WGYB’s Impact in India

Neha Veeramani

Jan 13, 20233 min read

Updated: Jan 15, 2024

Hey there! Just this month, PrePAIR Mentor’s Executive President and Founder, Nishi Soni, traveled abroad to India to donate school supplies and notes of encouragement for children in Indian public schools (Gujarati and English medium bound). Nishi made her impact at two schools in India. Find out her story below.

January 2nd, 2023

School Mook Badhir Vikas Trust

On December 31st, 2022 Nishi made her way to Mook Badhir Vikas Trust in Surat (city of the state of Gujarati in India) where she was able to discuss her plans for donation with Mr. Devkumar Pandiya, principal of Mook Badhir Vikas Trust. Mook Badhir Vikas Trust is a Gujarati medium school for children who cannot hear. As Nishi walked around the classrooms that day, she saw teachers communicating in sign language to their kids. She even got to meet a couple in the classroom who waved to her, greeted her, and wrote “Hello!” in chalk on their desks.

A few days later on January 2nd, 2023 Nishi made her way back to Mook Badhir Vikas Trust with school supplies, letters of encouragement, and monetary donations. After seeing the kids' conditions at the hostels they were placed in, Nishi wanted to be able to provide food and security for each boarded kid. With the donations collected, on behalf of PrePAIR Mentors, Nishi was able to provide two days worth of food for 106 children.

After monetary donations, Nishi was escorted to an open classroom overfilled with kids around the age of 13. She was greeted by every child in the room, with a warm Namaste (a sign of greeting and respect). Nishi began organizing the supplies and walked around the room with bags of supplies letting each child choose supplies of their liking. Before a child would pick up a donation, they greeted Nishi with a warm Namaste, a hug, a handshake, or a thank you in sign language. Some even wrote “Thank You” in chalk on their conjoined desks.

Nishi describes the experience of handling supplies to these children, “heartwarming and heartbreaking.” She despises seeing kids in conditions like this, but it makes her heart happy to be able to help such loving kids out.

As Nishi greeted everyone in the classroom goodbye with a Namaste, many began walking out behind her. Once again, shaking her hand, or hugging her. Nishi describes it as an emotional moment. She’s never felt the amount of respect she did today handing out school supplies.

After the donation, Mr. Devkumar Pandiya invited Nishi to his school’s Talent Show. Each grade went to the front of the hall and danced in unison to a song. Nishi remembers asking Mr. Pandiya how students were able to dance if they couldn’t hear. Mr. Pandiya explained to Nishi that there was a teacher in front describing the dance steps in sign language.

Studies always show that when one sense is impaired the other is heighted. Nishi feels she really understood why that day. She felt connected to each kid and bound to help them out throughout their future.

Nishi hopes to continue to donate money and school supplies to Mook Badhir Vikas Trust yearly through the Indian Embassy in order to help out Mook Badhir Vikas Trusts’ kids.

January 13th, 2023

School Sadhu Vaswani Vidya Mandir

On January 13th, 2022 Nishi made her way to Sadhu Vaswani Vidya Mandir in Vadodara (city of the state of Gujarati in India) where she was able to discuss her plans for donation with Ms. Rupal Dev, principal of Sadhu Vaswani Vidya Mandir (an English Medium school). Nishi brought with her a variety of English written books for ages K through 12. Each book was based on learning and a way to further enhance knowledge for kids (ie: First Aid Handbook, AP World Prep Book, What is a Government, Who was Genghis Khan).

Nishi began passing out books of each kid's liking. Each kid was kind and happy to receive books that would further enhance their knowledge. After doing so, Nishi also began passing out books to children who were just outside of the school (either leaving or entering the school). Before she left, a group of kids whom she had just donated books to called out “Didi! Didi!” (translated to sister in Hindi) from a large school-van. Nishi rushed over to talk to the kids who yelled out “Thank you!” as they left.

Nishi hopes to continue to donate money and school supplies to Sadhu Vaswani Vidya Mandir yearly through the Indian Embassy in order to help out Sadhu Vaswani Vidya Mandirs’ kids.