Our Volunteers

Tushar Bawale from Lamar University in Beaumont , Texas , is pursuing Masters in Chemistry. Tushar always had interest in volunteer activities and actively participated and organized blood donation drives and blood group data collection. He is also an enthusiast Yoga teacher. Tushar Bawale conducted his Yuva for Sewa internship starting May 9th to May 31st. Tushar completed his 25 day internship at Save the Family Institute's family counseling center at Atlanta . Many teenagers at this center are a victim of domestic disturbance and often perform poorly in schools. Tushar provided mentorship and provided guidance as instructions provided by a licensed counselor and helped such teenagers make right choices, inculcate discipline, and focus on their studies. During his tenure, Tushar conducted an essay competition to honor fathers. He was moved by some of the essays written by innocent children, for example, one child wrote - Why my father is so special? "Because he is not a drug dealer." Tushar also analyzed need of the community and how Sewa International USA can help going forward. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh arranged this project.

Aakash Suchak is 18 years old from Indiana , USA . He will be attending Swarthmore College in August 2007.He is working with Janakalyan Samiti in Kalyan, Maharashtra , town 30 miles north of Mumbai, to develop modules for hands-on learning of science. The town has more than hundred villages around it where education facilities are minimal, overcrowded classrooms, lack of teachers and modern technologies and approaches of teaching. Jankalyan Samiti runs mobile lab, loaded with scientific apparatus and operated by volunteers and teachers. This lab visits 48 villages around Kalyan. Aakash is involved in: (1) identifying the local resources (plants, soil, water, rocks, tins, plastic bottles, and so on) that can be used for learning science (2) understanding the school curriculum and identifying the topics that can be learnt by using these local resources (3) developing techniques/modules for hands-on learning (4) educating teachers on these techniques/modules. Seva Sahayog arranged this project.

Sunit Patel is 19 years old from Lancashire , England . Since a young age he has actively participated in major projects of Sewa International UK, such as the Gujarat Earthquake Appeal and the Tsunami Appeal. As a fellow of Sewa International this year, he will be involved in developing interactive CDs for learning in Rural Schools in Nandurbar, Maharashtra . This is a project run by Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti. Sunit will develop training aids and start introducing those in the study room sessions. The training aids will include charts, puzzles, scientific toys, science experiment kits and similar creative teaching tools. Seva Sahayog arranged this project. View the photos of Sunit Patel's service for Yuva for Sewa here.

Sunitee Gupta is a first year Medical student at University of Iowa. She feels that Yuva for Sewa program will allow her to embark on a journey of discovery and experience while making an life of others. She will be working with Mata Balak Utkarsha Pratishthan in Sangola District, Solapur, Maharastra. Mata Balak Utkarsha Pratishthan's focus of activities is 'rural women'. Activities include Mahila Saha Vichar Kendra (Women's study Center & discussion forum), Anyay Nivaran Samstha (Legal Counseling and self help center) and Balak Mandir (a Primary School). Sunitee will design and conduct a campaign for awareness of severity of health hazards from home delivery and causes of infant mortality. Seva Sahayog arranged this project.

Sarah Elswick is Anthropology major from Cleveland State University , Ohio . She is interested in knowing more about Eastern culture and traditions. This has inspired her to participate in the ‘Yuva for Sewa’ program this year. Sarah will be volunteering at Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti in Nandurbar, Maharastra, India. Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti (HSS) has been undertaking a large number of social projects with the help of government of India as well as with other voluntary organizations. It runs single teacher schools, free residential schools, women self help groups (micro-credit groups), village self help groups and render many other training and facilitations to the marginalized and uneducated villagers in Nadurbar. Sarah will identify the eco-tourism potential of Nandurbar, develop a cost estimate for developing the identified areas to a tourist spot, develop the brochure etc for marketing the idea and train the villagers on the modern amenities like banking, mobile communication, about tourists' living habits etc

Katherine Pierson is biology major at University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill . This year as a fellow of ‘Yuva for Sewa’ she will be working for 9 months with Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratishthan in Aurangabad , Maharashtra . Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratishthan (Dr. BAVP) is a medical-social trust run by devoted doctors. It runs a hospital in Aurangabad – one of the major cities of Maharashtra state – and runs healthcare centers in slums and villages around this city. Dr. BAVP believes in social change through dedicated service. All doctors in the organization are also involved in community development work in various spheres. Savitribai Phule Ekatma Mahila Samaj Mandal (SPEMSM) is a forum run by the organization for empowerment of rural women. The SPEMSM has organized women in villages in Self-Help Groups and many women have started small businesses through the group support. Confidence of the women and their social status has enhanced due to their independence in economic activity. SPEMSM strives to make common village women the heroes for women in other villages. Documenting the success of some such women can give a boost to the projection of rural women's empowerment through SHGs.

Mathavi Sahadevan is freshman at University of Illinois at Chicago studying Biological Science. She will volunteering at Guyana. She will be working with Sewa International Guyana. She will be volunteering to provide cultural education including teaching Bharat Natyam to children.

The Sewa International, USA team received an overwhelming response for the ‘Yuva for Sewa’ fellowship program this year. Keeping in mind the limited set of projects at hand, it was a difficult task selecting the interns. There were multiple rounds of phone and personal interviews in the selection process. Buoyed by this response, the ‘Yuva for Sewa’ team plans to reach more college students next year as well as expand the set of projects.
View photos of Mathavi's service for Yuva for Sewa here.