Aditi Poddar

Develop Social Enterprises (Bagar, RJ)

Aditi Poddar is from New Delhi. She graduated with a Bachelors in Economics from Pune University and has a postgraduate degree in Economics and Finance from the University of York. Aditi has lived in the UK, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently, she interned with the United Nations on a post-tsunami recovery and rehabilitation program in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. For the August 2009 Fellowship, Aditi is partnered with the Grassroots Development Laboratory in Bagar, Rajasthan where she will be assisting in the development of social enterprises and sustainable livelihood solutions. Aditi hopes to carry forward her experience at GDL into the field of development policy planning which she wishes to pursue as a career. Aditi is a trained Kathak and Salsa dancer. She also enjoys trekking, scuba diving and photography.

aditi09@indicorps.net

Alykhan Mohamed

Urban Infrastructure Design (Bhuj, GJ)

Alykhan Mohamed graduated from Tufts University in 2009, majoring in Architectural Studies and Russian & Eastern European Studies. As an undergraduate student, he taught ESL at a local program for refugees from El Salvador, served as a co-director at the St James Summer Homeless Shelter, and spent four months studying at St. Petersburg State University. Within architecture, Alykhan is especially interested in concepts that promote environmental sustainability and social equity. He hopes to explore these interests at Hunnarshala as part of his Urban Infrastructure Design project in Bhuj, Gujarat. This is Alykhan\'s first time to India.

alykhan09@indicorps.net

Anjum Unwala

Simplify Science (Dedhuki, GJ)

Born in New Jersey, Anjum Unwala recently graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business. While at NYU, she served as a Resident Assistant for sophomore students and helped run Model United Nations as the Vice President. Most recently, the summer before joining the fellowship program, Anjum partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) with the mission of protecting the First Amendment rights. As an August 2009 Fellow, Anjum is partnered with Lok Mitra in Dedhuki, Gujarat to create a community science center to promote scientific critical thinking in everyday life.

anjum09@indicorps.net

Anoop Agarwal

Sports for Holistic Development (Ahmedabad, GJ)

Anoop Agarwal graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with a Bachelors in Economics and a minor in International Studies, Asian Languages and Cultures. After working two years in corporate finance, Anoop joins Ahmedabad Ultimate as an August 2009 fellow. With family from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Anoop is pleased to be in Gujarat to further the spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork, and the bond of humanity. His passion for sports has been a motivating factor throughout his life and he looks forward to sharing it with others. Anoop grew up in the Virgin Islands playing football on the beach, especially during hurricanes. Part of his inspiration for coming to India was his experience with Students Educating and Volunteering for Health Awareness (SEVFH) in which he spent six weeks in Bangalore, raising awareness for the harmful effects of tobacco.

anoop09@indicorps.net

Asha Gandhi

Utilize Recycling for Empowerment (Bhuj, GJ)

Originally from New Jersey, Asha Gandhi attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she majored in Operations Management and Economics. During her time in Philadelphia, she taught underprivileged children basic economic concepts in a partnership between Scholastic Achievement and Drexel University. After graduating in 2006, she worked as a project manager for a medical imaging company. Asha then joined Morgan Stanley in 2006 as an Operations Business Manager. Her project with Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) aims to improve the livelihood and self-respect within urban impoverished women in Bhuj. She will be assisting in the creation of sustainable models for women to encourage household recycling and modernize the views of recycled products.

asha09@indicorps.net

Geetha Mathews

Increase English-based Employment (Dharwad, KA)

After serving as an event producer in New York for four years, Geetha Mathews brings strong organizational and people skills to the Indicorps fellowship program. During her time at Boston University pursuing a Master’s in Psychology, Geetha held prominent leadership roles within the Programming Council and Student Activities Office with the goal of uniting a diverse student community. As an Event Producer at Empire Entertainment in New York, Geetha planned and executed large-scale events such as product launches and award shows with a focus on non-profit charity events. Geetha brings both professional and life skills to strengthening Vidya Poshak\'s Graduate Finishing School where she will be assisting in the empowerment of disadvantaged youth and increasing English-based employment.

geetha09@indicorps.net

Hardeep Bhatha

Public Health Business Management (Rajgurunagar, MH)

Hardeep Bhatha recently completed a post-graduate program in International Project Management at Humber College, Canada. Born and raised in Toronto, Hardeep has developed a passion for social development through involvement with various local youth and health organizations. Most recently, she promoted a city-wide Gang Prevention Project that aimed to minimize the risk factors for gang involvement among youth. As an August 2009 Indicorps fellow, Hardeep is partnered with Chaitanya to help create affordable health insurance for women living in rural areas. Hardeep hopes to bring her skills and knowledge to this project, but also hopes to gain a greater understanding of India and its cultural history. Hardeep chose Indicorps because of its focus on grassroots development in rural communities.

