Kareena Shankta's charitable initiative - KAYASHA
With the onset of COVID-19, the cancellation of her exams and indefinite halt in swimming training made Kareena Shankta look for other opportunities to productively utilize her time. The extensive involvement of the DAIS school in community service inspired her to help make a change. The pandemic broadened her perspective and presented her with challenges she never would have ventured to explore. But witnessing the effects of the lockdown on people, whose sources of income were suddenly severed, deeply moved her. She considered pursuing an initiative which could make a small difference in the lives of the needy.
With a resolve to contribute to the community, she revived her painting hobby and spear-headed an initiative called ‘Kayasha’. The aim was to make paintings and sell them; the proceeds would then be donated to a social working group called The Shakkar Paara Project.
Her website www.kayasha.com showcases her artwork along with an Instagram page on daily updates: https://www.instagram.com/k.a.y.a.s.h.a/
So far, she has made collections close to ₹1 lakh and her initiative was mentioned in the Hindustan Times dated 11th June, 2020.
She has worked to have provided ration kits for approximately 190 families in Medinipore district of West Bengal and Latehar district of Jharkhand. Kayasha is now looking to support a Jharkhand school of 500 Mahadalit children who have the thirst to learn but not the means as of yet.
Kareena quotes, " Had it not been for our school’s deep rooted belief in community outreach, I would not have appreciated this experience as much as I have."