Today we’d like to introduce you to Esha Venkat
Hi Esha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m Esha Venkat from the United States, a 19-year-old sophomore at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Public Policy with concentrations in Science, Technology, Energy, and Environment Policy and a minor in Global Development! I am also the founder and COO of the 501©3 nonprofit NEST4US, a philanthropic platform built upon kindness, generosity, and social good.
Through five core programs, we tackle 14+ of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and a plethora of societal issues including global hunger, climate change, mental health, poverty, quality education, social justice, etc. What started as a small project eight years ago has now become a global movement of over 8,000 volunteers of all ages and backgrounds who altogether have contributed over 5 million dollars in value of volunteer hours, impacting tens of thousands in over 30 countries.
Additionally, I serve as a leader in manifold capacities by representing organizations such as Points of Light, Giving Tuesday, Clinton Foundation, FAO’s World Food Forum, Riley’s Way Foundation, Be Strong Global, UNA-USA, World Bank’s Global Youth Climate Network, YOUNGA, ICANHELP, Millennium Campus Network, Good Deeds Day, Global Peace HQ, Youth Service America, etc., driving comprehensive grassroots reform by working with change agents at all levels.
My story has been featured on global mediums including the TODAY Show, NewYork Times, Variety, Thrive Global, Lifetime TV, People Magazine, Channel Kindness, Food Dignity Podcast, ABC 7, NBC News, Daily Mail, Scholastic, WUSA9, Global Heroes Magazine, etc.
Over the years, I’ve learned how much power I have in creating change, despite my young age and minority status. My main goals include expanding all of NEST4US’s programs globally, growing my volunteer family, and advancing progress towards a sustainable world. Currently, I am pursuing a career in public policy, combining my passions for STEM, climate activism, food policy, and volunteerism to aid marginalized communities worldwide. Above all, my goal is to utilize my strong work ethic and thirst for knowledge, combine my passion for sustainability and purpose of giving back, and aid communities without access to vital resources through influential work within the public sector.
Ultimately, my life’s mission is to turn my passion for service into purposeful action to be the change I want to see in the world—having contributed 7,000+ hours of service transforming countless lives over the past decade.
And I know I can—and will—do more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up, I faced many hardships stemming from systemic inequality being a Gen-Z Indian-American female entrepreneur. However, despite facing these adversities, I, armed with immense ambition and a determined resolve to prove the skeptics wrong, turned my pain into purpose by fostering a community via NEST4US built upon mutual respect, where anyone I come across is treated with kindness and empathy.
Through NEST4US, we give open-handedly to all with compassion and serve various groups from marginalized backgrounds. Additionally, I ensure that all our volunteers are given the freedom to choose any of our multitude of opportunities to give back and each and every person we come across is met with hope and love from our volunteers. By creating an inclusive multifaceted hub of service opportunities, I connect communities worldwide by devising innovative solutions rooted in intergenerational, intercultural, and intersectional change.
To me, cultivating diverse communities—whether in my academic, athletic, or philanthropic circles—has taught me that leadership isn’t only motivating others to act a certain way, but also allowing others to lead, cultivating the next generation of community leaders daily. I’ve realized it’s crucial to view people’s differences, not as things that divide us, but as strengths that unite us as humans, as only together can we learn, unlearn, and relearn…forgive, evolve, and grow!
As a young female entrepreneur of color, I believe there’s no invariable framework for what constitutes instrumental change—that’s why we at NEST4US uplift youth voices and ensure that young people are given decision-making power in various facets via inclusive co-creation. I’ve advocated for youth leadership and the Global Goals at hundreds of conferences, panels, and summits at renowned venues including The King Center, Lead National Conferences, Amazon, FAO HQ, PeaceJam, Giving Tuesday, U.S. Department of Education, Students Lead International, Disney, African Upliftment, Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP), Young Professional Mentorship Program- Uganda, Intrepid Museum, Youth Service America, etc.
Even though I’m only 19, I strive to position young people and members of disenfranchised populations on the frontlines of positive change at NEST4US, spearheading the growth of selfless service and collaborative action. By giving opportunities for youth to take on leadership roles and partake in radical generosity at NEST4US, I’ve impacted the next generation by equipping them with crucial leadership and communication skills, mobilizing youth through a wide array of global service campaigns that support causes ranging from poverty and social justice to quality education and climate action.
