I first met Nitin and Learning Space in February 2019 when I was on a retreat with my long time yoga teacher in Ganeshpuri to learn sadhana and spend time in the village acquainting ourselves with the daily spiritual practices. My teacher, herself, was inspired by Nitin’s selflessness and work in the community.

On one such occasion, while at Learning Space, we were blessed with a short satsang by Nitin on Seva Dharma and the true spirit of selfless service. I was particularly inspired by the ways in which Learning Space supported children from marginalized communities, and appreciated the celebration of the local community and its culture at Learning Space in the elements of its traditional Warli art. Nitin’s message, that his greatest priority was the human capital invested in the work at Learning Space, has stayed with me all these years.

In Spring, when Nitin visited the U.S., my teacher brought him to visit Princeton University, where I work. This visit rekindled in me the urge to support the work of Learning Space, as an educator. I believe in the value of human connections, and communities like Ganeshpuri have much to teach us about life and learning. Princeton already has many connections in India, but I offered to include Learning Space as a partner for our International Internship Program. I was delighted that they accepted, and look forward to seeing our students travel to Ganeshpuri to experience the inspiration and energy of that community and in turn we offer our support in its mission to empower children with the ability to shape their own futures.