LETTER FROM THE CEO

Dear Friend,

I hope that the spring season finds you well. March has been a particularly meaningful one for us at AIF—Women’s History Month! With gender equity as a guiding pillar in all we do, we have been honoring superwomen on the ground–teachers, students, health workers, rural entrepreneurs, street vendors, young job trainees...all of whom are connected in the web of social and economic change that we work to catalyze each day. 

Last month, along with my colleagues, board members, and longtime supporters, I had the reaffirming experience of attending our India Mission Trip. It was, as our board member Diaz Nesamoney said, food for the soul—an invigorating reminder of the tangible impact our programs are making for countless individuals on the ground. 

Students in our Digital Equalizer (DE) program in Hyderabad infected us with their curiosity and confidence as they demonstrated their pico-satellites, drones, and robots. Migrant children at our Learning and Migration Program’s (LAMP) learning resource centers in Jamshedpur mesmerized us with their stories, problem solving puzzles, and critical-thinking skills. Their parents were so proud of their progress and were determined to open more such centers in neighboring villages! 

We bought beautiful bangles from street vendors in Hyderabad, like Mohammed Siraj, whose flailing business found new life through loans unlocked by our Entre-Prerana digital platform. We were inspired by a trailblazing group of rural women entrepreneurs who, thanks to our Self Help Group, are now launching their own catering, soap making, and tailoring business. We listened in awe as ASHAs in our Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI) counseled adolescent married couples on the benefits of delaying pregnancies for a  healthy delivery. And we were left absolutely smitten by the smiling, healthy newborns of young mothers! 

We witnessed social change in action. We left humbled and honored. See for yourself below.

At the core, every human being deserves a healthy and fulfilled life; yet this remains a distant reality for millions in India...a reality that we are tirelessly working to change each day. You must know that none of this would be possible without your engagement and support. 

On behalf of all my colleagues and the people we serve—thank you for partnering with us on this journey! 

With gratitude, 

Nishant Pandey
CEO, American India Foundation