and helps create awareness about the women who make them.

Her role is not simply about selling a candle. She helps people understand that when they choose a Beacon by the Bay candle, they are supporting a project built around skills, dignity and livelihood opportunities.

“A small project can travel a long way when people are willing to carry its story.”

She talks about the project, connects us with potential supporters and helps spread the word among her family, friends and local community.

Her involvement also reflects something important to us: young people can contribute to social change in meaningful ways, even when they are still learning themselves.