MY STORY

During a formative summer in high school, I volunteered at Mother Teresa’s Children’s Home (Shishu Bhavan) in Kolkata, India, where I cared for children ranging from infants to six-year-olds, many of whom faced significant health challenges or were orphaned. While there, I painted a 50-foot Winnie the Pooh mural and was inspired to launch The Playground Project to transform the children’s unsafe outdoor space. This expanded into Kolkata Missions, a small charitable mission.

Through KM, I raised funds to rebuild and refurbish the playground, restore equipment, and plant new grass, creating a safe and welcoming environment for the children. The project was completed in 2016, and I later partnered with the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (2017–2019) to continue supporting disadvantaged children in Kolkata. In 2020, KM raised funds to support victims of the Amphan Cyclone.

Kolkata Missions concluded its work in 2021, but the experience continues to shape my commitment to meaningful, hands-on service and global engagement.