Giving Back to the Country She Loves Drives Her Passion 

Khusbu Patel, who was born in Gujarat, India, and lived there until the 7th grade, brings a special insight into her volunteer work with Sambhali U.S. “Growing up there allowed me to see how things disproportionately impact women and how incredibly important it is to address problems of equity in India.” 

Khusbu serves on the Communications Committee for Sambhali U.S. She conducts interviews with Sambhali Trust students and writes narratives based on the information she collects, which helps the organization better tell the stories of the girls in the projects it supports.  

Passion for paying it forward fuels Khusbu’s volunteering: “I have been fortunate enough to obtain an education in the U.S. and I am trying to steer my career so that I can help other girls obtain an education and basic rights. It is important for me to give back to the community that I came from. India holds a very special place in my heart.” And the volunteer work she does brings her joy: “I get to interact with the girls one on one and it is the best thing ever to hear their stories and experiences at Sambhali Trust.” 

Khusbu found Sambhali U.S. via LinkedIn last fall. After exploring the website, she filled out a volunteer form and was almost immediately put to work. She is a Master of Public Health student at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and has a full-time job as a research associate at a private health firm. 

“Khusbu can tell the stories of boarding home girls with much more nuance because they can express themselves clearly in their language. She is also a model for these girls, who often are the first in their families to receive a higher education,” states Ginka Poole, Vice President of Sambhali U.S. and chair of the Communications Committee. 

“It is important for me to give my time to Sambhali because I love connecting with these girls, I am learning so much from them,” says Khusbu. “They are so dedicated to building a life for themselves. I always wanted to have the ability to give back somehow, and I guess I am trying to do just that.”  

Sambhali U.S. is always looking for volunteers with a passion for our mission. Learn more about volunteer opportunities on our website and follow Khusbu’s lead by filling out an application here.