Ever since I was four, I dreamed of running my own lemonade or ice cream stand, picturing kids swarming my stall, their faces lighting up as I handed out ice-cold treats. The sheer thrill of being the one serving up happiness was like a sugar rush in itself. I think "The Duck Song" on youtube may have played a role in this childhood fantasy of mine. Fast forward a few years to 6th grade, when that dream finally turned into reality—thanks to the kind social entreprenuer teacher at my school who gave me my first entrepreneurial break @ the school's fall fest marketplace. Turned out, I was the only middle schooler to set up shop among the upperschoolers - well, apparently, I had plenty of syrup, ice, and entrepreneurial spirit! With my Amazon supplies of six 8-ounce syrup bottles and 150 cups, I thought I was set for the day. But three hours later, every last snow cone was gone! I had made $300 in a single afternoon, all with the help of two friends who shaved ice and counte...

Sweet Success for PDS Microfinance at Fall Fest! Our first Fall Fest fundraiser was a major hit—snow cones for a cause!  Over 300 snow cones were served, and at one point, the line stretched so far that friends jumped in to help. Some took charge of the ice-shaving with our trusty (and admittedly bulky) commercial machine that's been my sidekick for four years, while others handled cash, while some others kept the lines moving. Not everyone who jumped in was a Microfinance Club member—they just couldn’t resist the energy and excitement of the day! This day was about more than fundraising; it was a community magic in action! Here’s to more sweet successes! UPDATE ON 11/25 Two New Microloans! Feeling grateful and proud! Thanks to all the support at Fall Fest, Frostbite Frozen Ice snow cone sales helped us fund two new microloans—one for an entrepreneur in Uganda and another in the Philippines. Small efforts really do make a big impact—one microloan at a time!

We are excited to share that our first loan through PD Microfinance Club has gone to Aramatoulaye, a dedicated apparel seller from Senegal.  Thanks to microloans, she has been able to grow her business in clothing, shoes, and fabric in her community and improve her quality of life. With this new loan, Aramatoulaye will purchase more merchandise to keep building on her success.  We are proud to support her as she continues her journey and makes a lasting impact through her business!

The summer of 2024 was a particularly productive time for me as a student. Along with three of my peers, I had the privilege of competing in the eCybermission Nationals held in Chantilly, Virginia, against five other teams from across the nation in our grade level. Getting to this point was no easy feat—it was the result of over eight months of painstaking hard work and dedication. This was my third year competing in eCybermission. Over the past three years, my team has been a three-time regional winner, two-time national finalist, and one time winner of the People’s Choice Award. Because of this experience, my peers often approached me every year to form a team with them. I felt confident that I had the right resources and skills to form and lead a team of like-minded, STEM-savvy students, and I was grateful for the opportunity. This year's research topic and engineering design was my favorite by far, and the feedback from the judges really reinforced that feeling (excerpts below ...

"Not all who wander are lost," so said a wise guy. My mom tells me that my first trip (not counting the trip home from the hospital) — like, the first real trip — was at the viable travel age of 3 months. The destination was New York City to pick up my grandparents, who were flying from India, at the aiport. And, naturally, in true Indian travel fashion, we made a pit stop at Washington D.C. along the way because no Indian itinerary is complete without cramming in as many famous landmarks as humanly possible. Apparently, I was already bitten by the travel bug back then even though I have zero memory of the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, or anything else I “saw.” I am guessing I was just along for the ride, probably more interested in my bottle than in any historical landmark. Does the first trip count if I don’t even remember it? 🤔

THE IDEA My trip to Tanzania in the summer of 2024 left me in awe of the country—its people, wildlife, and natural beauty were unlike anything I had ever experienced. Along the way, I met many wonderful people, including members of the Sukuma and the Maasai tribes.  Despite the country’s rich natural resources and booming tourism, the local economy remains impoverished for most Tanzanians. Lazarro, our safari driver and friend, shared that most safari companies in the Serengeti are foreign-owned, with only a handful being locally owned and struggling to compete. He dreams of starting his own safari business with just one van but is held back by high bank interest rates that he cannot afford to repay. During this trip, I also visited the Kambarage Primary School near Serengeti and was struck by the sight of aound 60 students packed into cramped 15’x20’ classrooms. Many wore torn uniforms, and some carried their books in hand. Although the school had a kitchen providing free lunches,...