Audible gasp from all the girls when we found out what @toryburch foundation donated to our silent auction. #happiness #tapgala (at The Adventure Project HQ)
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The Adventure Project would not have been able to grow and thrive without the help of our super-star volunteers and interns, past and present. We are so grateful to all of those who have come along with us on our adventure! So we decided to interview some of those wonderful people and see what they are up to now.
Current City: Mumbai, India
Do you have a blog or website? Yes!
What did you do while at The Adventure Project?
I was at The Adventure Project in it’s very early days, when it was just being incorporated as a non-profit. That meant that all of us wore multiple hats, so I got to help out with everything from communications to accounting, partner development to impact analysis. It was an amazing experience to learn just how much goes into running a successful company, and to be around the abundantly creative energies of Becky and Jody.
Why did you decide to get involved with The Adventure Project?
The Adventure Project takes on global development in an extremely unique way. It’s about wealth creation, rather than just poverty alleviation. It’s about building capacity, rather than giving charity. After spending a few years in the social sector, I knew that this approach was what is necessarily to really create sustainable solutions, to help others in the most dignified and powerful way. And I wanted to stand behind that vision.
What are you up to nowadays?
I head marketing at a social enterprise in India called Uniphore. We develop mobile applications in local languages to help deliver healthcare, banking and other important services to rural and remote parts of the country. I also organize an event called The Goa Project in India, which is a platform dedicated bringing diverse minds and personalities together to collaborate on big issues. Every other spare moment is filled with salsa dancing, studying Buddhism, traveling, and reading. Life is good, to say the least :)
What are your goals for the future?
I want to help my business scale to reach 10 million people in the next 3 years by getting a deeper grasp of how to most effectively deliver services to the poor, and building that out. I want to master Hindi, see South Asia, and continue evolving in my personal life as well as my professional life.
Want to give your mom a unique gift for Mother’s Day next Sunday? In addition to that necklace made out of macaroni, consider giving your mom a gift that will give back!
Make a donation (of any amount) and we’ll send your mom a personalized e-card this Mother’s Day.
“Every dollar spent at a locally owned business generates two-to-four times the economic development impacts as a dollar spent on an equivalent non-local business.” — Forbes piece on the amazing power of spending locally. (via poptech)
Happy April 25th. Break out those light jackets!
Join us! tapgala.splashthat.com
If you haven’t had a chance to read about this lovely lady, Esther Havens wrote an inspiring piece about Rani on Valentine’s Day. She is Well Mechanic #30, and just one of the 140+ well mechanics you sponsored in India last year. Thanks to your help and support, people like Rani have been not only giving their community access to clean water, but inspiring their peers, friends and family.
Now that you’ve met just 30 of the many well mechanics who now have a steady source of income for their families, a sense of pride and dignity, and are bringing clean water to their communities, consider helping us out by bringing this program to Africa. You can learn more and get involved by visiting our campaign page, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Rani!
Where she works: Bapuji
Family Status: 2 daughters
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: She also works part time as a health worker, and helps out in local schools.
Why she decided to become a Well Mechanic: “Rani decided to become a well mechanic because she had seen so many children die from malaria and diarrhea, and the two wells in her village were constantly breaking. As a leader in the village, she thought she could do something to help.”
We want you to meet 30 of of the amazing water-well mechanics you helped to sponsor last year on World Water Day. Here’s Well Mechanic #29!
If you’d like to help us bring water-well mechanics to Africa, check out our campaign page and get involved, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Tapan!
Where he works: Burul
Number of wells he maintains: 60
Family Status: Married with 1 daughter
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: Farmer
Why he decided to become a Well Mechanic: To support his family, and to make sure everyone has clean water.
We want you to meet 30 of of the amazing water-well mechanics you helped to sponsor last year on World Water Day. Here’s Well Mechanic #28!
If you’d like to help us bring water-well mechanics to Africa, check out our campaign page and get involved, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Brajendra!
Where he works: Satgachia
Number of wells he maintains: 36
Family Status: Not married
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: Plumber
Why he decided to become a Well Mechanic: Everyone needs water to survive, and everyone should have access to clean water to thrive.
We want you to meet 30 of of the amazing water-well mechanics you helped to sponsor last year on World Water Day. Here’s Well Mechanic #27!
If you’d like to help us bring water-well mechanics to Africa, check out our campaign page and get involved, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Subhasis!
Where he works: Sri Sri Ramakrishna
Number of wells he maintains: 42
Family Status: Not married
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: Tutor to students
Why he decided to become a Well Mechanic: He wants to have a steady job with a reliable source of income, and to learn how to build and install new, efficient handpumps to even more communities!
We are taking over the Gansevoort Park Avenue and bringing 300 guests on an adventure through Kenya, Uganda, India and Haiti. Join us for an unforgettable evening as we team up with NYC Tech & Social enterprises to create jobs in developing countries & celebrate nearly one million people who will benefit from our efforts. Help us reach one million more by partying with us in style! The night will be filled with:
We want you to meet 30 of of the amazing water-well mechanics you helped to sponsor last year on World Water Day. Here’s Well Mechanic #26!
If you’d like to help us bring water-well mechanics to Africa, check out our campaign page and get involved, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Arup!
Where he works: Surjanagar
Number of wells he maintains: 46
Family Status: Not married
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: Student
Why he decided to become a Well Mechanic: To start his own business, and to open up his own repair shop.
We want you to meet 30 of of the amazing water-well mechanics you helped to sponsor last year on World Water Day. Here’s Well Mechanic #25!
If you’d like to help us bring water-well mechanics to Africa, check out our campaign page and get involved, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Parimal!
Where he works: Rishi Bankim Chandra
Number of wells he maintains: 47
Family Status: Not married
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: Some part-time agriculture work.
Why he decided to become a Well Mechanic: For a a steady job and a bigger source of income.
We want you to meet 30 of of the amazing water-well mechanics you helped to sponsor last year on World Water Day. Here’s Well Mechanic #24!
If you’d like to help us bring water-well mechanics to Africa, check out our campaign page and get involved, here: http://www.stayclassy.org/events/help-bring-water-well-mechanics-to-africa-waterworks/e23733
Meet: Manotosh!
Where he works: Swami Vivekananda
Number of wells he maintains: 52
Family Status: Unmarried
Job before becoming a Well Mechanic: Part-time work doing some farming
Why he decided to become a Well Mechanic: A better job!