Drums, Dancing, & Dosa

As another successful quarter closed at the Sumati Balwan school and orphanage, students and staff excitedly planned their traditional awards ceremony to congratulate the trainees and students that exhibited the most ambition and hard work throughout the quarter. The energy was electric as the students eagerly prepared to meet the fearless inflooens CEO who many years ago left India to blaze his path in the United States.  The students could not wait to hear his updates from the exciting conference he’d just attended in Nashville (#mbaannual22) and his vision for how the inflooens technology platform will change the way people work in a positive way.  

The day finally arrived and the students, along with our very own Amit Ghole, enjoyed an outdoor awards ceremony featuring food, music and celebrations in Nimbalkarwadi on the outskirts of Pune, India. Amit was inspired by the interest of the students, their elaborate questions, their excitement in wearing the inflooens t-shirts, and extended his visit to spend more time at the orphanage. On his final evening, Amit hosted a party for the senior employees who have taken on the role of training and helping to manage the orphanage, inviting them to share their stories of overcoming hardship.  It was a powerful and energizing experience for all.

Nimbalkarwadi sits in a rural area of Pune outskirts with very little access to resources. Over a third of the population in Nimbalkarwadi experience inadequate access to basic services or infrastructure. Founded in 1999 by Dr. Sharayu Ghole, the orphanage sought to provide education to students while still allowing them to play and develop their own skillset and personalities. The orphanage aims to provide underprivileged youth with access to project- based learning & vocational training, including introductory courses to basic technology, engineering, energy/electricity, food & nutrition and agriculture.