Aahana

Aahana's University Chapters: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Aahana's University Chapters: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Hi, I’m Rahul Kalluri and I am one of the co-presidents of the new Aahana chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I’m studying Economics and Statistics and I’m heavily involved in our student government known as the Illinois Student Senate. 

In my sophomore year, a friend and I were looking to get more of an ‘Indian experience’ on campus and we couldn't find any clubs that allowed us to learn more about our culture and participate in sharing it with other students. We drafted an idea for starting our own club but,  then I noticed a friend of mine posted on social media that she was the secretary for this new club called Aahana at Loyola University.

Operation: Call to Action

Operation: Call to Action

Social Media marketing is one of the best ways to communicate with the rest of the world. My goal is to tell the world to stop ignoring the facts, open your eyes, and join us on our journey towards change.  Through the social media platforms, I spread more awareness of how Aahana provides education and empowerment to the communities.

Designing For Aahana

Designing For Aahana

While at Aahana, I have had complete creativity over every project that I have worked on. I created a brochure and t-shirt designs that will be sent to the printer. I spent time taking and editing pictures for our new website. I put blood, sweat, and tears into developing a fresh, modern website for Aahana. I learned a new software so I could create a motion graphic that shows exactly how and where Aahana works. I have been challenged each and every day to create my best work for an organization that has a mission that I actually believe in. I honestly couldn’t have dreamed of a better experience for my first internship.

"Ignorance is not bliss, but the freedom to live without fear is."

When people look at me they are quick to assume that this small little girl isn’t much of anything and because I am small they quickly correlate my physical characteristics to me being weak and helpless. Some people think that because I am a girl I can’t be stronger, faster or smarter than my male counterpart. Imagine what it is like to be told all your life “you can’t do this because you’re a girl.” Well that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard and frankly, it has never been a good excuse. Seeing more and more people fighting for their right to education, health care and jobs, and the fact that many are voicing their support for gender equality and freedom for all human beings to exercise their right to liberty and happiness, makes me excited and even more fiercely determined to fight this backward way of thinking.