As you know, we’re big fans of NEST4US. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Millions of people in the world don’t have access to basic necessities and support systems. This is proof that the world needs people to build a better future. So, I thought, why couldn’t that be me?
I’m the co-founder and COO of the 501©3 nonprofit organization NEST4US (www.nest4us.org), with a mission to make the world better through kindness by mobilizing volunteers worldwide to advance progress on societal issues and spark equitable solutions for the greater good.
Through five core programs, we engage people of all ages and backgrounds through a wide array of global service campaigns that support causes ranging from global hunger, social justice, and mental health to quality education, poverty, and climate action:
*NEST Nurtures: tackles global hunger, poverty, and food waste through feeding the hungry initiatives, food rescues, and hunger-based service projects.
*NEST Tutors: ensures personalized, continued quality education for people worldwide by supplying academic resources, cultural awareness, scholastic guidance, ESOL lessons, and emotional support.
*NEST Kares: instills kindness as a lifestyle rather than a one-time action within the greater community through engagement in blessing bag projects, the creation of kindness notes, and the execution of random acts of kindness.
*NEST Buddies: gives underprivileged kids the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays, regardless of socioeconomic status with customized birthdays-in-a-box consisting of handwritten cards, treats, gifts, party favors, gift cards, etc.
*NEST Inspires: aims to network, empower, succeed, and transform communities globally via the facilitation of engaging workshops that foster intergenerational conversations about critical topics such as leadership, mental health, climate change, mindfulness, sustainability, and kindness, as well as professional development sessions that build meaningful changemaker networks.
At NEST4US, we not only supply essential resources such as nutritious meals, blessing bags containing toiletries and PPE, and academic materials, but also societal awareness through interactive workshops, and social media engagement to spur words into action. Most importantly, we foster a sense of community fueled by love and compassion, by providing an overarching support system for each and every individual they come across. This dual approach of awareness and action enables us to fulfill their vision of empowering people of all demographics to create a more compassionate and inclusive world for everyone, everywhere.
Over the years, we’ve had many success stories, but our most important one has definitely been the growth of our volunteer family to 8,000+! We couldn’t have reached the global impact we’ve made without our volunteers and community support—they are our pillar of support and have made all of our initiatives successful beyond our wildest imaginations!
For me, success is best measured by hard work and dedication; thus, I want to be known for the impact I make on people’s lives, not for personal recognition. I hope to leave behind a legacy defined by love and kindness, with people remembering me as someone who led from the heart and truly made a difference in the world.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Through NEST4US, we’ve initiated multifaceted community action and activism by utilizing civic engagement as a superpower for implementing sustainable solutions. We support underdeveloped countries by instigating intersectional partnerships, proliferating meaningful social action by growing our team, leading chapters in other states and countries, and advancing progress towards a united world through expansion from the community level to the international scale. By utilizing pragmatic approaches characterized by integrity and empathy that span profound cultural and geographic boundaries, we effectively deliver measurable, sustainable results by working with schools, corporate businesses, nonprofits, homeless shelters/food banks, community organizations, and more cross-sectoral organizations across the globe!
At the core of the future I envision is all people understanding the strength of cultural diversity and generosity. By providing an inclusive community for people of all demographics to grow and thrive through NEST4US, I’ve taken the first step towards revitalizing society’s roots with renewed vigor and hope across almost 30 countries.
This one tiny step, when taken by all of us, can turn the world in the right direction. I’ve tirelessly pushed for greater multi-stakeholder involvement and prioritization of vulnerable groups within decision-making spaces to foster equity throughout all applicable facets.
And this is just the beginning.
To get involved and be part of our volunteer family, readers can visit our website at www.nest4us.org and follow us on our social media platforms! There’s a way for anyone in the world, regardless of age or background, to get involved in the community and join Team NEST4US!
We believe that the best way to get involved with communities is to help out wherever you can. Whether that be donating your money, items, and, most importantly, your time by coming out to volunteer at one of our events, every bit helps us at NEST4US continue to help families across the community!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nest4us.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinnest/ and https://www.instagram.com/iameshavenkat/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nest4us
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshavenkat/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/nest4us/
- Twitter: https://x.com/joinnest4
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nest4us593
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nest4us
Image Credits
NEST4US
