Lasya Penumalli — WellNest

Caregiving is a role that many young people step into, whether for parents, grandparents, or siblings, often without realizing the toll it can take on their own mental health. For Lasya, this challenge her motivation to build WellNest, a youth-friendly digital platform designed to support caregivers in prioritizing their emotional well-being.

What is WellNest?

At its core, WellNest is a mobile and web application built with React Native, JavaScript, and TypeScript. It brings together a unique blend of technology and psychology to create a safe, supportive space for caregivers.

Key features include:

• AI-powered mood tracking with journaling and visual progress charts

• Guided reflections and tools to encourage self-care

• Positive affirmations with animations for daily motivation

• A supportive community forum, monitored with sentiment analysis to detect early signs of burnout

• Expert-verified resources and videos, developed in collaboration with licensed psychologists

These tools work together to ensure that caregivers, especially youth, have an accessible, stigma-free avenue to take care of their own mental health while they care for others.

Real-World Impact

A peek into one of Lasya's wellness sessions in government schools in India, where she is raising awareness about caregiver mental health and introducing WellNest to young people.

Since submitting to YCS' Code for Wellness Competition, WellNest has become a support network. Lasya has tirelessly iterated on the app, redesigning login and registration for web compatibility, fixing bugs on journaling features, and adding user guidance to make navigation smoother.

Today, 15 caregivers are actively using WellNest, regularly engaging with journaling, affirmations, and mood tracking. Partnerships have been key to this growth:

• Standard Sunrise Foundation, a local NGO, has been instrumental in introducing the app to caregivers in need.

• Professional psychologists have validated the app’s approach and contributed wellness videos.

• School wellness sessions have expanded awareness, helping young people better understand caregiver mental health

These collaborations has grown WellNest into a changemaking app, supporting the mental health of caregivers.

Scaling the Vision

Lasya is not stopping here. Her next steps include:

• Partnering with four additional NGOs to broaden outreach

• Launching a project website with a blog and caregiver testimonials

• Securing validation from her city’s Ministry of Health for credibility

• Hosting awareness sessions in hospitals, care homes, and community centers

• Expanding WellNest across states in India, bringing its impact to even more communities

The Role of YCS

Lasya credits the Young Coders' Sphere (YCS) as a turning point in her journey. Through YCS, she learned the value of refining her project, prioritizing user experience, and seeking constant feedback. Meeting other young innovators inspired her to push WellNest further, beyond coding, into partnerships, outreach, and long-term sustainability.

As she reflects:

“This project has been more than just a technical challenge. It has been a personal journey of learning, persistence, and growth. YCS showed me how to take an idea and shape it into something that can truly help people.”

Looking Ahead

From a rough concept to a functioning platform now on the Google Play Store and web, WellNest is proof of how technology can be reimagined as a tool for mental health and wellness. Lasya’s vision stands out as one that contributes greatly into a culture of making caregivers feel seen and supported.

As she continues to scale WellNest with partners, psychologists, and community leaders, her story is a reminder that innovation isn't just about technology. Instead, it's about innovating with compassion and a mission to drive positive change.