Anil

I am Anil Kumar Somani and I have been with AID for around two and a half years. This period has been full of learning new things and more importantly unlearning old preconceived notions. In my view, AID is a platform where one gets the opportunity to face developmental challenges with an action-oriented approach.  Rural economy, environment and human rights issues are what I find interesting. Professionally, I am pursuing a Phd in Economics at Harvard.

Hari

I am Haribabu Arthanari (Hari) and I have been with AID-Boston since the summer of 2009. AID CSH’s with its vibrant discussions and analysis has greatly enriched and refined my thought process and provided new venues to solve a problem.  I am passionate about rural empowerment, health care and environmental issues. 

Garga

I have been a volunteer with AID – Boston for 3 years helping in various outreach and fundraising initiatives in this period apart from the protest campaigns about the state of civil liberties and human rights in India. Through my association with AID, I have enriched about my outlook towards life and fellow human beings -  especially the unlearning experience that has happened.In particular, I am interested in issues of life and livelihood and aspire a plural future for the world.I am also a part of the Sanhati collective ( www.sanhati.com )

Asti

Though I have known and worked with an AID project before, I have been an active AID volunteer since April 2009 after moving to Boston. Prior to that, I have volunteered with an NGO in India working in public health, and was an Asha volunteer after that. Things I care most about are real solutions to real problems, justice, and advocacy for the marginalized. Professionaly, I am a postdoc at MIT and study the earth’s upper atmosphere

Sapna

I got introduced to AID through my husband who has been working with the organization for some years now. I have felt this need to do something for the society for sometime now. I feel fortunate to have come into contact with AID. I hope to learn a lot by being involved with it and by observing the established and active members. I am a doctor by profession. And I am especially interested in health, education and women’s empowerment.

Kishore

Kishore has been volunteering for AID-Boston since August 2008. He works as a software engineer in Boston and got introduced to AID through its marathon program. He is currently co-ordinating a project with Samata, an NGO based in Andhra Pradesh, fighting against the displacement of tribals to be affected by the construction of Polavaram mega dam. He is passionate about issues related to human rights, literacy and environment.

Manisha

Manisha got involved with AID after the Indian Ocean concert. Back home in India, she was involved with an NGO called Aashriye Adhikar Abhiyan (Right to shelter campaign) which works in providing livelihood for homeless people in Delhi. She moved to Boston around 6 months back and now works with a software company.

Sundeep

Sundeep was introduced to AID Boston during the Indian Ocean concert in Oct 08 and he became a volunteer in Dec. Before moving to the area, he volunteered on similar projects with an organization called Engineers without Borders at Syracuse University. He was also a part of a team that was working on efficient power distribution projects in the rural areas of Haryana, where power shortage is an acute problem. Currently, he works as a Supply Chain Manager at a Biotechnology company in Beverly.

Sudarshan

I have been a volunteer with AID Boston for 2 years. Currently, I am co-ordinating a project by Vanavasi Chetna Ashram (VCA), an NGO based in Chattisgarh, which has been helping victims of Salwa Judum and Naxal violence file FIRs in the Dantewada area. Being part of AID has been a great learning experience for me, in terms of understanding the various issues confronting the marginalised people of India (through the many AID partners working in India) and particularly, helping me rid of the many pre-conceived notions and myths I had about these people and their struggles.

Rajeev

I have been an AID volunteer since Jan ‘08. True to the agenda of “Sangharsh, Seva & Nirman”, AID has been brave enough not to shy away from hard issues and yet not lose touch with the grassroots reality of contemporary India. My focus area is mainly advocacy – specifically in the areas of human rights, secularism and education. I moved to Boston from Seattle in Jan ‘09, and am currently a graduate student at MIT studying Systems Engineering and Management.

Rupal

My name is Rupal Shah and I have been volunteering for AID since 2005. My introduction to AID was in Clemson, SC where I continued to volunteer until I moved to Boston in 2007. I have now been a part of AID-Boston for 1 year. At AID-Clemson, I had the opportunity to serve as the Overall Projects Coordinator in 2005-06 and as the President in 2006-2007. I am most interested in creating an awareness of the social inequalities that exist in health care in underdeveloped parts of the world. From my experiences while growing up in Tanzania, E. Africa, I have learned that social inequalities exist due to poverty and political turmoil which eventually lead to poor health outcomes among the underserved. In the upcoming year, I hope to get involved and learn about some key health-related projects in AID. Currently at AID-Boston, I am the coordinator for a project in Tejgadh, Gujarat that focuses on promoting tribal culture, oral traditions, and nature studies. I am currently working as a Research Associate at Harvard School of Public Health where I conduct research on Tuberculosis.

Leonid

Leonid is a graduate student at MIT, and his research focuses on infectious disease. He has gotten involved with AID in October 2008, after completing his first marathon to raise money for AID and Asha. He has also been involved with Students for Bhopal. Leonid is especially interested in environmental issues, education, and language rights. Most of all, he likes to learn something new every day, and being involved with AID is a great opportunity to do just that!

