About

I’m Anna Takai, an 11th-grade student in Tokyo, an artistic person, and an economics, journalism, education, and SDG enthusiast.  My passion for education first provoked me 5 years ago, when I was selected to visit Cambodia for a school project. I had the opportunity to teach English at the Tokyo Inspired School in Kampong Speu Province. I was appalled at the school environment: an evident lack of books, laptops, classrooms, teachers, and desks. In fact, I saw some students sitting on the ground due to the lack of desks. Though the children weren’t provided with the proper environment, they were so eager to learn. This made me question, why is it that I am able to go to school every day, while other children just like me not able to. I felt the reality display right in front of me. This is when I first realized the inequality in education or the educational discrepancies between developed and developing nations. As a high school GenZ student, I believe that every child deserves a high-quality education. 

In addition, I have recently completed the Columbia University pre-college program on intensive Creative Journalism this summer. I specifically chose this course because I believe that the role of media changeovers a larger audience, and I believe through journalism, I can raise awareness even in the future, when becoming an IBE Council in UNESCO, my future dream job.
By coming across my website, I hope you can bring change with me too!

Learn more about my journey in the arts: http://herjourneyinthearts.website2.me/

Workbook Creators

Dane

My name is Dané Goosen. I am a junior in high school and the founder of Language Goat.
I arrived in the United States at age 2. I was born in South Africa and grew up speaking Afrikaans at home. I visited South Africa in December of 2013. It was the first time that I had spent with my extended family in years. As a result, I grew an attachment to the country. I wanted to explore my Afrikaans heritage. I watched tv shows and I started to learn how to read in my native language. My experience traveling in 2013 sparked my interest in other languages and cultures.
Aribah

My name is Aribah Mahmud and I am a highschooler in Saudi. I absolutely love learning about science and maths, while having a passion for english. In my free time, I enjoy reading, baking and gardening.
My family is originally from Bangladesh, where access to quality education, especially for young girls, is extremely low. Every time I visit, I am reminded of all the children suffering, not able to go to school simply because their family cannot afford it. So by joining FECAE, I hope that my small contributions will be able to benefit children across the globe and change their lives for the better!
Shreya

My name is Shreya Lakshmisha and am an upcoming junior for the 2022-23 year. I have a passion for learning and helping others in need. More specifically, I love educating myself on topics about science and graphic design. My hobbies include anything arts and crafts-related, baking, and writing! From a small age, I traveled to India frequently every couple of years and always saw kids and parents on the streets begging for food and some in orphanages with no possible access to education. As the years went by, improvements were low even to this day. When I heard of FECAE, it reminded me that not every area in the world has access to a solid, foundational education. I am so excited to be a part of this movement and contribute my skills to achieve education access for as many children as possible!
Ela

Hello! My name is Ela and I am a rising Junior. I enjoy baking and crocheting in my free time. I’m also a huge horror movie fan and Im into fantasy and classic books!
I was born in Kosovo, a recently independent country in Europe. I recognized from a young age after moving to the United States that education there is not ideal. I believe that any child regardless of their background deserve an equal education and i’m thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this program!
Aashritha

Hello! My name’s Aashritha Sayyaparaju and I joined Simply Skilled because I want to actively support education around the world. I want to work with a team to make this world a better place!

Thionna

Hello my name is Thionna, I am currently a senior at Ewing High School! I am Jamaican born but moved to the US roughly 6 years ago. I love finding new things to learn or choosing to engage in one of my hobbies. My hobbies are crocheting, reading manhwas and planning things! I love to listen to music that calms my brain! I also love to help people in anyway I can because it brings me happiness

Mira

I’m Mira, a high school student based out of Singapore! I’m an avid reader and writer with a passion for social justice and humanities. When I’m not listening to music, you can usually find me binge watching true crime documentaries or playing basketball. I was inspired to join Simply Skilled because I strongly believe in the power of youth-led initiatives and their ability to make a difference within marginalised communities. Coming from an international background that focuses on fostering empathy and kindness across borders, I think this is a great opportunity for me to just that, and create a tangible impact within areas lacking proper educational resources. “For Every Child An Education” aligns with my values of creating safe and inclusive environments for students (regardless of background) in order to promote quality education and reduce inequalities.

