TeachAids

I was first introduced to TeachAids in a class at Stanford, where Professor Piya Sorcar was teaching. The course was unforgettable, not only because of the incredible professors, but also because of the knowledge I gained learning about the Teachaids model. In class, I learned about Teachaids’ HIV education program and CrashCourse content, and I was amazed at how far-reaching and effective these initiatives are. TeachAids provides free, accurate, and culturally appropriate HIV education to millions of people around the world, making critical health information accessible and easy to understand. Piya’s passion and purpose were deeply moving and left a lasting impression on me, so much so that I felt compelled to get involved beyond the classroom. I am now volunteering with Teachaids and working with Piya and Dick to support the CrashCourse social media efforts, helping expand our outreach and the number of lives we can positively impact. I am excited for the future projects I will be working on under the guidance of these incredible mentors!

TeachAids is a one of a kind organization that I am so lucky to have been a part of. I took Dr. Piya Sorcar's class in Winter of 2025 initially interested in how early childhood disparities in health can impact children's learning styles, education, and future, and the depth of information and impact I took away was more than I could have ever imagined. It's one thing to learn about statistics and frameworks on an academic level, but it is a whole different experience and reality seeing implementation in communities, where approaches that seem sound in theory often fall short due to cultural and contextual factors and lived experiences that academic models cannot ever fully capture.

I was so struck by the mission and impact of TeachAids that I became a volunteer this year after my winter course ended, hoping to use principles and learnings we were taught in making educational and impactful videos for my sports community, engaging a partnership between TeachAids and Stanford Club Sports to raise more awareness about concussion education and lessons from collegiate athletes to hopefully be a model for younger athletes to look up to. I'm really excited to see what the future of the organization holds!

I’ve been a proud volunteer with TeachAids since 2017, a journey that began in honor of my late cousin, Ashwini Doshi, who was one of the original co-founders. Ashwini was a bright light, deeply committed to making a difference. She poured her heart into TeachAids while still working full-time at Deloitte in New York. She met Dr. Piya Sorcar, the founder of TeachAids, while they were both in graduate school at Stanford University. Their deep bond and shared values helped shape the foundation of this incredible nonprofit.

After Ashwini’s passing, I felt a strong desire to remain connected to her and to the work she so dearly loved and believed in. I began volunteering with TeachAids by taking over her accounting responsibilities for the India efforts. Since then, it has been a gratifying and eye-opening experience. I’ve come to appreciate the immense dedication it takes to run a nonprofit—not just the visible, public-facing success stories, but also the countless hours of unseen effort, patience, and perseverance required behind the scenes.

Dr. Sorcar’s leadership is truly extraordinary. TeachAids was born from her PhD research at Stanford, and her vision, commitment, and compassion continue to steer the organization to new heights. Her team exemplifies excellence—passionate, capable, and determined to create lasting impact. Watching their work up close has inspired me and renewed my own hope that change is possible when smart, driven, and kind-hearted people come together.

Volunteering with TeachAids has allowed me to keep Ashwini’s spirit alive, and also given me the chance to contribute to something much larger. This organisation is a beacon of what’s possible in nonprofit work when innovation meets heart, backed by real expertise and integrity.

My personal experience with TeachAids began in 2010, a year after Piya had launched this groundbreaking organization. Witnessing her vision take root and flourish has been nothing short of inspiring.
TeachAids' HIV education modules have been viewed by over half a billion people as a testament to the organization's ability to scale solutions effectively. This isn't just about numbers; it's about the tangible difference TeachAids is making in underserved communities globally. The organization's meticulous approach, evident in the development of culturally specific versions and the use of engaging animated characters and celebrity voices, demonstrates a deep understanding of the problem space, a executing excellently on solutions that are relatable and sticky, kudos to Piya's vision and her approach to driving the organization's mission along with her passionate team of volunteers.
The expansion into concussion education with "CrashCourse," utilizing VR and HD technology, further exemplifies TeachAids' commitment to innovation and excellence. TeachAids bringing cutting-edge resources to schools and youth sports organizations is filling a critical gap.

TeachAids, embodies the pursuit of excellence I witnessed in its nascent stages. Piya's vision, coupled with the organization's thorough execution, has resulted in a global impact that is both profound and lasting. It's a testament to the power of well-crafted, accessible educational resources in fostering healthier lives, particularly in those areas that need it most. TeachAids' proven track record of innovation and global reach ensures that any donor's contribution translates into measurable impact, fostering healthier lives worldwide. To me it is not about donating time or resources but the fulfillment that you're empowering communities with knowledge and tools for a better future.

I started volunteering for TeachAids in its early days, back when Piya Sorcar was building it brick by brick. We were neighbors, so I’d often get surprise knocks on my door whenever there was exciting news to share! I’ll never forget the day TeachAids received its 501(c)(3) status—Piya came running over, and we jumped up and down together on my front stoop, celebrating the milestone. There were many moments like that—when she secured an incredible celebrity voice, or got her very first office on Sand Hill Road and countless more. Over the years, TeachAids has grown and evolved, but Piya has remained the same: laser-focused on the impact her work has on the people she’s trying to help, and that’s what makes TeachAids such an incredible organization to be part of. Seventeen years later, I had the pleasure of watching my son volunteer for TeachAids to help rebuild their website. What a full circle moment!

