Young girl carrying water from a well in a desert village in India

Founder

Project Oasis

Addressing water scarcity in underprivileged communities — from fundraising in New Jersey to building a well in the Thar Desert.

Thar Desert

Location, India

People Needs UK

Partner organization

Full project

Site to completion

The Initiative

Project Oasis began with a simple question: what does it actually take to bring clean water to a community that has none? I founded the initiative to address water scarcity in underprivileged communities in India, partnering with a UK-based nonprofit to identify a village in the Thar Desert in need of a well.

From there, I assessed the site and engineering requirements, budgeted the project, and raised funds from the local community to cover costs. This wasn't a donation drive — it was a full project, from site selection to construction management.

On the Ground

I coordinated engineering and logistics teams in India throughout construction, managing my own travel logistics to be on-site for the entire build. Being present wasn't optional — it was how I could ensure the project stayed on track and that the community's needs were actually being met.

I met with elected officials, village leaders, and residents to understand the real impact of water scarcity on women and children in the region. Those conversations shaped everything that came after — including the documentary, and the foundation.

From the Field

Photos from the project site and nearby villages in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India.

Meeting with Mrs. Rashida Baano, Former Head of Patodi, at the project site — With Mrs. Rashida Baano, Former Head of Patodi

Akshita with women and children from the nearby village — With families from the nearby village

Borewell drilling rig at the Project Oasis site in the Thar Desert — Borewell drilling at the project site

Akshita with children from the village near the project site — Children from the village

Akshita visiting a local school in the village near the project site — Visiting the village school

Akshita filling water containers at the project site — Experiencing the water collection process firsthand

Akshita at the village with a tractor used for water transport — Water transport at the village

Akshita presenting to the community at the project site — Community engagement at the project site

Inspecting the inground water storage tank used to collect rainwater and water from mobile tankers — Inground water storage tank for rainwater & tanker supply

Commencement of Project Oasis banner at the launch ceremony — Project Oasis launch ceremony

Akshita with village children in the Thar Desert, waving together — Meeting the children of the village

Akshita addressing the village community at the project site — Addressing the community at the site

Akshita with Mr. Madan Prajapat, Former Member of Legislative Assembly of Pachpadra Constituency — With Mr. Madan Prajapat, Former Member of Legislative Assembly, Pachpadra Constituency

Akshita filling an inground water storage tank supplied by a mobile water tanker — Filling the inground storage tank from a mobile water tanker

Akshita interviewing a village elder on the social challenges of the water crisis — Interviewing a village elder on the social challenges of the water crisis

What Came Next

Ripple of Hope Foundation

The Foundation

Ripple of Hope Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) NGO I founded to give permanent structure to the work that began with Project Oasis. Project Oasis now operates as an initiative under Ripple of Hope, and the foundation serves as the umbrella for ongoing drought-focused humanitarian and academic research.

The name reflects the core belief behind the work: that a single act — building one well, making one film, telling one story — can create effects that extend far beyond the original action.

Mission

Ripple of Hope focuses on drought-affected communities, combining on-the-ground humanitarian work with academic research to understand and address the root causes of water scarcity. The foundation builds on lessons learned from the Thar Desert well project and the community relationships developed through that work.

Humanitarian Projects

Continuing the well-building and water access work begun through Project Oasis in drought-affected communities.

Academic Research

Conducting research on water scarcity, drought patterns, and infrastructure solutions with applications to real communities.

Awareness & Advocacy

Using documentary film and storytelling — including 'Paani' — to raise awareness and support for water access initiatives.

What Came Next

Project Oasis became the foundation for Ripple of Hope, a nonprofit I founded to formalize and expand this work. The documentary 'Paani' — filmed during the well construction — went on to screen at 60 film festivals across 18 countries. What started as a community project became a platform.

Paani Documentary →