Jilna Kothary

Age: 27

Home Town: Burtonsville, MD

Education: BS in Communication Studies, NYU

Specific Field Interests: Social entrepreneurship, rural livelihoods and gender relations.

Placement: Khamir, Bhuj, Gujarat

Area of Focus: Livelihoods

Highlights: Jilna spent the first half of her life in Nairobi, Kenya, and then moved to the suburbs of Washington DC for high school. New York City was home for five years as she worked towards fulfilling her dream to work in the entertainment business. A career in television led her back home to Maryland, and her involvement with South Asian organizations--both personal and professional--remained a constant through these transitions. Additionally, she spent her spare time volunteering with small organizations, and also joined the board of a local non profit for the chance to aid a group with a different mission. Despite having deep connections to her culture, Jilna has never visited India, and is thrilled with the opportunity to live and work in India supporting Khamir's initiatives for the coming year.