I've been working on the tech team for several months, and I can't speak highly enough of the leadership at TeachAids! Dr. Sorcar is one of the most driven and determined people I've met, and combined with her caring and compassion she's an unstoppable force of good. I look forward to future projects with the team!

I was truly honored to volunteer for the CrashCourse program to help spread awareness about concussions. As a former athlete—and now the mother of two young athletes—I understand all too well the pressure to “push through the pain.” I was shocked to learn how significantly proper care can reduce the risk of repeat concussions and even prevent permanent brain damage.

With so many high school students not reporting their injuries, I’m incredibly grateful for TeachAids’ free, accessible resources. It gives me peace of mind knowing I can start educating my kids early—arming them with knowledge that could one day protect their health and well-being.
What I deeply admire about TeachAids is their understanding that it’s not just what you say—it’s how and where you say it. They’ve mastered the art of combining respected ambassadors with cutting-edge technology to deliver life-saving information in a way that truly resonates. Whether addressing HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, or concussions, their work shifts public perception, normalizes difficult conversations, and empowers individuals to make informed choices for themselves and their communities.

Dr. Piya Sorcar is a genuine inspiration. She has built a team of incredibly dedicated volunteers who continue to grow in both numbers and commitment. As a busy working mom, I rarely find extra time—but for TeachAids, I always will. Their mission and impact are just that important.

As a tech team volunteer managing special projects for TeachAids, I've witnessed something remarkable that sets this organization apart: the magnetic pull it exerts on people's hearts despite the overwhelming demands of modern life.

What continues to amaze me is how TeachAids attracts incredibly talented people who are already stretched thin with professional and personal commitments, yet they consistently carve out time to contribute. I've sat in virtual meetings with professionals from across the globe balancing new parenthood with their volunteer work, leaders in tech dedicating weekend time, and students balancing rigorous academic schedules — all united by an unwavering commitment to TeachAids' mission.

This phenomenon isn't accidental. TeachAids has cultivated an environment where everyone feels their contributions create tangible impact. Whether developing educational content that reaches millions globally through their HIV Prevention Begins With Me program, building cutting-edge concussion education through CrashCourse, or organizing COVID-19 resources during the pandemic through CoviDB.org, volunteers see direct results from their efforts.

I've experienced this pull myself. Despite my packed schedule, TeachAids remains a constant presence in my thoughts — a persistent reminder of what truly matters. The mission resonates so deeply that finding time becomes less about scheduling and more about answering a calling. When I witness leaders in healthcare, technology, and education dedicating precious hours to collaborative problem-solving at TeachAids, it reinforces that this is where meaningful change happens.

What separates TeachAids from other organizations is this remarkable ability to inspire sustained commitment. People don't just volunteer once; they stay connected for years, often increasing their involvement over time. This speaks volumes about both the organization's leadership under Dr. Piya Sorcar and the genuine impact volunteers witness firsthand.

As I look ahead, I'm not just planning to continue supporting TeachAids — I'm excited to expand my involvement. This organization has shown me that when purpose aligns with passion, we can all find time for what truly matters, regardless of how busy life becomes. For anyone seeking to make a genuine difference in global health education while working alongside dedicated, passionate individuals, TeachAids offers an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to something truly transformative.

TeachAids is a wonderful, inspiring nonprofit that I had the privilege of being involved with as a volunteer over the last decade. I was lucky enough to do some impactful volunteer work in India for 3 weeks with TeachAids’ CEO and founder, Dr. Piya Sorcar, and a few local team members back in 2014. Getting the chance to work so closely together and see the TeachAids product development process showed me how detailed and process driven their work is. This experience was really pivotal in my life and inspired my career path in international development and global health. I highly recommend working with TeachAids if you get the chance.. it’s a life changing experience!

TeachAids is an inspiring, strong and focused organization. In my role as the Director of Community Engaged Learning at Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service, I have the privilege of partnering with numerous organizations, and TeachAids stands out for its unwavering commitment to rigor and student development. Through Dr. Piya Sorcar’s courses at Stanford and internship programs for both undergraduates and high school students, TeachAids provides young leaders with invaluable exposure to rigorous research methodologies. These experiences not only demonstrate the determination and resilience required but also fosters a sense of purpose and dedication.

What truly distinguishes TeachAids is its exceptional leadership, particularly that of Piya Sorcar. Piya brings both her passion and intellect to the table, harnessing the talents and passions of everyone she collaborates with. She orchestrates the team with finesse, inspiring a sense of unity and purpose. As an organization reliant on volunteers, it is Piya’s positive energy, commitment to rigor and clear vision that instill and maintain commitment to the work.

I am Partner at one of India's leading Venture Capital funds, investing across consumer, enterprise and health applications of technology. Across my career I have built and led high growth organisations tackling large problems in health, education and sustainability, all grounded in a deep bias for technology and data. Through this time, the most constant and significant influence that has informed my approach as a product leader and investor is my experience with TeachAIDS.

As a long time volunteer, I have had a front seat to the evolution of TeachAIDS into a global leader, setting the benchmarks for what deeply research led, high scale, high outcome global impact can be. The nuance and intentionality with which TeachAIDS has designed and scaled its programs is a North Star for both private and non profit organisations. The founder and CEO, Piya Sorcar is an incredible leader driving an unmatched team and board toward the mission of materially shifting education and health outcomes within fields that are steeped in misinformation and social taboos globally.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary journey for over 12 years now and am excited for the next programs that TeachAIDS launches.

