American India Foundation - USA

American India Foundation - USA Catalyzing social and economic change in India

07/17/2026

“When you break down systems and institutions, what you find are actual people.”

Last week, we celebrated the graduation of our latest cohort of Banyan Impact Fellows! As their fellowship officially comes to a close, we are looking back at how our fellows moved beyond textbooks to drive systemic change on the ground:

Dekyi Sharchitsang served at Shaishav Child Rights in Dediapada, Gujarat. Working within a rural tribal community, Dekyi collaborated with local facilitators to design and deliver culturally conscious lesson plans. By drawing on the students’ lived experiences, she helped them build academic skills and the confidence to become active members of their communities.

Gursimran Singh Padda worked at the Department of School Education for the Government of Haryana. Embedded in the fast-paced Nipun Haryana program, Gursimran drove community outreach to better include parents and teachers in the student learning journey. He co-created a “skills passbook” integration module that was so successful during its pilot phase, the government launched it as a full-scale program for the following academic year!

Moving to a new country and navigating complex work environments can be daunting, but a year of being open to “learning and unlearning” proved to be an invaluable launchpad for these future global leaders.

Congratulations to Dekyi, Gursimran, and the entire graduating class! Watch the video to see their journeys of transformation.

PublicPolicy GrassrootsDevelopment EducationForAll

07/10/2026

When you take lots of small steps and look back, suddenly you realize how far you’ve come!

Earlier this month, we celebrated the graduation of our latest cohort of Banyan Impact Fellows. This moment, culminating 10 months of the Fellowship, had us looking back at the incredible journey of two dedicated fellows who drove tangible change on the ground:

Jacob Savitz brought his media background to Synergy Sansthan in Harda, Madhya Pradesh, to drive narrative-forward storytelling and visual communications to amplify the voices of local youth leaders—helping the community and donors deeply connect with the organization's 20-year legacy.

Mukta Viplave, with a background in public health, served AIF MANSI in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where she beautifully merged research with fieldwork by training frontline health workers (ASHAs) and designing critical evaluation models to support mothers during pre-natal and post-partum stages.

So many steps culminating in this year-long journey, made the Fellowship so much more than the sum of its parts! For Jacob and Mukta, their impact was about far more than the structural capacity they left behind; it was a profound, mutual exchange that shaped them into the global leaders of tomorrow.

Congratulations to Jacob, Mukta, and the entire graduating cohort! We cannot wait to see where your leadership journeys take you next.

PublicHealth StorytellingForGood GrassrootsDevelopment

In many government schools, STEM remains confined to textbooks, limiting how students engage with science as a process o...
07/08/2026

In many government schools, STEM remains confined to textbooks, limiting how students engage with science as a process of inquiry and application. Bridging this gap requires shifting from passive learning to environments where students can test, build, and present ideas.

AIF’s Digital Equalizer – STEM Powering initiative is designed to enable this shift by integrating hands-on, project-based learning into classroom practice.

At Thirthapathi Higher Secondary School in Ambasamudram, Tamil Nadu, this approach was visible during the Annual Science Showcase Event. The platform brought together 80 students to demonstrate their understanding through applied projects, moving beyond theory to experimentation and design.

At the center of the event was a Science Expo featuring 40 student-led projects spanning scientific and engineering concepts. Students worked through the full cycle of problem-solving - from hypothesis and prototyping to testing and presentation, building both technical understanding and communication skills. Participation extended beyond the host school, with students from Veervanallur School and Hindu School joining nearly 400 visitors, creating a space for peer exchange and collaborative learning.

This broader engagement is essential to building a community of young innovators confident in their ability to navigate a technology-driven future.

By recognizing six outstanding projects and awarding students, the expo celebrated both the drive for excellence and the courage to experiment. Such platforms are integral to AIF’s STEMPowering model, in which learning is demonstrated through doing. By enabling structured exposure to experimentation and public presentation, the initiative strengthens critical thinking and builds confidence in engaging with STEM subjects. 

How do you bring a twinkle to 10,000 eyes? One classroom, one mobile dental clinic, and one smile at a time.In the Rajul...
07/07/2026

How do you bring a twinkle to 10,000 eyes? One classroom, one mobile dental clinic, and one smile at a time.

