Harshitha Pudota

Age: 23

Home Town: Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh

Education: MA in International Studies, Christ University; BA - History, Tourism and Journalism, Jyoti Nivas College

Specific Field Interests: International Development, Education, Livelihoods, Refugee crisis and Media

Placement: Gramin Shiksha Kendra, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Area of Focus: Develop and execute strategies to empower girls through engaging in activities that impart essential life skills, foster their autonomy, and establish educational initiatives aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the girls and their communities.

Fellowship Project: Livelihoods

Highlights: Harshitha is serving as an American India Foundation (AIF) Fellow with Gramin Shiksha Kendra in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. For her fellowship project, she is developing and executing strategies to empower girls through engaging activities that impart essential life skills, foster their autonomy, and establish educational initiatives aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the girls and their communities. Having recently earned a master's degree in International Studies and a bachelor's degree with triple majors in History, Tourism, and Journalism, Harshitha has a diverse academic background. Her father has been a constant source of inspiration throughout her life and being raised in a family of social workers, she has harbored a desire to contribute to the development sector. Over the years, Harshitha realised her increasing interest in the social work sector and made choices accordingly and it is reflected in her work experience as well. She has contributed to the Public Affairs Foundation, focusing on enhancing public governance, and served as a communications intern at the Rural Development Trust, an organization dedicated to empowering rural communities in India. Her experience at the grassroots level has given her a comprehensive understanding of the needs and aspirations of communities, further fueling her dedication to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those she works with. During her postgraduation, Harshitha served as a skill development coordinator effectively teaching life skills to students while coordinating various events, workshops, and training sessions. She shares a fervent passion for writing, editing, teaching, and learning new languages. Through this fellowship program, Harshitha aspires to gain hands-on experience in community engagement and is looking forward to the opportunity to foster a safe and supportive environment for the young adolescent girls in Rajasthan along with Grameen Sikhsha Kendra.