TeachAids develops culturally appropriate interventions that promote global health.
The organization tackles one health issue at a time, developing education materials and identifying the best ways to distribute them to the people who need them the most. Impact at scale is the ultimate purpose and the founder won't rest or move on to another health issue until the goal is reached.
The organization is cost conscious and successfully developed a supportive network of volunteers that power the organization way beyond its financial footprint.
As a former director of the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford with deep insights into the nonprofit sector, I support TeachAids. It is a gem in the nonprofit world and you can be assured of outsized impact return on your philanthropic investment.

Led by Dr. Sorcar and her exceptional executive team, TeachAids has had a remarkable impact on global education and health outreach since its inception in 2009. From the outset, TeachAids assembled a consortium of world-class experts spanning infectious disease, social sciences, psychology, and technology, demonstrating a commitment to tackling some of humanity's most pressing challenges head-on.

Coming from India, I intimately understand the complexities and obstacles inherent in effecting large-scale change in such a dynamic and populous nation. As a long-time volunteer, I’ve had the privilege to witness TeachAids consistently defying the odds to deliver comprehensive, research-based HIV education across India, even in regions where sex education was restricted, transforming countless lives in the process. Despite its initial expansion into India, the organization's reach has extended to 82 countries, a testament to the global relevance and efficacy of its educational content . Over the years, I have deepened my involvement with TeachAids, particularly leveraging my expertise in technology to help spearhead their technological initiatives. The opportunity to contribute to projects that have reached hundreds of millions of people worldwide has been immensely fulfilling. Working alongside TeachAids' dynamic team of young interns and seasoned technical experts has been very inspiring. It reinforced my belief in small groups that can change our world for the better.

TeachAids’ work in the HIV and concussion education space exemplifies the power of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this extraordinary journey and cannot recommend TeachAids highly enough to anyone seeking to make a meaningful difference in the world.

TeachAIDs is a remarkable non-profit organization with a singular mission to address major global health changes for which education interventions can have significant impact. What sets this organization apart is its approach and methodology, which is centered on developing sustainable and impactful solutions through extensive contextual research and local stakeholder engagement, so that interventions are fully customized for the needs of local contexts, and ultimately transfer ownership to the target communities they were designed to serve. Furthermore, the technological solutions developed to deliver the educational interventions are thoughtfully crafted and designed to ensure appropriate adoption and engagement for optimal outcomes. A core value of the organization is to ‘design for dignity,’ recognizing that all people, no matter their social/economic and educational standing, deserve to be treated as equals, rather than subjects of paternalistic approaches of other organizations who simply view such people as recipients of charity. Such a thoughtful approach towards their work, rooted in thorough research and sound humanistic values, sets this organization apart from the rest. I’m thrilled to have served as an Advisor for TeachAIDs for many years, and am always awe struck by the rigor, integrity and quality of the work, as embodied by its CEO, and the many volunteers who she has inspired to contribute towards its mission. The results of the work speaks for itself, with both the HIV and Concussion work resulting in measurable positive impact through game-changing educational interventions.

My first experience with TeachAids programming was as the Senior Director of Education for USA Football. The forward thinking, researched based CrashCourse education for coaches was so impressive that it became the model program for our National coach certification for concussion education. The learner centered programming from TeachAids went on to set the gold standard for the entirety of our course offerings as a National Governing body. Now serving as the Commissioner for a State high school activities association, I continue to look to TeachAids programming as the leader in student centered education and training. Joining the TeachAids family as a newly appointed Board member has allowed me the honor of supporting the continued growth and development in TeachAids programming that has had such a powerful impact in the organizations that I have served. I have seen firsthand the positive outcomes and lasting influence that this incredible organization has had on adults and children in communities both Nationally and Internationally.

I was first introduced to TeachAids and its founder, Piya Sorcar, over a decade ago by the brilliant, incomparable Clifford Nass, a co-founder of TeachAids. I was immediately struck by the genius and passion underlying this small but mighty non-profit organization. Tackling enormously critical health issues in inhospitable environments was an undertaking that required intelligence, creativity, stamina and resilience - and the TeachAids team had them all.

The loss of Cliff in late 2013 was an unimaginable blow to so many of us but from that loss grew an equally unimaginable bond, friendship and partnership with Piya. Piya is the driving force behind this truly life-changing and life-saving organization. Whether taking on HIV/AIDS, concussions or COVID, the energy, dedication and enthusiasm she brings to TeachAids is evidenced not only by the results of the innovative educational tools created but also by the thousands of hugely talented volunteers who have given their time, creativity and resources to further the TeachAids mission.

The opportunity to serve on the TeachAids board of directors alongside Piya and our indefatigable co-Chair Dick Gould has been a huge privilege and honor. I am excited to see where these two incredible leaders take TeachAids next.

TeachAids uses innovative and smart methods to build and drive change through the resources and services they provide. When I first met TeachAids and evaluated how they have been able to create such impactful resources and materials, I was blown away at ahead of the curve they are in their methods and thinking. It far surpasses what is in the industry. Working with them gets true results based on these methods and it makes them some of the best partners your organization can work with to achieve success.

