THE KP TEAM & BEHIND THE SCENES

The Khilti Pari team is a close knit family that started working together in 2016, when they wanted to make a difference in the world, in the mentality of female education, and change the views of female empowerment. Like all journeys, theirs also wasn’t the easiest; they did hit a few roadblocks and speed bumps along the way but the team has come further than ever. When they started working on the organization back in 2016, they were high school students and as Brinda Patel said, “Everything was a challenge because we were only 16. Finding a sense of direction was the toughest part and working from Belgium made it even more tough.” Those of you who don’t know, Khilti Pari helps girls in rural Jaipur get quality education. They do this by moving them from public, government run schools to private schools, where these talented girls get the education they deserve. Being high school students meant that Khilti Pari was often not their first priority and like Arnav Kothari explained, “We had accomplished a lot in my junior year but in senior year it was apparent that all the board members had stopped working as hard.”
The team has come so far from where they began, having expanded to different schools in Belgium and the Netherlands, curating a dedicated and trustworthy team of volunteers and giving 33 girls a fully funded education. Those early obstacles have helped them grow and now they are making the most of Khilti Pari as university students, advertising it on their campuses in the Netherlands, UK and USA. We can say that the dedication and effort these five members have put in is really paying off. Janvi Kakadia emphasized, “One of the main things I really enjoy about Khilti Pari is the learning process. I’ve learned so much from Khilti Pari.” Khilti Pari has been expanding more than ever, they have taken on a new board member, Simran Sejpal, who says, “When I first received the opportunity to be a part of Khilti Pari, I didn’t have to think twice, I knew immediately that this was something I wanted to be a part of.” We can see that the cause itself is very close to many of their hearts. 
The team has launched merchandise - their very own range of hoodies that has attracted a lot of teenagers and their families to the cause - and is able to organize a fundraiser almost every month. The fundraisers are organized either in a school, as part of the Indian community based in Belgium, or part of local events and markets, selling various products ranging from traditional Indian jewelry, pieces of art or even food. Every single member of the Khilti Pari team is dedicated and has put their blood and sweat to amazing use. 
Vidhi Parikh helped build Khilti Pari from scratch and this is why she is so proud of what they have achieved: “I dreamt of volunteering for a cause that makes a change in the world. Starting a new NGO from scratch, is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so in that moment, I knew I had to take it. At first I didn’t think it would be long term, but ever since we started, my dreams for Khilti Pari and women empowerment in general have grown immensely.”
Khilti Pari has a lot of aspects that are extremely enjoyable and empowering, Sakshi Shah says, “Without a doubt, our trip to the villages when we meet the girls we are helping is a favorite memory. The smile on their faces and just the genuine affection we receive from them can make you emotional. It’s the most important moment as it gives you the energy to continue working because the reason stands right in front of you.”
Every member of the team is still learning as Khilti Pari continues to grow, and they will continue learning. Their journey has reached the heights that it deserves, Khilti Pari’s journey is only the beginning. There is so much more to come in the coming years and everyone is buckling up for a beautiful, eventful and successful lift off.