Yui

Hello! My name is Yui, and I am a high schooler in Tokyo! I love to dance and watch movies in my free time. I used to live in the United States for about 5 years, which sparked my interest in international relations, a field that I would like to study about more in the future. I am so excited to be a part of this platform and contribute to the provision of education for students all across the world!

Mia

My name is Mia Chonko and I am currently a sophomore at Basis Independent Brooklyn. I volunteered at an after school program near my school and I realized that not everyone had the same experience as I did in school. Going to a private school in Red Hook, an underserved community, opened my eyes to how not everyone has access to education or the privileges that I have had, and I want to change that. In school, I enjoy STEM related subjects and in my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, watching movies/shows, video games, swimming, and baking. I believe that quality education should be accessible by everyone and should not be a privilege but a guarantee. I am excited to bring my skills to the table and contribute in any way I can!

Social Media Managers

Maanya (HEAD)

Hi, I’m Maanya Golcha. I’m a driven and passionate individual who is always looking to grow and learn new things. I bring a unique perspective and set of skills to the table. I’m a quick learner and am always striving to improve, both professionally and personally. In my free time, I enjoy reading and getting to know people. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me!
Education has always been passion in my heart. To me, education is more than just acquiring information and skills – it’s a transformative journey that has the power to shape our lives, broaden our horizons and give us the tools to make a real difference in the world.That’s why I was drawn to SimplySkilled. SimplySkilled represents a beacon of hope in a world where access to quality education can sometimes feel like a luxury reserved for only the privileged few. I was inspired by their vision of making education accessible and affordable to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Sudhiksha

Hi! My name is Sudhiksha Kokkula. I am a current sophomore in high school from Connecticut. Growing up as a child of immigrants from India, I have seen firsthand the power of education to transform lives and lift up communities. After I travelled to India this summer, I experienced the reality of some Indian students. I was struck by the limited resources the students had, but the immense passion they had for learning. This experience inspired me to take a more active role in spreading education to as many people as possible through FECAE. I believe that education is the foundation of our future, and I am eager to play my part in shaping that future in a positive way.
Madison

Hi 🙂 My name is Madison, and I am currently a sophomore from Texas. In my free time, I like to read, learn new skills (like comp sci currently), sometimes play tennis, and listen to music. I joined Simply Skill to give other children the privileges I had growing up. I also want to expand my knowledge of my passions like psychology and environmental science to educate myself and others.
Joan

Hello, my name is Joan and I’m a high schooler from California. I wanted to join simply skilled because I had been wanting to do volunteer work that has to do with finding ways to make education more accessible after a project I did for school, after some research I found the website decided to join
Chandrema

Hi! My name is Chandrema I am currently a 10th grade student from Pennsylvania. Some of my hobbies would include painting and reading that I do in my free time. I am hoping to pursue a degree that is involved in relations to Health Science. In 2010, I immigrated from Bangladesh to the U.S with my parents when I was just three years old. In my household, education is considered highly important. Over the years I’ve come to realize that the educational system is marginalized to a specific group of people in certain countries and is a privilege that not many people have. Striving to make change I hope to make a long term significance in the lives of others.
Ashmita

I joined simply skilled because I wanted to help others and learn about different people from various backgrounds. I love to learn and help others learn because education is fun and important. In my free time, I love to play piano, read, and play golf.
Natalie

Hi, I am Natalie! I am a tenth-grade student from Reno, Nevada. I tutor other students and I am planning to graduate early next year. I want to become a doctor and work with children. I watched a lot of documentaries for a college class and they highlighted the lack of quality education for other children all around the world. I felt upset as I always complained about my school when I was lucky to even be going. I joined Simply Skilled because I wanted to help bring the education that these students deserve to them.
Gabriela

Hi my name is Gaby and I am currently a Junior in the United States. A few of my interests include creative writing, computer programming, and learning foreign languages. Traveling the world is a goal that I am hoping to achieve with the intent of experiencing different places and cultures.
Ngultso

