Dance Heals - A Fundraiser for Payir Trust

About Me: 

Hello, my name is Shreya Venkatachalam, a rising senior at Lebanon Trail High School in Frisco, Texas . My passions lie in the field of law, business, and philanthropy. From childhood, I’ve grown up with my Indian culture all around me, manifesting itself through carnatic music, violin, and dance classes. As a result, I’ve found myself very passionate about my arts, something that continued to grow when I moved to America and was introduced to American culture. 

Call for Action: 

When I relocated to America, I became acutely aware of the stark disparities in the quality of life experienced by people in various regions around the globe. Even at the tender age of 8, I could discern the inherent unfairness of these discrepancies and the realization that it was beyond our control. However, as the years passed and I matured, my perspective underwent a transformation.

Though the world may still be unfair, we all have the power to create a positive impact by taking charge of our lives and reaching out to help others. Driven by my passion for dance and a strong desire to assist those in need, I made the decision to host a fundraiser for a foundation that actively supports the often neglected villagers in rural India

Why Payir ?

From 2005, Payir has been working to empower the marginalized sections of the village population. Payir’s work in the past 18 years includes education initiatives, community healthcare, watershed development, enabling natural farming, skill development, creating rural enterprises and upholding social justice. These initiatives have touched the lives of 35,000+ villagers in 39 villages, helping them lead a sustainable life.

Payir which started with 2 villages (Thenur and Thottiyapatti in Tamil Nadu), now reaches 39 panchayats in the district of Perambalur. Some highlights of Payir’s work since 2005 include:

• 2 million+ health services provided provided to 25,000+ people
• 2 million+ class hours conducted in 12 Govt schools
• 500+ high school students counseled for higher education and career opportunities
• Life change for 80+ children through their residential program
• 5 million+ nutrition supplements provided
• 5 lakes, 600 acres and 80 km waterways restored and filled with water after 17 years
• 10,000+ trees planted and maintained
• 2500+ farmers supported
• 10+ rural enterprises initiated and 200+ people employed

Payir reflects my belief that the place and socioeconomic situation we are born into should not define how much healthcare we receive as we are all human beings that feel pain and sickness.

My Dance Concert for Payir:

Dance serves as a powerful outlet for easing my own pain. I urge each one of you to also take a few moments to unwind and find solace in my dance performance. In return, I kindly request your support through donations to Payir, enabling hundreds of people in rural India to experience peace and comfort as well. Your generosity is deeply appreciated. Thank you.