Meet the NARA Education Board Members: Ilona
MEET THE NARA Education
BOARD MEMBER: Ilona
In our efforts to use education to end poverty, we at NARA Education would like to tell you why we’re in it in the first place, and why education, especially using technology for education, means so much to us.
What better way to connect with our organization than to get you up close and personal with the NARA Education board? This is the first in a monthly deep dive series highlighting each of our board members, their backgrounds, their motivation to be a board member, and why using education to end poverty is so important to them.
The first board member in focus is Ilona Sindhu. She is a writer with a versatile background in theatre, finance, and mythology. With an equally versatile personal background, born in Texas to a Hungarian mother and Pakistani father, she brings a unique point of view to all facets of her work. This is especially important in her work on the NARA Education board since she can think from many different perspectives to come up with innovative ways to use education to end poverty and make a difference for children in poverty.
Let’s dive in.
What is Your Motivation to be a Board Member?
This is a personal cause to me, not only because my father is the founder of NARA Education, but also because I feel a connection to Pakistan, being half Pakistani. I was honored and thrilled when he asked me to join the NARA Education board because this gives me a clear way to be involved with the foundation’s unique initiatives to use technology for education, and eventually use education to end poverty. The poverty in Pakistan is incomprehensible to most, especially when the number of children are taken into account.
I had the incredible opportunity to visit two of the NARA Education schools. The children were so alert and excited to be there, I could tell that going to school was life changing for them. They put on performances for us, showcasing what they’ve learned, and showed me all of their projects and crafts with such pride. Seeing the passion in the kids and the difference NARA Education was making in a tiny subset of the country gave me the drive to take our mission further and use technology for education to expand our reach.
What Does Education Mean to You?
The value of education was instilled in me early on in childhood. Both of my parents came to the United States to pursue higher education, so education paved their paths to their careers and lives (and therefore my life as well). While structured education was taken seriously in our house and we were expected to do well in school, curiosity through reading and discussion was very encouraged day to day, and I think that is the true foundation of my thirst for knowledge and education.
Learning became super fun, and I devoured history books and novels, and learned so much about other people and places that I would have never imagined. Then I wanted to talk about them with everyone! That was where I got introduced to critical thinking because I then found out that other people had different views of those books and events from me.
Similar to my parents, I also moved to new places for higher education and met completely different people and experienced new ways of life. Because of that, structured education as a means and unstructured curiosity for personal education both made huge differences in my life.
So, my point is that education means everything to me because it helped me navigate my life and mold me into that person that I am today. I am on the NARA Education board because I want to give this gift to as many children as I can, especially those who don’t have the support to get an education. That is why our model of using technology for education can help build that curiosity for knowledge in all children, even those who do not have the opportunity to get a formal education.
What Talent Do You Bring to NARA Education?
I am a writer, and I am channeling those skills into spreading NARA Education’s mission of using technology for education, and eventually, education to end poverty. I consult on the website copy, information sheets, and slide decks, but most importantly, I have written blogs that you may have read on our website. A major motivation to be a board member is to spread the word about the innovative work we are doing and show the world our potential to flourish with this model in Pakistan, and hopefully other countries as well.
There is no better way than the written word, so I am writing to spread our cause!
If Money Were No Object, How Would You Spend the Rest of Your Life?
Family and friends are the most important things to me. That is why NARA Education is so precious since it was founded by my father. If I didn’t have to worry about money, I would spend the rest of my life traveling around and visiting those who mean the most to me. I would concentrate on writing the things that light me up, like Old Norse Mythology and screenplays, but also the things that I care about, like NARA Education’s mission.
I know that at the end of the day, I will always want to continue learning and growing. That’s just the best part of life! Education is fun and can come from anywhere, so I want to travel to new places, eat and drink new things, and see different cultures.
Knowing how much joy I get out of learning new things, I want to prioritize sharing that knowledge with children in poverty. They may not have the means to travel the world at the beginning, but through our technology, they can experience new cultures and concepts virtually, planting the seeds of curiosity in them. There are no limits to where that can take them!
Thank You, Ilona!
Ilona is a vibrant and integral member of the NARA Education board, and we hope that you have enjoyed learning more about her. Her passion in our mission shines through in the work that she does, hopefully igniting the same passion in you as well. Follow her example to help our mission now!
Donate to NARA Education and you can be a part of using education to end poverty.
Ilona Sindhu
Ilona is a writer focused on Old Norse mythology, drawing from her Hungarian, Pakistani, and American roots. She holds a BA in Dramaturgy and Theatre History from NYU and a Master’s in Religion and Literature from the University of Edinburgh. Her work blends myth, culture, and storytelling across borders.
