NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Cumming, GA, August 1, 2025: On July 19th, Project Vikas hosted its official launch and student-led initiative awareness event at Celebrations Banquet Hall in Cumming, drawing students, professionals, nonprofit leaders, and community supporters from across the region. Held in partnership with the Indian Friends of Atlanta (IFA), the event marked the public unveiling of Project Vikas, a student-led organization dedicated to increasing access to legal aid in rural India and empowering youth to drive meaningful change.
The event kicked off with opening remarks by Project Vikas founder Siddarth Sikakolli, who shared the organization’s mission, inspiration, and early achievements. In just a few months, Project Vikas has grown into a national movement, with a network of interns across the country and several thousand dollars raised to support legal clinics in underserved communities. The team emphasized two founding principles: awareness and support, both vital in addressing the global justice gap.
Special thanks were extended to generous sponsors including Nathu’s Sweets, EcoVue Solutions, and Mom’s Indian Kitchen. A heartfelt speech was delivered by Sreekanth Uppala of IFA, which has officially partnered with Project Vikas to support its mission.
The event spotlighted the organization’s passionate student leadership team, each of whom shared their motivations and impact stories. Keynote speaker Professor Deepa Das Acevedo of Emory University School of Law joined virtually to speak on the significance of access to justice in India, drawing on her research and experience in the field.
A highlight of the event was a series of real-world success stories made possible through partnerships with NGOs like the JusticeAlive Foundation. These stories included a disabled widow fighting eviction, a systemic cheating scandal in Punjab, and a farmer in Bihar defending his land against unlawful seizure, demonstrating the life-changing impact of legal aid in marginalized communities.
Beyond Project Vikas, attendees also had the opportunity to hear from and engage with several other high-impact student-run initiatives, including Choices Transcend Limits, STEM Sprouts, Fund a Future, Mind Over Matter, AMPlify, GiveBackATL, and Future Lead.
The afternoon concluded with an interactive legal literacy game, calls to action for donations and volunteerism, and a warm invitation to continue the conversation at the upcoming Freedom Mela on August 16th, hosted by IFA at the Cumming Fairgrounds.
With powerful speeches, hands-on engagement, and a sense of collective mission, the Project Vikas Launch event was more than just a kickoff, it was a bold statement about the role of youth leadership in global justice reform.
To learn more or get involved, visit projectvikas.org or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