hardeep09@indicorps.net

Himabindu Reddy

Encourage Preventative Health Care (Rajgurunagar, MH)

As an August 2009 fellow, Himabindu Reddy is partnering with Chaitanya to promote the use of preventative health care among women in rural Maharashtra. Born in Andhra Pradesh, India and raised in Cary, North Carolina, Bindu graduated in 2009 from Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in Biology and Anthropology. As an undergraduate, she volunteered with Community Health in Partnership Services, a clinic providing free medical care to the local community. In this capacity, she served both in the clinic and in outreach efforts targeting at-risk populations for health screenings. In addition, Himabindu conducted clinical research studying the genetic basis of neonatal disease. Himabindu looks forward to the opportunity to work in public health at the grassroots level while reconnecting with her Indian roots.

himabindu09@indicorps.net

Kinnari Jhaveri

Public Health for Migrants (Ahmedabad, GJ)

While studying at the University of California, Berkeley, Kinnari (“Nina”) Jhaveri sought for a more integrative approach to modern health and science. After graduating in 2007, she joined a research team at the University of California, San Francisco, where she helped investigate the efficacy of a novel preventative health and stress reduction program that integrated mindfulness meditation with diet and exercise. Driven by her passion for preventative health, along with her love for India\'s strength of community, she joined the Indicorps Fellowship in 2009. Partnered with Aajeevika Bureau, Nina has returned to assist in the development of comprehensive health, counseling and guidance services tailored to the needs of migrant workers in Ahmedabad, Udaipur, and various source villages in southern Rajasthan. California-born and Mumbai-bred (from age 8 to 18), Nina enjoys sushi, Holi, and analyzing dreams.

kinnari09@indicorps.net

Laxmi Chhaya

Devise Public Health Messaging (Gadchiroli, Maharashtra)

Laxmi Chhaya joins the Indicorps Fellowship with a strong intention to serve India and understand her own role in service more deeply. Although Laxmi has visited India from a young age, it is only after she spent four months with Manav Sadhna, an NGO in Ahmedabad, that she developed a relationship with India and experienced the strong spirit of community. In 2008, Laxmi co-led Connect India’s Learning Journey program. After graduating from Aston University with a degree in Psychology and Management, Laxmi did advertising planning and social research. She hopes to apply these skills of understanding people to create behavioral change in her project at SEARCH in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Laxmi’s project aims to devise and communicate health messages amongst the local tribes and villages. By becoming a part of this community, Laxmi aspires to promote the importance of health interventions and welcomes the challenge of ensuring that good health is accessible to all.

laxmi09@indicorps.net

Mansi Goyal

Discovery through Science (Palavadu, Tamil Nadu)

Mansi Goyal is partnered with Madhya Pradeshbased Adharsila Learning Centre, a school that uses education to foster youth consciousness and empowerment while dissolving the teacher-student hierarchy. Mansi’s focus on science education should spark curiosity so as to encourage students to play active roles in their education as well as the world. Prior to joining Indicorps, Mansi spent a transformative month in South Africa learning how to apply these very same ideas of education through a peer HIV collaboration project. She also studied the life experiences of Haitian women in the Dominican Republic. Mansi holds a bachelors degree from the University of Michigan.

mansi09@indicorps.net

Nithya Krishnan

Devise Public Health Messaging (Gadchiroli, Maharashtra)

Nithya Krishnan graduated from Northwestern University in 2009 with a degree in Anthropology, Biochemistry and Global Health. In her second year of college she conducted a research project for her Biological Anthropology senior thesis to foster greater understanding of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, in rural and slightly urbanizing areas of Tamil Nadu. For her Fellowship, Nithya is partnered with the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH) in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra where she will be working with community members to devise public health messaging campaigns that will influence health and lifestyle in tribal areas.

nithya09@indicorps.net

Pooja Shahani

Community Radio for SHGs (Kanpur, UP)

Born and raised in bustling Hong Kong, Pooja Shahani’s fellowship project aims to create a sustainable radio program with women organized by Kanpur-based NGO Shramik Bharti. Pooja graduated from Middlebury College, Vermont with a Bachelors in English (Creative Writing) and Economics. During her college experience, Pooja discovered a passion for grassroots media as she explored various forms of media from writing articles to news broadcasting, to radio stories. In January 2008, Pooja interned with an Ahmedabad-based grassroots media organization Drishti Media. Pooja realized that media is a voice and a platform through which people care able to communicate their opinions, be aware of their rights and share their stories (which have universal relevance).

pooja09@indicorps.net

Pramal Lad

Increase English-based Employment (Dharwad, KA)

