Vikram Garg

I was born and raised in the maximum city, Mumbai. Perhaps no one place, can tell one more about the India of today than that city. Even so, once I discovered AID I began to realize how limited my knowledge of India was. I had always assumed that India's education system was excellent, especially in science and math education.

I thought that it was just a matter of building schools and finding teachers, and then we could look forward to a literate India. But slowly by learning from others and researching I realized that schools and teachers are necessary but not sufficient. Serious attention had to be paid to curriculum and methodology, if we wanted a learned and not just a literate India. And my project, Kanakkil Kondattam, seeks to do just that, improve the quality of education in India's schools.

Sridhar Vemuri (Volunteer since 2005)

Sridhar has been actively involved with the AID LA Chapter since July 2005. His interest in AID's philosophies and ideologies were propelled during the large-scale relief and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by AID to address the aftermath of the Tsunami in 2004.

Since joining AID LA, Sridhar has been a part of the core team and actively participated in organizing fundraisers for AID LA projects besides organizing and participating in various key note speaker sessions. Sridhar has been actively involved with the AID LA Chapter since July 2005.

Somesh Roy (Volunteer since 2007)

The first thing that attracted me to AID, is the involved and practical discussions AID had in CSH on various issues without getting stuck only at academic and idealistic arguments. Then as I became part of the group, I realized how motivated and dedicated the volunteers are. Another realization was that the driving force behind all the activities at the chapter was driven by the urge to do our whatever-small-something for the place we love and enrich our lives by the process, not the feeling of guilt, or the feeling of superiority to do something for "less privileged". This is the most professional, motivated, and dynamic group of volunteers I have ever been involved with.

Moon Sen (Volunteer since 2004)

I always wanted to live in rural villages of India. The goal was to understand the basic grassroot problem and contribute someway in their daily lives and development of rural India. I believe that sustainable development of India would happen through rural and agricultural development. India is an agricultural country and majority of Indians live in rural villages. After I found AID (2004), I understood that I could live in rural villages and contribute towards the causes that I always wanted (not physically but always virtually there!).

AID has highly focus team working on sustainable & grassroot development. This helps me achieve the goal and desire to work at grassroot development. AID works on three basic mission of Gandhian Philosophy - “Sangharsh, Seva and Nirma” (Activitism, Service and Development). This covers almost the entire array of grassroot development needed in India. The projects are sustainable and environment-friendly in nature. Due to my basic interest in sustainable development and environmental issues, in AID-Los Angeles, I am involved in projects related to the same e.g. organic farming, zero waste model, etc.

Pankaj Chandak (Volunteer since 2006)

I always had an opinion on social issues, politics etc and would take a stand on a topic in general discussions with friends/family. I always felt that I need to do more than just good conversations and heated debates. When I moved to Los Angeles in 2006 I came across AID during one such discussion with my roommate and found my way to contribute to the humanitarian cause in whatever little way I can but more than just words.

I am currently involved with Organic Farming project in West Bengal and strongly believe that such effort for education and empowerment of farmers can make a significant change in socio-economic status of rural India. I really enjoy my time at AID, LA in the company of some of the most dynamic and enthusiastic volunteers. Participation in AID LA Chapter has been a way of socializing and not just social work for me.

Saikat Chakraborty Thakur (Volunteer since 2005)

Brought up in Durgapur, an industrial town in West Bengal, I was introduced to Indian villages as a volunteer in the National Service Scheme in St. Xavier’s college. Slowly, I realized two things: how lucky some of us are and how much we as a whole underestimate [and hence neglect] the contribution of villagers to our society. They work the hardest, but are paid the least; the landless farmers who provide us food, themselves go hungry and the daily laborers who build our home are themselves homeless! On the other hand, little do we realize how we get so cheap, subsidized education that finally brings us to this country? Is there no way we can give back to our country? How can I alone make any difference?

These are just some of the thoughts that inspired my friends and me in Morgantown to set up a new chapter of AID in West Virginia. AID provides the perfect feedback loop that keeps a system stable. It gives us a platform to raise funds, to think positively about possible sustainable solutions to existing problems and to properly execute them without the fear of our contribution going to wrong hands. AID Morgantown, being a student oriented small chapter have been through ups and downs; but the happiness when a new motivated volunteer joins us or when we get the successful feedback from one of our projects is untold. I want to thank the whole AID family for giving very simple people like me the opportunity to take a small but very strong step towards making a difference – for the better.