Take a look my environmental blog at http://groenester.livejournal.com

Vote to save Darfur:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/end_the_genocide_in_darfur

Join the Bhopal cause on Facebook, or donate for the 25th anniversary of the disaster:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/108461?m=e0e64621&recruiter_id=10496457

Lavesh

I got introduced to AID Boston though the 2008 marathon program and have been volunteering since then. Running the half-marathon for a cause higher than personal achievement was such an amazing experience that I plan to repeat it this year with the ultimate goal of running the full marathon and raising funds to support AID projects.
Being fortunate enough to be brought up in an environment that was abundant of opportunities, choices and resources, I feel it as my duty to give back something to the community I belong to. Having a medical background I am particularly interested in healthcare and education projects.

Spike

Spike has been volunteering with AID Boston for two years. For the past year, he has been the Tabling and Merchandising Coordinator and has organized an AID presence at many events in the Boston area. He is most passionate about environmental issues. Spike graduated from Boston University in 2005, and since then has spent equal time traveling and working as a legal assistant.

Shayan

An undergraduate student at Tufts University, Shayan joined AID in December 2008 with the hope of getting the opportunity to struggle for India, serve India and to contribute towards building a better India. He is humbled by everyone at AID and their sincerity and dedication towards their work. He hopes to work with Uthnau, an NGO dedicated to upliftment of the Santhali people in Birbhum, West Bengal over the summer and in the process gain some invaluable experience in working with a grass root organization.

Nikhil

I have been an AID volunteer for the last 3 years. I am currently the project co-ordinator for the the NGO Gramin Lok Seva Mandal (GLSM). Currently I am a graduate student at MIT (Biophysics).

Hema

Hema has been with AID for the last two years. She has helped write grants to raise money for the Eureka child project and has helped co-ordinate the RTI Clearinghouse Project. More recently, she has been working on a project based in Chhattisgarh. She is specially interested in issues relating to human rights, women, the environment and sustainable living. She works as a scientist for Yahoo!.

Tathagata

This is Tathagata. I have been involved with AID since September ‘08. I am a Graduate student in Mathematics at Brandeis University. I am most inclined to working on social justice projects involving the Right to Information Act. What has driven me to AID? The very fact that I am pursuing academics here in the US implies that I have had the fortune of being at the receiving end of the highest forms of privileges that our society has to offer. This has led to an urge to get acquainted with those who are not so fortunate as I have been, to learn about life-processes from these people, so that I can appreciate how much I have drawn from my society. Hence AID.

Manuj

Manuj has been an AID-Boston volunteer since 2007. His interests are in areas of healthcare, ecotourism and rural development. He is currently the coordinator for the Saathiship of Malika Virdi, a saathi working in a remote region of Uttaranchal state. Manuj works as a process development scientist for a biotechnology company in Rhode Island.

Karthik

Karthik Karkal is a professional architect/planner working with a planning firm in Downtown Boston. He has been part of AID Boston since November 2008. Currently he is involved in a rural food security program promoted by innovative farming technique in the state of Chhattisgarh. His involvement with AID stems from his interest in helping marginal communities in India and also in understanding/appreciating the voluntary participation of non-profits in achieving it.

Sankalp

Sankalp has been a volunteer with AID for the last 4 months, he came in just around when the Indian Ocean concert planning was picking up speed and has enjoyed being part of every CSH since. He works with a Sales and Marketing consulting firm in Boston and his heavy loaded work weeks, pushed him to pursue something more satisfying over the weekends. He is enthusiastic about coordinating the SRI (System of Rice Intensification) project and is hoping it gets approved soon.

Yashas

Yashas has been a volunteer with AID-Boston for two and a half years and was a volunteer with AID-Troy for two years before that. His interest include health and fitness, human right and human interests. He is coordinator of the marathon program, Mantra nutrition project and Vimochana women in prostitution project.

Mona

Giving back to society and trying to make a difference are the main motivations for me for being on this journey with AID which started 5 years ago. I have been involved with several AID websites, creating print material, organizational support, helping newer volunteer find their niche in AID, coordinating the Malika Virdi saathiship, coordinating talks of grassroots leaders who visit Boston and generally doing whatever comes my way.

I continue to be inspired by other volunteers and grassroots leaders who wholeheartedly offer themselves to the cause of a better India. AID has also taught me the importance of personal responsibility and examining our own lifestyles and try to bring them in line with social justice and a sustainable society at large.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Somnath

I have been associated with AID-Boston for the last 6 years. Currently I am coordinating a Saathiship and have been involved with campaigns for social justice and the organizational issues of the chapter. Interacting with AID partners from the grassroots, and subsequent visits to many AID projects have changed my life significantly. AID has also taught me to live more responsibly than before.

Prasad

Prasad has been involved with AID Boston for five years. Currently he doubles as the publicity coordinator and secretary. He is passionate about issues relating to environment, literacy and health, and coordinates the Saathiship of Mr. C. Srinivasan, a long time AID saathi working on profitable waste management and environment conservation. Prasad works as a scientist for a biotechnology company in Cambridge.

Jonathan

Jonathan Fine is a retired physician. He served as director of public health and community health services for the City of Boston and is the founder of Physicians for Human Rights. His interest in India is longstanding with visits (1961 to the Madurai district of Madras and 2008 to Jharkhand and Bihar) to observe and study rural poverty and programs for its amelioration.