For a total of five weeks this summer, Meera Sriram, Lexington High School Sophomore will immerse herself in a community service program in a rural town in Mysore, India teaching at a local school and interacting and working alongside other community members. She will be part of an 18 member student team and two group leaders of Global Routes, a non profit organization that gives opportunity to high school children to perform community service all over the world. To raise funds for this project, Meera organized a fundraising dinner at New Mother India restaurant in Waltham, MA. On this occasion, Meera also auctioned a number of donated items given by local businesses and the sale of a debut music CD of her cousin Netra Rajnikanth. Meera raised an impressive total of more than $2000 for this project.

 Global Routes gives High School children finishing Grades 9 to 12 to participate in various community projects in places like Peru, Ghana, Equador, Costa Rica , China, Mexico and India. Jane Goldstein, Director of Staffing, Marketing and Management who spoke at the fundraiser explained that the emphasis was on ‘building communities'. “Participating in a Global Routes Program is a journey into the heart of a new place and culture” she said. “It is coming out of your comfort zone, learning a new language, trying new foods and undergoing a unique  rural cultural experience”. Jason Sarouhan, Program Director, for this project who was also present on the occasion spoke of Meera’s enthusiasm and initiative and said that it will give her a opportunity to process the experience and bring it back to share with  others.

  Meera speaking at the gathering talked about her interest in making her trip to India more meaningful this summer. In the past, she said she enjoyed time with her cousins and her family and ate Pizza and Fries just like here in the USA. But the bulk of her experience was in an urban setting and she had always felt the urge to be able to do something different and Global Routes gave this opportunity. She thanked her family for giving her tremendous support as she prepared for this program and took the occasion to thank all friends and well-wishers that had helped her make the fundraiser a success.

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