I first joined Crash Course as an advisor in their early days when I was approached as a local high school football coach. Due to the concussion issue in youth sports and the lack of support for student-athletes, families, and coaches, I was interested in lending my assistance wherever possible. As a coach, I have 100+ athletes a year whose safety is dependent on myself and others putting them in the best environment possible to enjoy all the benefits of youth sports in a safe manner.

I helped develop materials and content, recruit other programs and resources, and whatever else I was asked to contribute. Their growth has been tremendous to watch over the years behind their great leadership and direction, and I am humbled and appreciative to have played a small part in that journey.

This is valuable and necessary work being done by a great group of people who truly want to give back and protect our youth.

What a pleasure to be able to write this statement on behalf of the great non-profit, TeachAids! I have had the pleasure and privilege to serve on the Boards of several highly respected non-profits, but none have had the impact world-wide of TeachAids. For seven years I have served as a full-time volunteer as we have navigated through Covid education and especially through the development of impactful Concussion Education for young people, parents and athletic coaches and beyond (military, eg.). Working daily with CEO, Dr. Piya Sorcar, has provided a great learning experience for professional growth in terms of "people relationships" (based on respect), ability to "listen", importance of attention to detail, relevance of good research-based decisions, and prompt and efficient follow-through. Knowing Piya and the respect TeachAids has generated, I am not surprised that over 1500 volunteers from throughout the world participated in the development of our latest free product, the CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall website! And I would be remiss to fail to mention the personal impact and "mentorship" values Piya has had on the young interns who have served with her - they well realize how privileged they are to "learn" under her guidance. Piya and those she has touched so deeply have made TeachAids one of the most respected non-profits in the world of Global Health for over 15 years - from HIV education instigated in 82 countries, to on-going Covid Education, and to Concussion Education, being used world-wide.
Dick Gould, Athletic Coach

TeachAids is a remarkable organization, led by the amazing Piya Sorcar. Their work is based on deep research, and has demonstrated meaningful results in all problems they have tackled.

I have known Piya for over a decade, and can say without hyperbole that she is a force of nature! When she sets her mind and heart on addressing a problem, there is nothing that will stop her. Her passion runs as deep as her intellect, and her creative problem solving skills are unmatched. It is an honor to be part of the TeachAids community, and to witness the impact of TeachAids again and again and again.

Volunteering with TeachAids has been a defining moment of my life, and I’d highly recommend others get involved. I first got involved after taking a Stanford University course taught by Founder & CEO, Dr. Piya Sorcar. In this class students had the opportunity to design interventions to implement into TeachAids programs (for me, this involved building a recommended educational module for the TeachAids CrashCourse concussion education program). However, the network of TeachAids goes beyond just the Stanford University campus and the Bay Area, with volunteers, advisors, and partnered organizations across the U.S. and internationally. I’ve even had the opportunity to recruit and bring in volunteers from my hometown in Cincinnati, OH.

Piya is an amazing professor, mentor, and friend. No doubt as to why so many of her current and former students stay involved with TeachAids. She truly invests her all into mentoring and supporting TeachAids volunteers (whether you were a former student of hers or not). She has written me numerous recommendation letters for scholarships and graduate programs, helped me establish connections with experts in various fields, and provided me with invaluable professional/academic guidance. After getting involved with TeachAids outside of my classes with Piya, as an Intern, I got the opportunity to introduce concepts for interventions that became realized programs, like CoviDB 4 Kids, a kid-friendly COVID-19 education intervention. Furthermore, I got the opportunity to be promoted to a Global Health Fellow and have increased responsibilities and impact within the organization. It’s my work at TeachAids that has no doubt led me to pursue work at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the Stanford University School of Medicine, and other organizations that have given me opportunities of a lifetime to make a positive impact in the world (outside of what I already got to do at TeachAids).

However you decide to get involved with TeachAids (volunteer, partner, donor, etc), I can’t recommend enough that you do. You will not regret working with this powerhouse organization and team changing the world for the better.

I first met Piya in 2017 as a student in her course about designing research-based interventions for global health problems. The structure, content, and mission of this class inspired me to volunteer for TeachAids as a research assistant for the CrashCourse concussion program. My time working with Piya and this wonderful non-profit organization marked a pivotal time in my life, setting me up for a related professional career in research. The passion and tenacity of the other volunteers, as well as the mission-driven work we were contributing to, will forever remain a memorable piece in my personal development. This work has made a monumental impact on athletes, coaches, and teams across the country and I can't wait to see what important work they do next within public health.

I have been with TeachAids since 2017 and cannot imagine ever leaving because it is truly rewarding and amazing to dedicate my time to an amazing organization that serves our communities by promoting health education and providing innovative solutions. I have seen the amazing work of the HIV prevention, CrashCourse, and CovidB projects through the years I’ve been with TeachAids.

I am proud to be part of such an amazing non-profit that continues to address the needs of the community. Everyone is welcoming and it’s wonderful working with like minded individuals who have a shared goal. Not only are my colleagues fantastic at their job, but they are loving and caring individuals, both in the office and out in the world.

As for Dr. Piya Sorcar, the founder of TeachAids, she is amazing and I have never met anyone else like her. All I have to say is I am thankful for her guidance and even guiding me back to the right path when I am off it. I really do not know where I would be without her, other than lost! Her support and teachings have gifted me with knowledge, perspective, and direction I would not have otherwise had, and I thank her for that.

