Leadership Message
Dear donors, partners, friends and well-wishers of ICA,
I regularly visit India to see the progress first-hand, as well as the challenges. On one hand, it is heart-warming to see the growth and uplift in all sections of society. On the other hand, even with all the excellent work being carried out by non-government and government organizations, a very large population of India is left behind. These citizens are still facing many challenges when it comes to basic education, health care and human dignity. As I visit many NGOs and ICA partners, I witness the "kuch karna hai" attitude, giving me hope that we are all staying fully committed to our course. We thank you for supporting ICA and its vision to be part of this journey.
With that being said, let me reflect on all the achievements of 2024 and the opportunities presented to us in 2025.
The year 2024 was a significant year for ICA. We continued to add a number of very relevant NGOs to our family of ICA Supported Organizations. This includes Global Vikas Trust, Swataleem, Bhartiya Gramotthan Sanstha, Mahan Trust and REAP. At this time, we are working with over 75 NGOs in both India and the U.S.
During the last 12 months, I visited Mahan Trust, Muktangan, Vidya, Borderless World Foundation, Shramik Bharti, Mission 500, Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan, Global Vikas Trust and Swataleem to name a few. They are doing phenomenal work in sectors such as education, health care, income generation, environmental issues and women empowerment. I feel very fortunate to be spending time with them and I thank them for hosting me.
While visiting Swatleem supported Kasturba Gandhi Balika (KGB) school in Nuh, Haryana, I met this young girl named Kumkum. Her story is exceptionally inspiring and shared later in this newsletter - we encourage you to read it. With your support, we can change the lives of many girls like Kumkum.
Our "Ponds for Farming" project is making good progress both in the Sundervan area of W. Bengal (with Mukti Foundation) and Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh (ABSSS). Farmers have been able to increase their income significantly within the first year. It is extremely gratifying and inspiring to hear these farmers making comments like "ICA has changed my life". We are committed to scaling this project and making a bigger impact in other parts of India as well.
At ICA, we are scaling up our Youth Leadership program. This year, we will be sponsoring 14+ year old students living in America to spend 10 days with one of our finest NGOs, Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa. This trip will take place in early July. We feel this is a great opportunity for Indian-American youngsters to get this exposure as next generation leaders.
These students have already started working with many of our supported organizations by offering online English lessons to young girls and boys across India. Last year, ICA launched a $10 million Sustainable Impact Fund. This fund will strategically be utilized to develop a comprehensive framework tailored to benefit non-profit organizations. Our goal is to raise the first $1 million as soon as possible so we can start deploying. We have $280,000 as of this date. You will be hearing more about this fund in the very near future.
President
Indians for Collective Action (ICA)
Youth News
Kumkum: A Journey Towards Success
Kumkum is a 9th-grade student at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Nuh, Haryana.
A young girl with big dreams, she loves to explore new experiences and cherish every moment of life. However, her circumstances have been tough, leaving her quiet and shy. After the passing of her father, Bhim Singh, her mother, Mamta, became the sole provider for the family. Despite facing hardships and poverty, Kumkum joined KGBV Nuh, though she remained withdrawn and sorrowful. She rarely spoke to anyone and struggled to express her feelings.
Initial Struggles and Change
When Kumkum first enrolled in the school, the teachers showed her immense care. She stayed in the hostel, and at first, she was unhappy and often felt sad as she thought about her mother.
Occasionally, she would borrow her teacher's phone to speak with her mother, worried about her well-being and circumstances. Over time, the teachers helped Kumkum realize the value of education and motivated her to put in effort for the sake of her own future, as well as for her mother. With the strong encouragement of her teachers and the warden, Kumkum began to engage more with the other girls at school and in the hostel. She also became more involved in attending her classes regularly.
After consistently attending several sessions led by the SwaTaleem team at school, Kumkum eagerly shared, "I really enjoy the activities that Sushila didi (Field Coordinator) organizes for us. She teaches us new things through play, making learning even more enjoyable. The best part is that these activities give everyone, including me, a chance to fully participate. Through SwaTaleem's Digital Tablet program, Kumkum was introduced to using tablets in school, a completely new experience for her since she had never interacted with a digital device before. The tablets allowed her to watch and listen to engaging stories, making the experience both fun and educational. The stories offered her fresh ideas and valuable lessons, helping her realize that she needed to move forward.