As an August 2009 fellow, Pramal will focus on increasing English-based employment in the region of Dharward, Karnataka. Paired with Vidya Poshak, his project will involve setting up and developing 12-week ‘Graduate Finishing Schools’ designed to increase the skills of local graduates from underprivileged backgrounds into professionals, suitable for well paid corporate employment. In addition to language skills, they will be taught analytical and communication skills combined with personal development and yoga. After completing his degree in Economics from the London School of Economics, Pramal joined the M&A tax team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, experiencing various parts of the firm including Business Development and Graduate Training. In 2008, Pramal co-organised the Learning Journey, an 8-day trip for British Indians to experience the Indian development sector. He was also a volunteer at Manav Sadhna, an Indian NGO for 3 months. The culmination of all his exposure to India and the NGO space inspired him to become part of the Indicorps August 2009 Fellowship class.

pramal09@indicorps.net

Preeyanka Shah

Energy Self Sufficiency (Saked, MP)

A native of Massachusetts, Preeyanka Shah graduated from Duke University in 2009 with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. As a fellow in the Techtronics program at Duke, she taught local middle school students to utilize and apply engineering concepts. She was also an active member of the Duke University Smart Home association (a group that explores sustainable, advanced living technologies) as well as a member of Duke Raas, one of Duke’s Indian dance teams. As an August 2009 Indicorps Fellow, Preeyanka is partnered with the Adharshila Learning Center in Madhya Pradesh. Her goal is to assist in the assessment of energy capabilities at the school\'s campus in hopes of building a more energy self-sufficient infrastructure. In the process, she plans to use these projects as a means of teaching the students about engineering, energy consumption and sustainability.

preeyanka09@indicorps.net

Rahul Brahmbhatt

Galvanize a Sports Culture (Ahmedabad, GJ)

After studying chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Rahul Brahmbhatt spent the past eight years working in engineering, sales, and marketing in a number of technical industries: oil and gas, water/waste water, chemical sales, and IT consulting. His work experiences, which range from the blue chip companies to start-ups, have taken him to many places, including China. Rahul’s personal experience and his travels, especially his observations of how the Chinese view sports, inspired his interest in sports and society. In an effort to combine his passion for sports, youth, and education, Rahul returned to school at George Mason University in 2008 to study Sports Management. At GMU, Rahul conducted research on how to increase the popularity of basketball in India. Rahul will apply these skills to advance the innovative grassroots momentum of Ultimate Frisbee in Ahmedabad. Rahul’s main objective is to cultivate a culture that embraces organized sports and realizes the long-term value it provides to Indian youth and their communities.

rahul09@indicorps.net

Raksha Joshi

Inspire Lessons Through Sport (Ahmedabad, GJ)

Raksha Joshi grew up in Louisiana and graduated with degrees in education and psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Raksha has student-taught kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade in low income schools in Austin. Her passion for teaching stems from the ability to learn in the process of teaching. She has returned to India in order to improve her Guajarati and learn more about herself through people as well as new and challenging situations. For her fellowship, she is partnered with Ahmedabad Ultimate. Raksha hopes to use the medium of sport to help educate children on the value of sportsmanship, team building, and leadership. In her free time, she enjoys reading, singing, dancing (from classical to garba), and having good conversations.

raksha09@indicorps.net

Rikin Tank

Public Health for Migrants (Ahmedabad, GJ)

Born and raised in Santa Maria, California, Rikin Tank recently graduated from UCLA. As one of the only premedical students majoring in International Development Studies, Rikin’s interests lie in the realm of healthcare development. His travels have exposed him to life and cultures throughout the world from Buenos Aires to Rajkot. As an August 2009 fellow, Rikin will be partenered with Aajeevika Bureau in Ahmedabad focusing on public health in migrant communities. When not partaking in garba-raas festivals, Rikin enjoys spending time with his family, eating his mother\'s food, and watching Hindi movies.

rikin09@indicorps.net

Rushi Sanathra

Nurture Rural Social Entrepreneurs (Dedhuki, GJ)

Rushi Sanathra graduated from the University of California, Irvine in fall of 2005, with a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and Sociology. While pursuing his undergraduate education, he studied abroad at the Delhi School of Economics in India. For the last three years, Rushi has served in various supply chain, product development and operations management roles for multinational corporations. In his spare time, he volunteers with Be the Cause and Seva Café in Long Beach. As an August 2009 fellow, he is partnering with Lok Mitra in implementing cutting-edge social entrepreneurship models to generate additional income for disadvantaged farmers. Rushi\'s long term plans are to create a social enterprise that donates a portion of its profits to social causes in South and Southeast Asia.

rushi09@indicorps.net

Sahil Chaudry

Develop Social Enterprises (Bagar, RJ)