The program first approached me as they developed their materials for Crash Course, a concussion awareness program. I partnered with them due to a shared interest in increasing awareness of how best to approach this issue holistically. As head of a high school football program, I am entrusted with anywhere from 80-120 players each year, and any tool that can help protect them is something that I want to pursue.

I came on board as an advisor, helping to develop materials and recruiting other programs and athletes to the process. We have test-piloted materials developed from these early stages, plus this has opened up other possibilities for us (such as a program gathering data via mouthpieces to measure impact).

The program has developed and expanded greatly since then, reaching over 100 million athletes, parents, and coaches in multiple sports. Its value as a resource is undeniable, and being a small part of this has been a high point of my career as a coach and educator.

TeachAids has truly been a life-changing experience for me. Before I discovered this organization, I never realized the immense power of code and technology in making a difference in the world. But TeachAids showed me that with just a few lines of code, I could actually create something people would use!

From day one, it was clear that TeachAids operated with an unwavering passion and commitment to addressing real issues. With organized meetings it provided the perfect mix of open "go for it" attitude with guide rails if needed.

The support and mentorship provided by TeachAids enabled me to think outside the box, push boundaries, and come up with creative solutions! Most importantly all the people there are so kind & caring, always pushing you forward—not even batting an eye to the age gap when I came in as a 9th grader. I would 1000% recommend anyone I know to volunteer here!!!

I started volunteering with TeachAids as a sophomore in high school. Now, as a sophomore in college, when I reflect on my most formative experiences, TeachAids is no doubt at the top of the list! I was first drawn to TeachAids by their passionate, driven mission to disseminate health education materials, but I quickly realized that there is so much more that is special about TeachAids beyond their outstanding work. I have met wonderful mentors and friends at TeachAids whom I will always treasure. Each person is always ready to support one another, creating a one-of-a-kind community that not only gets the job done, but has fun in the process. I especially admire how selfless and hard-working every volunteer is in pursuit of the same mission, which is reflected in TeachAids materials being used by a stellar network of top-notch national organizations. My four years at TeachAids have equipped me with skills and ideas that will shape my future career, and I am endlessly grateful to be a part of the team.

I have had the great privilege of being involved with TeachAids from the very beginning. In 2005 I watched Piya launch the first scientific research projects as a PhD student at Stanford that were the start of all this, and maybe even helped in that process a bit, and from that point on I have been truly impressed with the care, rigor and integrity that Piya has shown for the work but also for her students, other volunteers and the people who learn from their programs. Piya wanted to do things the right way from the start and base everything on science, not ‘opinions’, and this has made a huge difference. You can see that the products and programs they have created are not only top quality but they are supported by an incredibly impressive list of people. Those experts get asked to participate in many organizations and programs but I am sure that one of the reasons why they choose to work with Piya’s org is because they see that the teachings and programs are based on research that is scientifically rigorous and valid, and because the vision for TeachAids is very unique. I have volunteered for TeachAIDS since 2009 and I continue to be in awe of this organization; the programs are better than anything else out there and they still offer them for free. It would be so easy to ‘give in’ and monetize these courses but under Dr. Sorcar’s leadership the organization has continued to make courses available to as many people as possible, for free. We all know that this is the best way to share the knowledge and teach. It is pure and beautiful, and the results speak for themselves. This is truly a wonderful organization, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to volunteer for TeachAids!

I first started working with TeachAids as a junior in high school in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. I joined the CoviDB Task Force, which looked for resources that were then vetted by experts to be tagged and uploaded to our website in order to combat misinformation about the pandemic. In a time of isolation, I looked forward to my weekly meetings with CoviDB, pondering over questions of misinformation with such an enthusiastic and vibrant team of volunteers, doctors, and experts. I continued to work with TeachAids' CrashCourse products up to the present, eventually helping to finalize the launch of the Concussion Storywall, which shares thousands of concussion stories in an effort to spread awareness about the variety of symptoms and recovery experiences one can go through. Now a sophomore in college, I am still working with TeachAids to launch their CrashCourse product packages. I have stayed with this organization for so long because I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work side by side with such a diverse and intelligent group of volunteers, not to mention the founder, Dr. Piya Sorcar, one of the warmest and friendliest mentors I have ever met. Working to spread education and awareness about key issues such as the pandemic and concussions has allowed me to reflect on my own education and turn to a focus in public health in school, having never considered this pathway before. I have seen firsthand the support that TeachAids' products bring to people's lives, and I am so proud that I get to be a part of this organization that is only growing and continuing to spread their reach.

As a volunteer for TeachAids during their "CrashCourse" concussion education video production, I can honestly say that it was an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only did I get to work with a passionate and dedicated team, but I also got to contribute to a project that has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of young athletes.

From the moment I walked into the TeachAids office, I felt welcomed and valued. The team was friendly, supportive, and eager to teach me everything I needed to know to contribute to the project. I was given the opportunity to work on a range of tasks, from researching the latest concussion research to assisting with the video production process.

But what really stood out to me was the passion and dedication of the TeachAids team. Every member of the team was committed to creating a product that would truly make a difference in the lives of young athletes. They went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of the CrashCourse program was accurate, informative, and engaging.

The end result was truly impressive. The final product was a complete guide, dipped in immersive virtual reality, that was not only informative, but also engaging and entertaining. The team had managed to take a complex and serious topic and turn it into something that was both educational and fun.