Transformation through Critical Skills and Bridge Course Sessions
Kumkum started realizing that there is a lot to explore and understand in her life, and certain significant topics can create a lot of impact on her. She began to understand various aspects of life and the importance of the English language through the Critical Skills and Bridge Course sessions regularly conducted by SwaTaleem, which focus on different topics. She learned how to express her emotions and started trusting herself more. Additionally, she began exploring her language skills and learning new English words. The girl who once sat at the back of the class now confidently moved to the front. She studies with assurance, completes her homework on time,and eagerly steps forward to answer every question.
Steps Toward Success
Kumkum is now participating not only in her studies, but also in other school activities. Her
confidence has grown so much that she now leads every activity. She has developed good
relationships with her friends and teachers, and everyone has come to love her.
Soaring Dreams
Today, Kumkum's dream is to become an IAS officer and make her family and society proud.
She wants to make her mother proud and improve her family's financial situation.
Kumkum's story is not just hers, but an inspiration for all Girls who have the courage to pursue their dreams despite difficult circumstances. It proves that with the right guidance and hard work, any girl can reach the heights of success.
Upcoming Youth Leadership Opportunity
Are you looking for a leadership youth program for summer 2025? The Hemalkasa youth trip organized by Indians for Collective Action (ICA) is a perfect opportunity! The ICA youth team webpage (https://www.icaonline.org/impact/youth-leadership.php#youth-apply) provides detailed information about the trip, which offers a unique opportunity for high school and college students to engage in community service and leadership development in Hemalkasa, India. Hemalkasa is a village in the Bhamragad taluka of Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, known for the Lok Biradari Prakalp. This project, initiated by Baba Amte and managed by Dr. Prakash Amte and Dr. Mandakini Amte, includes a hospital, school, and animal orphanage serving the Madia Gond tribal community. This immersive experience allows students to work with NGOs supported by ICA, gaining valuable insights into social issues and community development.
The collaboration between Indians for Collective Action (ICA) and Snehalaya has launched an online tutoring initiative, focused on enhancing English conversational skills for 16 students from Snehalaya. This program involves weekly Zoom meetings where the ICA youth team volunteers provide support. The ICA youth team is expanding, incorporating new members from colleges and high schools, further enhancing the tutoring efforts. This partnership aims to improve educational opportunities for students at Snehalaya, aligning with broader goals of educational empowerment and community development.
Transformative Educational Models: Our Journey Through Gurgaon's Visionary Schools
Reshma Nigam, Vice President ICA and Priyanjali Dutta, Member at Large, visited Vidya School and Lotus Petal Foundation in December 2025 at Gurgaon, witnessing contrasting approaches to the same noble mission.
Vidya School builds confidence through tradition - mothers learning vital skills for financial independence while their children receive holistic education. Their approach transforms entire families through deliberate interventions in both education and livelihood development.
Lotus Petal embraces technology as its catalyst for change. The students in our AI workshop weren't just learning - they were already fluent in concepts that challenge most adults. Their campus seamlessly integrates digital and physical learning environments.
What unites these institutions is their commitment to breaking poverty cycles. Each student we met represents potential unleashed through different but equally effective methods. As ICA board members, our support isn't charity - it's investment in complementary approaches that work. These partnerships exemplify what education must become to create lasting transformation in communities.
 Indians for Collective Actions (ICA) ForumICA held its first virtual Forum on Jan 6, 2025. It highlighted the humanitarian efforts led by Gaya Prasad Gopal (Gopalji), founder of Akhil Bharatiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan (ABSSS). Gopalji has dedicated his life to the upliftment of tribals, dalits, and deprived sectors in Bundelkhand. He is a social worker, a teacher, and a folk artist. Prakash Agarwal, ICA President, shared that ICA and ABSSS are working together for the community. It was a pleasure to meet some of the students from ABSSS who shared their musical talent. |
 Meet Jai Rawat, ICA's new working Committee Member (Member at Large)Jai is a trailblazing entrepreneur and technology leader with an illustrious career spanning over three decades. He is a successful serial entrepreneur including Founder and CEO of Zinrelo (acquired by Scaleworks), Mojo Networks (acquired by Arista) and Obongo (acquired by AOL). He is passionate about paying it forward by helping entrepreneurs and supporting various social causes. Jai loves the outdoors. He enjoys running, biking and trekking and has done a few marathons, ultra-marathons and treks including Everest Base Camp, Stok Kangri, Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim, Mount Shasta, Mount Whitney, Chadar Trek and bike ride from SF to LA. We are super excited to have Jai join the ICA team. |
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LEADERSHIP
Executive Committee:
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Indians for Collective Action (ICA) |
