Every book I read helps educate a child in India

Dear Friends and Family,

As we get together with our loved ones this week to celebrate another Thanksgiving, I wanted to wish you all healthy, fun and happy holidays and to share with you some of the things I am most grateful for this year.

In addition to all the things I am eternally and always grateful for, such as my family and friends, good health and good socio-economic status et al, the 5 most significant things I am most Grateful for This year are (in chronological order):

1) Sorority of my choice at Washington University in St.Louis

2) Summer internship in Doha with WISE at Qatar Foundation

3) Summer Internship in Dallas with the Container Store

4) Vacation in New York with my aunt, Niti bua

5) Wonderful experience and quality education at WashU

I shall provide additional details of all of the above and also let you know about the books I have read recently, over the course of the next few weeks via updates and emails.

I am so thankful to always be able to rely on your generosity to support a cause that is near and dear to my heart, Pratham and esp. its Second Chance for Education program, which helps girls (who have dropped out of school) to get their high school diploma.

In 2014-15, nearly 4,600 girls assisted by Pratham appeared for the exam (GED equivalent) and more than 75% of those passed, which is a rate higher than the national average. The same techniques and innovative approaches that have enabled Pratham to improve child literacy and education rates in India are also helping Pratham be more successful in helping girls earn their high school diploma. Pratham needs only $500 on average to tutor a girl for 2 years and prepare her to take the exam. My goal is to raise $10,000 and help at least 20 girls graduate from high school, thus increasing the likelihood of a better future for themselves, their families and their future generations. Please help me help Pratham give underprivileged girls in India a Second Chance for Education.

I hope that this Thanksgiving brings you and your families much to be grateful for, as it has done for me.

Love,
Divya

Essay #3

The opportunity to reconnect with my old passion, classical Indian dancing this past summer is yet another thing I am so grateful for this year. I started learning Bharatnatyam when I was five years old in 2001 and completed my Arangetram, the formal classical dance debut in 2012 – a journey of practice and persistence for 11 years. I love this dance form because of both the artistry and the athleticism involved, and so was thrilled to participate in a very special summer dance workshop in 2015 under the auspices of the Indian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the tutelage of my guru, Mrs. Revathi Satyu and a well-known choreographer from India, Mr. Shijith Nambiar that allowed me to enjoy both these aspects.

Rehearsing and dancing each night for two hours after a full day of work at the Container Store proved arduous, but rewarding. Dance has always been my favorite exercise! For me, the physical splendor of this dance style is enhanced by its spiritual underpinnings, as well as the dual challenge of achieving mastery while retaining humility.

Bharatnatyam also places great emphasis on the guru-shishya (or teacher-student) relationship, representing a broader belief in Indian culture, which continues to be reflected in my interactions with all teachers. Through the study of Bharatnatyam, a part of my cultural heritage has been distilled into my personal identity.

The end of my internship at the Container Store coincided with the finale of the dance workshop on August 8th. The sadness of one was somewhat offset by the exhilaration of the other. The very next day on August 9th, I boarded a plane to NY-NJ to enjoy the last few days of summer with a relaxing and highly enjoyable stay with my Aunt Niti.

I am always thoroughly pampered and spoiled when I visit her and this time was no exception–I was able to see the highly-acclaimed musical, Kinky Boots on Broadway, visit the cool fashion exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and eat a lifetime worth of amazing food both in wonderful restaurants across Manhattan and also at her home in Morristown, all the while enjoying the great company of my Niti-bua!

We sampled delicious tapas at Food Network Chef, Bobby Flay’s restaurant, Gato in Soho on the first evening in NYC, and then each night thereafter wandered further uptown, relishing an array of cuisines, ranging from burgers to sushi. The icing on the cake for me was the opportunity to attend a Container Store grand opening party in Yonkers, New York on August 13th. During my internship at the Container Store I had heard so much about these fabulous parties–the food, the music, the décor, the decorations, and was so excited to be able to see it all firsthand. It was lovely to see some coworkers again and to celebrate this wonderful milestone for the company with them!

I am so grateful to Niti-bua for giving me this amazing and awesome treat of travel, art, food and fun every year for the past so many years. Traveling home to Dallas after this particular trip, I reflected on all the wonderful and rewarding opportunities and experiences I had over the summer–how fortunate I was to have the perfect combination of travel, home, work, play, activity and relaxation all in a few short months!

Of all of the good fortune I am blessed with, the foremost is the excellent education provided to me by a loving family. I want every girl in the world to have this important beginning. Please support the education of underprivileged girls in India by making a donation to my fundraiser for Pratham today. Any amount is most appreciated.

offline credit of $278 on Dec 12th 2015 from anonymous fread matching champion, $1002 from Nipa and Umang Vasa (including $501 Microsoft matching funds), and $3540 from its the season matching challenge funds.