Overall, my experience volunteering for TeachAids was incredibly rewarding. I got to work with an amazing team, contribute to an important project, and learn a lot along the way. I would recommend volunteering for TeachAids to anyone looking for a meaningful and impactful volunteer experience.

Lastly, I have to rave about Dr. Piya Sorcar, CEO and founder of TeachAids. Piya is a true altruist. The energy, love, and support she brings into the room is emphatic. In a room full of football giants, her presence still reigned supreme. To that note, she took us all under her wing, taking the time to understand all of us and our unique stories. She has become a source of pure council, a great friend, and a mentor to myself and other Stanford student athletes. Her impression upon our lives is insurmountable.

Thank you Piya for the gift of TeachAids.

Wes Annan
Stanford ‘19

As a volunteer for TeachAids who helped program CrashCourse and CoviDB, I can say that this is one of the most caring and hardworking nonprofits I know of!

I first started working with Piya to create version 1 of CoviDB back in 2020 when the pandemic was just getting started. Over the next several months, I personally gained a ton of valuable skills while making something that could directly help researchers gather accurate information about the pandemic. In 2022, we set out to create a second version which was much more usable and accessible.

Throughout my time working with them, the end goal of creating something to address people’s needs in an innovative way was always a top priority.

TeachAids is an awesome nonprofit! I’ve always deeply valued the importance of giving back to the communities around us. So when a friend reached out asking if I'd be willing to volunteer for TeachAids, I was interested to learn more. What I discovered blew me away! Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, TeachAids is a powerful network of incredibly talented people (of all ages) working together to utilize technology to benefit humanity. It was inspiring to see the diverse array of individuals from world class researchers, leading neurosurgeons and infectious disease experts, working together with young people to build incredible technologies focussed on improving human health. What struck me was how genuine everyone was and how collaboratively the teams worked together. I’ve found many kindred spirits at TeachAids, including the founder Dr. Piya Sorcar and another long-time advisor Aparna Khare. The hight school and college students have been an absolute joy to work with. We all share the common love for lifetime learning.

Amidst the pandemic, when much of the world shut-down, TeachAids was going strong. We had more than 1,500 volunteers working together (remotely) to build education products to improve the lives of our youth globally. It was hugely inspiring to watch the TeachAids products come together amidst the challenges around the world.

For anyone serious about wanting to solve global health problems, TeachAids is the place to be. It's rare to see an organization so mission driven and focussed on excellence in every way. I've been a technology advisor for TeachAids for three years now, helping to build complex technical systems. I plan to be with them for a lifetime.

Volunteering with TeachAids as a writer has been so fulfilling as an individual. The team is warm, intentional and committed to their mission. The way they operate is with utmost respect for one and other and an unwavering focus for their vision to educate people across the world. I have learnt so much from my time here but perhaps the most important lesson is that you can have all the knowledge and resources but your product is only as good as the heart you put into it. I have seen firsthand how much understanding, passion, research, time and dedication goes into building each product and it has been a pleasure to learn from the team to prioritise understanding and quality over just quantity. The attention to detail and emphasis on treating everyone (whether within the team or the target audience) with respect is just unparalleled. I hope to have the privilege of volunteering with TeachAids for many years to come

I volunteered with TeachAids in the fall of 2018 and the experience was truly life-changing. I got to see up close the incredible amount of work and heart that went into creating one of its initiatives, CrashCourse, which educates youth athletes about the dangers of concussions (given the fact that concussion education is often incomplete, fragmented, or completely lacking). Everyone I worked with was sincere, kind, and passionate about creating initiatives for vital issues in healthcare that require nuanced conversations and education. One of the best experiences ever, hands-down.

I started volunteering with TeachAids in the summer of 2020, after my freshman year of high school. As an athlete, I identified strongly with CrashCourse and the value of concussion education, and it was an incredible privilege to work with Piya and Dick and the CrashCourse team. Over the past two and half years, I have worked on both CrashCourse and CoviDB. I was part of the launch team on the CrashCourse Story Wall and spent many hours tagging and categorizing video. The experience reinforced the many different ways in which a concussion can have an impact, and affect not only the person, but also the people around them. The Story Wall is a unique resource and is so valuable for the community of those affected by concussions. More recently, I have contributed to the CoviDB initiative, researching and identifying credible resources to be included on the website. Every member of the TeachAids team is incredibly generous and intelligent and I have found it inspiring to work with them on such interesting and valuable projects.

I volunteered for TeachAids on the CoviDB Task Force during fall of 2020 and spring of 2021. It was a great opportunity to work with passionate students from across the nation on working together to collect educational materials which could be used to learn more about the pandemic. This organization brings together students from all walks of life and backgrounds and I left each meeting inspired and having learned something new. TeachAids aims to benefit its communities but to also inspire, educate, and push its volunteers to be more knowledgeable. I had full freedom to explore my own interests in Covid vaccination efforts, with opportunities to work alongside other volunteers and Piya to tackle a real life issue of vaccine access in San Mateo County. TeachAids is an amazing organization that is so welcoming for its volunteers and inspires them to learn something new each day.

