Exclusive Interviews with Priti Patkar, Co-Founder of Prerana & Sofia Ivanka, Founder of Buildin

Priti Patkar - Co-founder Prerana Interview

1. What brings you to Houston?

Priti Patkar explains that she is an Indian social worker & human rights activist who is the co-founder and director of an organization improving the lives of others called Prerana which means inspiration. Prerana has done pioneering work in the red-light districts of Mumbai, India to protect children that are vulnerable to commercial human sex trafficking.

2. What do you hope to accomplish during your Houston trip?

Patkar comes to Houston to form a partnership with Building Smart Kids. Building Smart Kids will offer services to help tutor kids that have the inability to pick up English. English is a global language Patkar says and the people of Mumbai will definitely benefit from learning English. This partnership will prepare young people for college. For more information visit our website at www.preranaantitrafficking.org.

3. Who is your hero? Ghandi

Sofia Ivanka - Founder of Building Smart Kids Interview

1. What is Building Smart Kids?

Building Smart Kids is a program that tutors kids.

2. What makes your tutoring style different from the others?

We offer Montessori style so that all students can learn at their own pace, and can connect the dots with understanding. We often meet the teachers to make sure students’ needs are being met and have a low student-to-teacher ratio for all grade levels. Ivanka says that the STAAR test is a standardized test does not work. We are here to help the students.

3. What is Building Smart Kids motto?

Our motto is smart kids are built not born.

4. Who benefits from your program?

Underprivileged children in at-risk areas. For more information on Building Smart Kids visit our website at http://buildingsmartkids.org. Building Smart Kids recently held a Re-Building India VIP event that took place on Monday, May 22nd at 12:00 PM at Coronado Club, 919 Milam St, Houston, TX.