'Uplift Humanity' project expands to Nadiad, Mumbai

Vadodara: When 16-year-old NRI (non-resident Indian) Anish Patel first conceived the idea of Uplift Humanity in 2010 whilst journeying through the streets of Vadodara, he had no idea where the organization would take him in six years.
In June this year, Uplift Humanity - the New York-based NGO that started as a movement 'By the teens of US, for the teens of India' to empower juveniles and orphans across the country through cross cultural education, celebrated its six-year anniversary this year.
And the organization that has worked in four cities including Vadodara, Indore, Hyderabad and Delhi has this year launched its operations at Dreamz Home in Mumbai and Nadiad's over 110-years-old Hindu Anath Ashram.
So far, it has already brought over 250 Americans who have provided more than 1.5 lakh hours of volunteer work in India, educating over 500 juveniles and orphans since its inception and donated Rs five lakh to provide scholarships to students apart from laptops and computers to increase their tech-literacy.
This year, it has also opened its doors to allow non-Indians from United States to apply for its programs in Mumbai.
"My team and I have written the curriculum for Mumbai in such a way that language does not become a barrier to teach. We are so excited to be bringing in non-Indians to volunteer with us. It shows that education should have no restrictions - not even language," said Rajvi Kamdar, director of curriculum development.
"Our ultimate goal has shifted to ensuring that students receive tangible skills that can allow them to achieve employment once released instead of simply providing them with life-skills education," said Patel, 22, a graduate from New York University, who had founded Uplift Humanity.
"Starting this year, we have decided to launch - The Uplift Humanity Academic Program - to make a larger impact. Local teachers and volunteers will be hired in each city to teach orphans and juveniles English literacy and vocational training on daily to weekly basis and in turn make them employable," said Sejal Jain, chief operating officer, who was first hired as a teacher to take kids to volunteer in the summer in Uplift's Vadodara location.