Princeton University Unites for Guria

Namaste from New Jersey. It’s Azza, Bridge Year India Guria volunteer from 2011-2012. Princeton hosted an event called  “Unite for Guria” to raise funds and awareness on campus! Katie Horvath, Shaina Watrous, and I worked for Guria during the Bridge Year Program, and planned the event through the campus organization Princeton Against Sex Trafficking. Students enjoyed samosas, henna designs, and performances from Princeton Bhangra (high-energy Punjabi dance, of which I’m proud to be part), Princeton South Asian Theatrics (a desi acting troupe), and beautiful sitar music from another Bridge Year alum and Guria enthusiast Doug Wallack. Students also wrote notes, in English and in Hindi, on vintage Princeton postcards and mailed them to the kids of Guria. 

Azza, Katie, and Shaina

Through the sales of handmade Guria cards that we brought back from Varanasi, Princeton Against Sex Trafficking was excited to send over $500 to the NFE center. Katie, Shaina, and I shared our favorite anecdotes about Ajeet’s inspiration, and through our nostalgia, felt truly humbled by the presence of so many people that came to support an organization we so deeply care about. We were lucky to have experienced Guria with our own eyes—and it was really cool to see friends, peers, and strangers come together to open their minds to learn about the ways in which Guria makes the world a better place.