My name is Ngultso Drugdor and I’m a high schooler in Illinois. I enjoy making art and reading books in my free time. I joined simply skilled because I wanted to make more of a positive impact on people. I think that education is one of the ways I can do that while also learning something new.
Diya

Hello! I’m Diya, and I am currently a sophomore from North Carolina, USA. In my free time I enjoy playing soccer, baking, and crocheting! In my two years of being a tutor, I have been able to witness the impact of resources on education. Joining Simply Skilled allows me to translate my concerns into solution-oriented action; as I am still on my journey to broadening pathways of access to students across the world!
Cuiyi

Hi! My name’s Cuiyi. I’m currently a high school junior from Chicago. In my freetime, I enjoy playing badminton, playing the guitar, and watching ramdam tv shows. From a young age, I have reconogize the importance of education, that it is vital for our own individual succes as well as helping shape a better society. Hence, that’s why I joined Simple Skilled: to support education by increasing it’s accessbility in all parts of the world.
Gabbi

Hello, my name is Gabbi and I’m a rising junior from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. In my free time, I play golf, lacrosse, piano and violin. I am also the co-president of my school’s AAPI Alliance. As a Korean and Filipino American, I acknowledge my privilege to have an good education, but am also aware that many periphery countries struggle when it does come to education. Thus, I joined SimplySkilled to bring my personal love of learning to a fellow Southeast Asian country (Cambodia).
Mahia

Hello, my name is Mahia and I want to help kids all over the world get a chance to learn how to read and write. My hobbies include building puzzles and reading books. I come from a country where not everyone has a chance to go to school and can’t sometimes afford pencils to write with. I would like to help reduce the number of kids who are unable to learn because of money issues by providing free resources for all.

Maryam

Hello! my name is Maryam. I am a senior in high-school studying humanities and commerce. I am an Indian living in UAE and i love editing, playing board games, baking, exploring new places, photography and many more. I also love crime/mystery movies and dramas so much.
according to me education helps people develop critical thinking skills, gain a broader understanding of the world, and contribute positively to society, and i want everyone to have access to education. Learning sociology has opened my eye so much since we study about the society and what hardships they face. I came across simply skilled and thought this is the perfect opportunity for me to help students in any way i can.
I’m thankful for this opportunity since i can gain more experience and help people through simply skilled !

Alexandra

My name is Alexandra Denisova, and I am a 10th grader in the United States. I was born in Russia and immigrated to the states at 5 years old. In the U.S., my eyes were opened to the wide access I had to education and the privileges that came with it. I grew up bilingual, speaking both Russian and English. I’m currently learning Spanish, my third language. I find it incredible to be able to communicate with so many people from all over the world as well as learn about various cultures and the diversity on our planet. At my school, I run a social justice club in which we discuss ethnic tolerance in addition to various injustices happening in the world. I’m passionate about humanities and want to go into law when I’m older. In my free time, I enjoy reading historical fiction books and playing tennis. I’m so excited to be a part of FECAE and will do all I can to give kids from around the globe the opportunity to learn and receive an equal education!
Riko

Hi, my name is Riko! I’m a self-motivated junior high school student in Tokyo. I am fascinated by the world of literature, and reading and writing have always been my passions. My hobby is dancing, and I’m currently devoting my free time to remembering my favorite artists’ dance practice videos! Since I love studying and learning new things, I would try my best to help children around the world have access to quality education and contribute to broadening their chances in the future! 

Vaishnavi

My name is Vaishnavi Varadharaja! I am currently a high school sophomore residing in California. I have an extreme passion for medicine and computer science pathway. I also volunteer at Kumon (an educational institution), which inspired me to join Simply Skilled.  As someone privileged to receive an education in America, I aim to support students who cannot receive quality education worldwide.