As an August 2009 fellow, Sahil Chaudry joins the Grassroots Development Laboratory in Bagar, Rajasthan to help develop social enterprises with community participation. While pursuing a double major in political science and international relations at the University of Southern California, Sahil served as Student Body President representing the 16,000 undergraduate students to the USC administration. While at USC, Sahil also served as the President of the Southern California Indo Americans, a campus organization dedicated to promoting awareness of South Asian culture. Prior to joining Indicorps, Sahil worked in various fields including politics, the hotel industry, and the clothing industry.

sahil09@indicorps.net

Sashti Balasundaram

Promote Recycling at the Source (Pondicherry, TN)

As a 2009 fellow, Sashti Balasundaram is partnered with PondyCAN to advance sustainable development initiatives in Pondichery, Tamil Nadu. His particular activities will focus on recycling promotion at its source as well as environmental promotion and community health outreach. Sashti recently graduated from Columbia University, School of Public Health earning a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in environmental health and epidemiology. His interests include global health as it relates to environmental indicators, language and cultural immersion.

sashti09@indicorps.net

Shriya Palekar

Public Health Business Management (Rajgurunagar, MH)

As an August 2009 fellow, Shriya Palekar will assist in creating a health insurance initiative for rural families in Rajgurunagar, Maharashtra. Born in Mumbai and raised in New York, Shriya graduated from Cornell University in 2008 with a Bachelors in Economics and History. Her interest in economic development was nurtured during a year abroad at the London School of Economics, UK. As a student, Shriya was active in human rights campaigns for women in northern Uganda and South East Asia. She also helped organize a student initiative to fund small microfinance institutions in South Asia. Prior to joining Indicorps, Shriya was an analyst at an economic consulting firm in Washington, DC.

shriya09@indicorps.net

Silpa Kaza

Community-Driven Public Services (Bhuj, GJ)

Silpa Kaza graduated with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 2007 and a Masters in Economics from the London School of Economics in 2008. In both, Silpa focused on international development applications: Engineering design for the developing world and economics related to community based initiatives. Having gained policy perspective from the National Bureau of Economic Research, Silpa is eager to understand grassroots level development. For her fellowship year, Silpa will be partnered with Sahjeevanan, an organization that focuses on natural resources management (mainly water) through women\'s collectives in Bhuj, Gujarat. Silpa will focus on three projects in the urban slums: a solid waste management program, safe drinking water initiative, and city wide plastic bag ban campaign.

silpa09@indicorps.net

Simmi Dixit

Life Skills Counseling (Ahmedabad, GJ)

Simmi Dixit hails from a family of strong women in Ottawa Canada. Most recently, Simmi completed her Masters in Migration Studies at Sussex, UK. Simmi’s background is in social justice, youth empowerment and promoting anti-oppression frameworks in community development programs. Prior to joining Indicorps she served as a program coordinator, crisis intervention for survivors of domestic violence, researcher at a migration non-profit organization, and a baker. Simi loves to bake and cook. In addition, she loves reading, traveling, laughing, learning, spending time with friends and family.

simmi09@indicorps.net

Sutirtha Roy

Community-led City Modernization (Pondicherry, TN)

Sutirtha Roy. After graduating from Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS)- Goa Campus, Sutirtha is partnered with PondyCan in Pondicherry. He will be assisting the creation of sustainable infrastructure solutions. As a student, Sutirtha was an active volunteer with Nirmaan, an NGO enabling rural self-empowerment. Sutirtha also cherishes his 2008 summer internshipat the Vikram Sarabhai Science Center making young people enthusiastic about science. Most recently, he has managed his international alumni association\'s social front, BITS.aid, partnering with NGOs on development issues concerning India. Suthirtha believes that true change must begin at the grassroots level and he wants to fully live this message. He is as much in awe by the economics of Jeffery Sachs as by the magical riffs of Pink Floyd. Sutirtha has tremendous regard for doctors as \'healers.\' He dreams of creating an organization to empower economically-challenged women to realize their dreams of becoming doctors.

sutirtha09@indicorps.net

Vivake Prasad

Develop Social Enterprises (Bagar, RJ)

Born and raised in New Jersey, Vivake Prasad recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a double major in Policy & Management and Political Science. Vivake served as a Community Advisor for first-year students, held leadership positions in student government, and founded a student organization dedicated to service and social justice issues. In the summer of 2008, he participated in the India Summer Program Inspiring Reflective Exploration (InSPIRE), travelled around India, and explored grassroots development efforts in North India. As an Indicorps fellow, Vivake is fulfilling a long-held dream(s) to spend time in India doing service and development related work and becoming a solid cricket player. He will be joining the Grassroots Development Laboratory in Bagar, Rajasthan, working to develop social enterprises to assist in solving broad scale development challenges.

vivake09@indicorps.net