Some journeys are best told not by the number of days spent with people who matter, but by the number of people who made those spent days’ matter.
Every great story begins with a spark — and for us, that spark came in the form of passion-driven individuals who believed in what we were trying to build. When you’re starting something with soul, the people who show up in the beginning always hold a special place.
This post is a letter to our early champions.
Zaahiya Kachwala – The One Who Facilitated With Heart
Zaahiya didn’t just co-facilitate — she co-created a rhythm. Whether she was preparing thoughtful activity materials or stepping into a storytelling session by becoming a goat (yes, literally), she always found a way to make learning feel like play. With her sense of fun and commitment to value-driven work, she didn’t just support the sessions — she uplifted them. And every time she added a surprising layer of perfection, we knew we were in good hands.
Vidhita Shah – The Visual Thinker
She stepped in as our Visual Communication Designer. She took our scattered thoughts and feelings and translated them into design — logos, color schemes, visual identity — everything we needed to look as purposeful as we felt. Gifting us a visual identity that still feels fresh today — from a thoughtful logo to carefully curated color palettes that echo our vibe, her work doesn’t just sit on the screen; it breathes, questions, and brings a pause.
Jay Rathod – The Ever-Ready Energy
There’s something about Jay — an ease, a readiness, a smile that tells you, “All is well.” He brought play into productivity and laughter into logistics. And in a space full of moving parts, he was the friend who made the machine hum.
Nem Shah – The Calm Within The Classroom
Methodical, steady, and full of quiet determination — Nem was a force of calm in every space he entered. Be it facilitating sessions in schools, supporting at the Career Café, or pitching in for decorations and supplies, he brought a kind of order that helped everything run smoother. Nem didn’t just complete tasks — he completed them with intention and patience, setting a tone we’ve grown to appreciate deeply.
Ashish Kunnath – The Eye Behind the Lens
Ashish rarely spoke loudly — his camera did it for him. From behind the lens, he caught moments no one else noticed — a shared glance, a burst of laughter, a quiet win. As our Chief Storytelling Officer (yes, that’s a thing), he documented our chaos and magic in equal measure. We still remember his hilarious (and heroic) effort to get the perfect group picture at Career Café — tripod struggles and all.
Lighting the LANTERN
Devika Trivedi – The Spark of the Sessions
Energetic, patient, and always ready with a story — Devika has been our go-to for engagement. From public speaking in sessions to kids’ camps, she infused activities with life. Her contributions went far beyond execution; she helped us think, plan, and laugh through every challenge.
Hrishika Sen – The Quiet Curiosity
With an eye for detail and a heart open to learning, Hrishika made research and document preparation feel like a craft. Whether she was translating, formatting, or curating the library, she did it all with an eagerness that was hard to miss. There’s a stillness to her approach — calm but razor-focused — and that’s exactly what brought structure to so many moving pieces.
Kamya Upadhyay – The Calm Creator
Kamya was that quiet force in the background — making things happen without ever seeking the spotlight. Her work in translation, and even kids’ camp facilitation was always marked by calm confidence. You didn’t need to follow up with Kamya; she simply got it. That kind of dependable energy is rare, and we’re grateful she chose to spend it with us.
Priyanshi Kolhe – The Story Weaver
With words that flowed and visuals that popped, Priyanshi brought in a creative pulse that found its way into blogs and designs alike. She was patient, always open to feedback, and full of ideas that bridged learning with storytelling. Her openness to growth turned every project into a little journey of its own.
2023 wasn’t about massive numbers or high-scale events. It was about spirit. About saying “yes” when the road ahead was unclear. About bringing your full self into a space and trusting that it would become something worthwhile.
To all mentioned above— you were the first ones in, and that matters more than you know. You didn’t just support the journey — you helped create it.
And for that, we’ll always be grateful.
