The American India Foundation Trust (AIFT) recently completed its 23rd annual India Mission Trip, offering a comprehensive overview of its impactful initiatives. The delegation, comprising 25 AIF board members, supporters, donors from India and the US, and industry leaders focusing on the US-India corridor, embarked on a week-long expedition across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana. Their objective was to gain insight into the diverse challenges faced by tribal and rural communities, including climate change, migration, and gender inequality, particularly in health, education, and livelihood sectors.
During the trip, they observed the tangible outcomes of AIF’s programs, such as the learning and migration initiative, digital equalizer, maternal and newborn survival project, market-aligned skills training, and banyan impact fellowship. These programs, developed in collaboration with various stakeholders, underscored community resilience and facilitated interaction with local organizations, governing bodies, and stakeholders.
Nishant Pandey, CEO of AIF, and Mathew Joseph, Country Director of AIF, emphasized the organization’s commitment to addressing intergenerational and multidimensional poverty through collaborative efforts within the India-US corridor. They highlighted AIF’s impact on strengthening systems in education, health, and livelihoods to drive sustainable change at scale, leveraging partnerships and engagement with stakeholders.
Key delegates comprised Lata Krishnan, Shah Capital Partners CFO; Harit Talwar, Mastercard board member; Manu Shah, M.S. International CEO; Jay Tambe, Jones Day partner; Justin Steinberg, Steinberg Asset Management portfolio manager; Ajay Shah, Shah Capital Partners co-founder; Varsha Kaura, Omnicom global client lead. The trip also facilitated dialogues with policymakers, industry leaders, and social changemakers, fostering discussions on grassroots governance and philanthropic partnerships, particularly in Odisha.
The mission trip concluded with a celebratory event hosted by philanthropist Kiran Nadar at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi. The event showcased the photography collection of Raghu Rai, providing a reflective conclusion to the transformative journey.
