Community Initiatives
Project Tāsya
Project Tāsya is a passionate initiative initiated by Niharika and her peer Srinidhi dedicated to transforming the lives of underprivileged women and girls worldwide. The mission is to break the cycle of poverty and inequality by providing comprehensive education on health and safety, especially in the global south. Every woman and girl deserves the knowledge and tools to lead a healthy, safe, and empowered life. Through targeted programs, community engagement, and partnerships, Project Tāsya strives to uplift and educate, fostering a world where all women and girls can thrive with dignity, resilience, and the confidence to pursue their dreams.
The inaugural project, “The Nigeria Project” is currently underway in Lagos, Nigeria, in collaboration with Dreams From The Slums. With Nigeria accounts for 15% out of school children worldwide and UNICEF stating that 7.6 million girls are deprived of access to quality education in the nation, the project is a significant step towards fostering holistic well-being through education and support. The aim is to cultivate mindfulness practices, encourage body positivity, and promote mental and physical health awareness and to extend beyond individual well-being to encompass a variety of critical life skills such as communication, collaboration, making connections as well as focus and self-control. So far, Niharika has conducted 10+ online sessions with 60+ young female students from a deprived public school in Laos, Nigeria engaging with themes like mindfulness, importance of building the 3Cs (communication, collaboration, cooperation), self-care – physical and mental and menstruation, whilst collaborating with Maasik Haq.
The inaugural project, “The Nigeria Project” is currently underway in Lagos, Nigeria, in collaboration with Dreams From The Slums. With Nigeria accounts for 15% out of school children worldwide and UNICEF stating that 7.6 million girls are deprived of access to quality education in the nation, the project is a significant step towards fostering holistic well-being through education and support. The aim is to cultivate mindfulness practices, encourage body positivity, and promote mental and physical health awareness and to extend beyond individual well-being to encompass a variety of critical life skills such as communication, collaboration, making connections as well as focus and self-control. So far, Niharika has conducted 5+ online sessions with 30+ young female students from a deprived public school in Laos, Nigeria engaging with themes like mindfulness, importance of building the 3Cs (communication, collaboration, cooperation), self-care – physical and mental and menstruation, whilst collaborating with Maasik Haq.
Working with Migrant Workers
In 2020, when the world was wrestling with the grave implications and disastrous consequences of the Covid 19 Pandemic, Niharika gained significant attention for her generous act of donating Rs 48,000 from her personal savings to aid a family of three migrant workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Deeply moved by the plight of migrant labourers stranded without resources, Niharika decided to use her savings, accumulated over a few years, to fund flight tickets for the workers from Jharkhand, one of whom was a cancer patient. Her compassionate gesture was inspired by the distressing news reports she saw daily, which made her feel a strong sense of responsibility to help those in dire need. Covered extensively in the national and global media by organisations like Asian News Network (ANI), The Indian Express, NDTV, Inshorts, CNN-News 18, TimesNow Network amongst others, her act received immense praise from the-then Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemand Soren, as well as Nobel Peace Prize Awardee Kailash Satyarthi.
Niharika’s contribution was significant not just in terms of the monetary value but also in its impact. Among the three workers she helped, one was a cancer patient, making the journey back home even more crucial. Her act of kindness not only provided immediate relief but also inspired many others. She stated, “Society has given us so much, and it is our responsibility to pay back to it in this crisis” (Republic World). This statement underscores her sense of social responsibility and empathy, despite her young age.
Working with Afghan Refugees at Simurgh Centre, New Delhi
Working with Afghan Refugees (children) at the Simurgh Centre in New Delhi was a rewarding experience that provided Niharika with valuable insights into the resilience and challenges faced by displaced communities. She worked with a team of 10 like-minded peers to implement an awareness based curriculum, conduct 30+ educational, creative workshops on expression through poetry, art and emotional support skills such as the importance of communication, collaboration and self-care over the years. The sessions also initiated with establishing a personal connect with the children by listening to their stories of seeking asylum, refuge, encountering discrimination in and around their neighbourhood upon immigrating, life back in Afghanistan and others. This helped foster a nurturing environment where the young individuals can rebuild their sense of belonging and optimism for the future.