My exposure with TeachAids started my freshman year of college when I took a class taught by the founder and CEO, Dr. Piya Sorcar, called “Designing Research-Based Interventions to Solve Global Health Problems.” In that class, we learned about the design methodology developed by TeachAids in the context of their HIV/AIDS content and worked on utilizing that specialized strategy for concussion education applications. I can confidently say this class has been the most influential (and fun) class of my college career so far and I decided to continue working with TeachAids via a summer internship. During my internship, I worked extensively on a project to survey concussion legislation and sports governing body bylaws by state in order to identify barriers to entry for the expansion of CrashCourse, TeachAid's concussion education curriculum. I also served as a member of the resource collection team for coviDB, an expert-curated platform organizing resources relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. After my internship, I was given the incredible opportunity to continue my concussion legislation work as a research assistant for TeachAid’s newly established Institute for Brain Research and Innovation, where I continue to contribute. I cannot speak highly enough of TeachAids as an organization and Dr. Sorcar as a mentor. No other college experience I have had has so tangibly shaped my view of the world and pushed me to think creatively. TeachAids serves as a model non-profit from which other organizations have much to learn.

I first got involved in TeachAids as a graduate student at Stanford, and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside such a thoughtful and passionate team. From Dr. Dan Daneshvar at TeachAids' Brain Institute for Research and Innovation and Dr. Christin Glorioso with the CoviDB initiative to Mr. Dick Gould with TeachAids as a whole, each mentor is not only incredibly accomplished in their own field, but they are also some of the most humble, accessible, and passionate folks whom I've ever had the pleasure to work with.

As the Founder and CEO, Dr. Piya Sorcar drives the mission and vision of TeachAids with such intentionality and care. Her passion for bettering the world, increasing access to evidence-based education, and improving the lives of those around her (whether a student-athlete, community member, or TeachAids volunteer) is unparalleled. Each volunteer I have met and have worked with has also been wonderful, and I have made life-long friendships through my time with TeachAids.

Above all, I have had the opportunity to see the tangible impact of my work. Each task and project I have worked on has been intentional and meaningfully-designed, with the ultimate goal of bettering our community.

I can't recommend TeachAids highly enough! From the mentors to the projects to the fellow volunteers, it is a life-changing, invigorating opportunity to be a part of something truly meaningful.

The environment at TeachAIDS is one of passion, collaboration and creativity. TeachAIDS has been a home I can always come back to when I am home and needing direction and/or support, and wanting to use my skills in a valuable way. I worked on the HIV/AIDS project back in 2016 and in 2019 I helped on the concussion awareness efforts. I got to conduct interviews, write blog posts, do scientific research and collaborate with leaders in the field. TeachAIDS is such an interdisciplinary place to work and I had the opportunity to grow several of my strengths. I am so so grateful for every person I met through this organization and would highly recommend getting involved!

TeachAids was such an incredible experience in every way. The mentorship from everyone, particularly Piya, Dan, and Dick who are all regarded at the top of their particular field, was incredible and something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. Everyone, whether at the senior or junior levels of experience, was extremely fun to work with and their dedication and passion to the team showed in the quality of work done. What makes TeachAids special, particularly as an education-driven nonprofit, is that everything that was created with years of research driving decisions for best educational attainment. I was fortunate enough to be heavily involved with both the research and product development teams and truly saw the whole process move. It's a lot of rewarding, hard work making a big impact on people's lives.

I started as a volunteer for the TeachAids CoviDB task force in the fall of 2020, specifically helping with resource collection. We worked to find credible, educational materials regarding all aspects of the pandemic, from the virus itself to the cultural and societal impact. Beginning with our first meeting, I was continuously amazed by the work ethic and compassion put forth by all the volunteers and mentors. The environment fostered by the CoviDB task force was extremely welcoming of each volunteer's own interests, and allowed us to explore the topics we were most passionate about while consistently providing support. TeachAids provided me with a very impactful opportunity to aid others during the pandemic by adding to an arsenal of high quality information, resulting in a very fulfilling experience. I know this exceptionally collaborative and supportive environment will allow TeachAids to continue doing incredible work in public health education!

My name is Dylan and I volunteered on the CoviDB task force, a hardworking team of high school and college students who collected resources on COVID-19 and its many social, cultural, and political impacts to build a database of reliable information during such a period of intense misinformation. Through the guidance of our amazing mentors, we not only provided valuable information for those who came across our CoviDB site but also grew as future educators, scientists, etc. ourselves. The welcoming environment, incredible leaders, and intense drive to do good in the world that characterizes TeachAids made it all possible!

Having spent much of my childhood on a ball field, I had become a bit too familiar with concussions by the time I stumbled upon the work of TeachAids. I was immediately impressed by the scope of their past work in addressing health education inequities, and was eager to learn more about their new initiative to revolutionize concussion education. I was welcomed with open arms by Piya and her incredible team at TeachAids.

As soon as I stepped into the office, the passion that everyone had for their work -- the Story Wall project -- and their team was evident. TeachAids is filled with talented individuals who also happen to be amazing teammates and friends, which creates an energizing work environment. I never had a question go unanswered, and I always felt supported as I stepped into new roles. The leadership team at TeachAids is incredibly inclusive and celebrates the work of every individual. From my time at TeachAids, I found friends and mentors who I stay in contact with to this day. I believe that this community is what allows TeachAids to create products that add so much value to the world, making it a one-of-a-kind organization to be a part of. I can't recommend TeachAids enough to educators, student volunteers, and anyone in between!

