Ridge Student Plans Next 'Uplift Humanity' Trip

Editor's Note: Anish Patel is a senior at who has in the summer to teach "life skills" to teenagers in detention centers and orphan facilities. Deadline for participation this summer is March 10.

To the Editor,

Uplift Humanity India is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that I started two years ago, as a sophomore at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, N.J. Every summer for eighteen days, our organization takes Indian-American high school students to Gujurat, India to teach life-skills to teenagers in detention and orphan facilities. Our programs and curriculum are designed to “uplift” the lives of the detained and neglected in India.

Our team is eager to announce that applications have been released for this summer’s endeavor on our website: www.UpliftHumanityIndia.org. I am writing to you today because last year we had a few students from your community attend Uplift Humanity India. Furthermore, several parents and teachers have informed me that Patch.com is the best way to relay the information to students and parents, and thus encourage participation for the summer endeavor. 

Last year, we took 16 Indian-American students, four of which were Ridge High School students. This year, Sejal Jain, a teacher in the Edison School District, will be accompanying us. Sejal has had over 16 years of education experience and has recently won the 2012 Teacher of The Year in her district.

Additionally, we have several Indian teachers and college volunteers in India who will be assisting us in our mission. Our organization has also been widely recognized in the American and Indian media. Uplift Humanity and its work has been published in newspapers ranging from The Times of India to CNN-IBN and from Economic Times to The Bernardsville News. Moreover, last year our team was given a volunteering award from The International Lions Club.

Joining Uplift Humanity has been a gratifying experience for all of its volunteers and I would love it if more students applied this year. Furthermore, as a registered non-profit organization, Uplift Humanity gives 400 volunteer hours for students that attend our trip. To learn more about the benefits of joining Uplift Humanity or to gain a deeper understanding about our mission please visit our website at www.UpliftHumanityIndia.org. [The 2012 summor information packet and application form are available on the website.]

Completed applications must be submitted to JoinUs@UpliftHumanityIndia.org by March 10, 2012.

Anish Patel

Founder and Director

Uplift Humanity India

Basking Ridge