In the Rajula block of Amreli district, Gujarat, families often navigate life on meagre wages, seasonal migration, and limited access to healthcare. In such realities, dental care usually falls to the bottom of everyday priorities.

But AIF's Dental Hygiene LAMP initiative, supported by Dr. Nammy Patel is changing that narrative.

Rohit Savjibhai Baraiya, a Class 8 student who began using to***co at an early age. During a school screening, the LAMP team diagnosed him with early Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF)—a precancerous condition.

Thanks to timely treatment, counseling, and consistent follow-ups, Rohit fully recovered and quit to***co for good. Today, he stands as a young oral health advocate, encouraging his peers to drop damaging habits and prioritize their dental health.

Since 2025 the Dental Hygiene initiative has been dismantling deep-rooted myths and taking treatment right to people's doorsteps. In just over a year, it has:

• Reached 50 villages via mobile dental clinics, delivering preventive and curative care.
• Transformed 50 schools & 100 Anganwadis into hubs of healthy habits where teachers and children learn about oral health together.
• Served 10,000 people (5,000 children and 5,000 adults) thanks to a massive community movement of regular check-ups.

Across these villages, the change is visible, in the smiles of thousands who have eschewed myths for awareness, replacing neglect with intentional prevention.

Thank you, Dr. Nammy Patel for your vision and support in making this vital work possible!

06/25/2026

✨ 25 Years of Rising Together ✨

Across rural villages and vibrant nonprofits, our Fellowship alumni have spent their formative years of service learning, growing, and discovering a deeply shared purpose. 🤝

Whether it meant building infrastructure in freezing conditions or working alongside local farmers, the bonds formed here are incredibly resilient—so much so that 96% of our alumni remain in active contact decades later. 📈❤️

From major milestones like meeting world leaders to the quiet, unforgettable moments of watching the sunrise before heading out to the villages, this extraordinary network has spent a quarter-century rising together. 🌅

Tomorrow, that camaraderie, resilience, and shared purpose take center stage! 🌟

Join us on June 26th at the Future Leaders Forum 2026 in New Delhi as we celebrate 25 years of grassroots social leadership and recognize these incredible journeys.

🎬 Watch the full reel to see the lighter, behind-the-scenes side of 25 years of leadership!

👇 Are you an alum? Share your favorite Fellowship memory or tag your cohort in the comments below!

Just a few years ago, GJSS Model School in Arumbakkam, Chennai, was limited by traditional teaching methods. Everything ...
06/23/2026

Just a few years ago, GJSS Model School in Arumbakkam, Chennai, was limited by traditional teaching methods. Everything shifted with the launch of the STEM Innovation and Learning Center (SILC) under AIF's STEMpowering initiative.

Today, those classrooms buzz with inquiry instead of rote memorization. Students explore real models, build circuits, experiment with lenses, and create working prototypes that bring textbook concepts to life. As a shared hub serving nine neighboring schools, the SILC is multiplying curiosity across an entire community of young learners.

That momentum shone brightly in the Government of Tamil Nadu’s science competitions, designed to nurture scientific temper among Class 6–8 students. Five student-led projects from GJSS advanced to the district level, standing shoulder to shoulder with entries from across the state.

Fifteen students, guided by two passionate science teachers, spent weeks developing innovative models: an LPG and Smoke Defender, a Smart Road Safety System for wildlife, a Safe Exit Counter, a RoboBarricade, and a Flood Rescue Lantern. Every project reached the district stage, and the Flood Rescue Lantern has now advanced to the Zonal level, carrying the pride of the entire school with it.

Through this initiative, students in Grades 6–8 are experiencing hands-on experiments, inquiry-driven learning, and dedicated STEM career awareness sessions. Since 2022, the initiative has reached engaged over 5,800 students, and is driving measurable progress in learning outcomes, career awareness, and technology-enabled teaching. This is education aligned with the spirit of the National Education Policy 2023, one that values critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world relevance.

We’re so proud of these bright young innovators, their dedicated mentors, and every educator and partner helping to build this momentum.