Outreach

Bonnie (HEAD)

I’m Bonnie Bui and in the fall of 2023 will be a sophomore. I’m also the daughter of two immigrant parents. With dreams and aspires to be give more than what I have. By giving back to the community around me the help they need whenever I can. Having time to educate myself on certain topics and being able to know when I’m wrong on one. I’m also a NAM runner up in the state of North Dakota and wish to empower young girls and boy even to be more confident in themselves. Thank you for taking time to read more about me!!
Tejasvi (HEAD)

Hello! I’m Tejasvi Gutti, a junior in high school from Texas. Education and knowledge has always been something that is very dear to me. I love learning about new topics and am always enthusiastic to learn about new subjects—whether that be about psychology or other cultures. In my leisure time, I enjoy calligraphy, reading, and playing my guitar. As a migrating child from India, my community has constantly evolved and I have seen a plethora of audiences involving poor educational systems. Although the situations have improved in some areas, reform has yet to be advanced. Simply Skilled is an ideal way for me to contribute to my diverse society while pursuing my passions in knowledge and helping others. I am so excited to make use of this opportunity to give back to the diverse community I cherish so dearly!
Titas (HEAD)

Hello! I’m Titas, I’m a current sophomore in high school and rising junior from North Carolina! Education is a necessity deserved for everyone; Taking part in education has painted a new canvas for me, one that allows me to grow academically, mentally, and socially everyday. To provide everyone with the same and deserved experience, I took my chance to join SimplySkilled to spread and ensure that children of all ages, backgrounds, etc receive the education they most certainly entitled to! Words cannot describe how I am more than exhilarated to work with the SimplySkilled staff and help spread the program’s initiative!
Djeneba

Hi! I am a sophomore from the United States with a passion for international relations and activism. With my interest in creating positive change on a global scale, I have become a member of Simply Skilled. I hope to use my skills and knowledge to help create the next generation of leaders who will work toward a brighter future. With a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others, I am dedicated to helping others achieve their goals and make a positive impact in the world.
Janvi

Hi! I am Janvi and I am a junior in high school in New Jersey. I enjoy reading books, particularly nonfiction. I like studying science and conducting small experiments with my younger sister at home. I am extremely creative, friendly, and passionate person. I was born and raised in India. Growing up in a well educated household, but knowing that not everyone has the opportunity to obtain an education, taught me that life is not fair. I want to assist underprivileged children to acquire an education so that they can have an opportunity to make their future brighter.
Towa

Hi! I’m Towa, an 11th-grade student from Tokyo. Education has always been my passion. Growing up in a developed country, I have taken education for granted, but at the same time, it comes with the responsibility to make the world a better place. I believe that making the world a better place is not just about giving something, but rather about sharing the knowledge we have acquired with those in need, on an equal footing. Even if our contribution seems small, by spreading it, we can make a significant impact. That’s why I am committed to working in education, and I am convinced that Simply Skilled is the perfect platform to achieve this goal.
Let us all work together to ensure that everyone has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potentia
Sakura

Hello, I am Sakura, a high school student in Japan. I love to listen to music, and especially devoted to K-pop! I am a huge fan of TXT (Tomorrow by Together)!
I believe that education is the starting point of everything. Education creates the future. I hope to see more children with a gleam in their eyes.

Mariel Precious Joy C. Gardose

I am Mariel Precious Joy C. Gardose, a teacher from the Philippines. As a teacher, I advocate for youth empowerment for I believe that when young people are empowered and supported, they can thrive and become the person that they desire to be. In line with this, I am also passionate about promoting Education Equity, striving and ensuring that students have an equal access to excellent and quality learning opportunities. Having an experience in the education sector, I firmly believe in the transformative power of education in creating a difference in the lives of people. Beyond my work as a teacher, I am also working towards the advancement of mental health awareness and literacy among individuals, specifically students. Creating a safe space for our students will allow them to openly express their innovative ideas without fearing judgment and rejection. In addition, I am involved in promoting the Sustainable Developments Goals, collaborating with others towards the achievement of a more sustainable, inclusive and just society for all people. Let’s all connect and share our journeys and advocacies. Padayon and mabuhay from the Philippines!

Shekha

Hello, I’m Shekha Abri, a 16-year-old from Iringa, Tanzania, currently pursuing AS. My lifelong dream involves making a difference in my community and helping those in need. I strongly believe in the idea that true happiness comes from helping others. Discovering Simply Skilled seemed like the perfect chance for me to contribute to my community, gain valuable experience, and assist others. I am grateful for this opportunity and committed to supporting others in reaching their goals for a positive impact on the world.