Sehgal Foundation has a long history of partnership with US universities, from hosting student interns to scholarly exchanges. Through these partnerships, students and professors from the US work closely with S M Sehgal Foundation’s staff, researchers, and field teams at its Gurugram headquarters and in villages across rural India.
Collaborations might include building check dams, working on WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) projects through TRANSFORM LIVES one school at a time, agricultural or sociological studies, and many more. Former intern Natalie Binder had this to say about her experience at SMSF:
When I was at Iowa State University, majoring in global resource systems, I was introduced to the Sehgal Foundation, where I would subsequently land an internship and spend several months researching, traveling, and exploring India. I was mentored by Pawan Kumar, principal lead of Agricultural Development, who focused my research on soil health and identifying crops that would be able to endure the rising salinity levels, which have become common in parts of India.
This internship had an abiding impact on my career choices and understanding of how nonprofits functionally operate. I currently work at the World Food Prize Foundation, creating programs to elevate those working to solve food insecurity and reflecting on my experiences in India to understand the practical challenges farmers face while also understanding the climate that creates these challenges. It’s thanks to the partnership Iowa State University and the Sehgal Foundation created to provide me with a momentous experience that shaped my career aspirations and helped me to arrive at where I am today.
Thank you, Natalie, for revisiting your Sehgal Foundation days for our Connect USA readers. The entire team wishes you the best in all your future endeavors!
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