Here’s to curiosity, courage, and the power of community!

25 years leave a trail—a trail of decisions, relationships, and work that endures ✨On June 26, the Banyan Impact Fellows...
06/22/2026

25 years leave a trail—a trail of decisions, relationships, and work that endures ✨

On June 26, the Banyan Impact Fellowship celebrates its milestone journey at the Future Leaders Forum 2026 in New Delhi! This year’s theme, Legacy in Motion: 25 Years of Leadership, a Lifetime of Impact, honors a quarter-century of driving sustainable change.

From its roots in 2001 as a post-disaster response, BIF has grown into AIF’s longest-running leadership initiative, creating a pipeline of leaders across education, public health, livelihoods, and climate resilience. Today, our global alumni network is 638+ strong!

At the Forum, we will:

🏆 Recognize distinguished alumni leading across sectors.
🎓 Highlight our graduating cohort’s community-driven projects.
🔗 Welcome new changemakers into a multi-generational network of practice.

Whether you’ve supported us, followed our journey, or been part of the BIF family, we want you there with us.

: Strengthening STEM Education in Uttarakhand Looking back at a meaningful visit to Dehradun in November 2025! At AIF, ...
06/18/2026

: Strengthening STEM Education in Uttarakhand 

Looking back at a meaningful visit to Dehradun in November 2025! At AIF, we were honored to host a delegation from our long-standing donor partner, the Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), to witness the impact of our Digital Equalizer (DE) program firsthand.

Laura Reynolds, Hunayda Karim, Tiffany Parra, and Anushka Verma spent an inspiring day engaging with the bright minds of tomorrow and the dedicated educators shaping their journey.

Highlights from the trip:

- Innovation in Action: At PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya, students from Grades 6–11 showcased incredible science and math models in the AIF-supported STEM lab. Their curiosity and problem-solving skills are a true testament to the power of experiential learning. 
- Capacity Building: Productive discussions at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) focused on aligning teacher mentoring with the National Education Policy 2020.
- Scaling Impact: We concluded the day at the State Institute of Educational Management and Training, exploring pathways to expand the Digital Equalizer program to even more districts.

Partnerships like the one we share with RIST are built on shared learning and a collective commitment to transforming systems. 

Yesterday, our TriState AIF family was proud to celebrate 25 years of transformative social impact!600 trailblazers, bus...
06/10/2026

Yesterday, our TriState AIF family was proud to celebrate 25 years of transformative social impact!

600 trailblazers, business leaders, and champions from across the Indian diaspora gathered at Cipriani Wall Street for AIF’s annual New York City Gala to commemorate this milestone and raise a record-breaking $3.8million!

These crucial funds will directly power AIF’s multidimensional interventions across public health, education, and livelihoods. Since 2001, AIF has served over 23 million lives across 35 states and union territories—and we are just getting started.

Thank you to our incredible presenting sponsors BNY, Goldman Sachs Gives, and TD Bank, as well as everyone who helped raise over $1M during the evening's pledge drive, with a special shoutout to Global Board member Saira Lal, for her $300,000 leadership pledge!  We congratulate this year’s phenomenal honorees, whose visionary leadership continues to shape global business and civic responsibility: Bharat Masrani, Retired CEO, TD Bank Group; Salil Parekh, CEO, Infosys; and BNY, represented by Sarthak Pattanaik, Chief Data & AI Officer, BNY. Special thanks to Dhaya Lakshminarayanan, the evening’s host; the Young People’s Chorus of NYC for their stirring rendition of “Give us Hope,” and Chef Gaurav Anand for the delicious meal enjoyed by the guests.

When we look at the communities we serve—the students, families, and changemakers across India—and see not just who they are, but what they can become, we unlock limitless potential. Your support allows us to dream bigger and act bolder. Here's to the next chapter and to continuing the mission, together! 

SocialImpact IndianDiaspora

🌟 Tomorrow is the night. The 2026 AIF New York Gala is almost here. An evening of visionary leadership, transformative i...
06/08/2026

🌟 Tomorrow is the night. The 2026 AIF New York Gala is almost here. An evening of visionary leadership, transformative impact, and community!

We look forward to welcoming you.

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