I started as a volunteer for TeachAids in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to contribute to the important global health work that they do. As a volunteer, I have worked on TeachAids’ CrashCourse Concussion Story Wall and helped to manage social media posts and press releases. The team has been so welcoming to me, and the environment is very supportive. I cannot overstate how valuable the experience of working with TeachAids has been for me. As an undergraduate, I have been given so many opportunities that I could not have found anywhere else. I have also learned so much about crafting good educational materials and about running a nonprofit, as well as expanding my own cultural and scientific understanding of the complex issues that TeachAids is working to address. The work that TeachAids is doing is truly groundbreaking and impactful, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these efforts.

I first got involved with TeachAids while in college in 2016. Since then I have had nothing, but great experiences in the volunteer opportunities I have had. I had the pleasure of doing a ton of work with them on the CrashCourse project that has since launched on a national scale. I did both work study and volunteer work with TeachAids, and loved it. The founder of TeachAids, Piya Sorcar, is the definition of a mission driven leader. She connects with staff, and is great at finding a fit for anyone that wants to volunteer. Her ability to highlight everyone's strengths, and create a tangible purpose for each volunteer is admirable. I even see her as a friend and mentor to this day. Whether in high school, college, or a career I would recommend dedicating time to TeachAids 10/10 if you have the interest in non-profit work and resonate with TeachAids mission and vision.

I was first introduced to TeachAids through Piya Sorcar, a former professor of mine. Piya asked me to volunteer as part of the organization. My work has focused primarily on the CoviDB project and has been incredibly meaningful to me. Working on the CoviDB video series was a particularly meaningful experience for me because of how valuable I know the result will be to people around the world. I've met so many other wonderful high school and college students and gotten to help with video editing and resource collection among other projects.

I first encountered TeachAids a year and a half ago while taking a class taught by founder and CEO, Dr. Piya Sorcar. Having grown up playing hockey and sustaining my fair share of concussions, I felt a strong connection to the CrashCourse concussion education material, specifically its emphasis on supporting teammates that are dealing with this invisible injury. I have been volunteering with TeachAids ever since!

It became obvious to me very quickly that TeachAids is not an ordinary group of people. Every time I meet another volunteer, whether it be a high school student or a world renowned researcher, I am inspired by their work ethic and selflessness —TeachAids is home to some of the most brilliant and hard working people I have ever met. On top of that, everyone is so kind and supportive, making it an enjoyable and fulfilling work environment.

I've been fortunate to work with the TeachAids team for the past 3 years on the CrashCourse concussion initiative. It has been a life changing experience. To see so many passionate professionals and volunteers come together for a prominent, yet silent epidemic has been remarkable. I've learned so much not only from the medical providers who have shared their expertise, but about the the deep unrelenting passion that CEO Piya Sorcar, Chairman Dick Gould, and the other members of the leadership team have for creating change through credible, evidence based education.

The results of this project have been staggering. CrashCourse is the first concussion education project to partner with the largest NGO's and other youth sports entities to distribute CrashCourse for free, and to better prepare coaches and parents for managing this condition. With the brain fly through and Concussion Story Wall serving as first of its kind technology experiences, TeachAids is truly reimagining concussion, and we are well on our way to getting this in the hands of over 100M kids everywhere!

My experience working with TeachAIDS has been an absolute pleasure. The entire team’s passion and positivity for what they do shines through in every single collaborative effort I have shared with them over the past few years. We have worked together to raise awareness and to share CrashCourse’s concussion education and COVID-19 resources for free to everyone who needs it. This amazing nonprofit runs so well because of their Founder and CEO, Piya Sorcar, a genuine leader with a passion to help people. She is a humble and compassionate person who cares deeply for others, and it is easy to see why she has such a strong and supportive team giving their best to do good in the world.

As a veteran I’m always looking to further the needs and ends of my fellow war fighters. I am proud to support TeachAids, as they are proud to support veterans. TeachAids has deftly tackled concussion and head injury awareness for veterans, not stopping at developing resources and handouts like other nonprofits, but really understanding the cultural issues standing in the way of meaningful change. For example, TeachAids has facilitated high level discussions on how to change the culture of the military in order to foster more transparent reporting, and more empathetic responses from ‘the system’. Without tackling cultural factors that limit adoption of the cutting edge research and tools TeachAids has likewise developed, it wouldn’t go anywhere. Some nonprofits develop materials, some try to address cultural change, none have executed on both fronts to the extent that TeachAids has repeatedly done. I know they don’t just focus on veterans, which makes the impact they have had on the veteran and military community all the more impressive. You want to know who’s a great nonprofit? TeachAids. From their founder, Piya, to their interns, everyone of them CARE about the work they do on a level that is truly impressive. I rated them 5 stars because I couldn’t rate them 10. Respectfully, holden (Afghan war vet, army infantryman)

I started working with TeachAids at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic on their covidb.org project. I eventually moved to join the PR and Marketing Team to work on the CrashCourse Concussion Education Initiative and other projects. TeachAids has a rare culture of intertwined hard work and positivity that is hard to capture in words. The work that I have done with TeachAids has truly made a difference in the lives of people worldwide and the products the TeachAids team puts out are always ones that I know I can be proud of.

I encountered TeachAids while looking for opportunities to take action amidst the pandemic. I began as a member of the CoviDB research task force, and since then I have moved to work on other education initiatives, especially in helping spread the word about TeachAids Concussion and Covid education materials through social media. Word cannot explain how the past months have changed my perspective. I always knew how important education is to public health, but through working with TeachAids I have become so much more aware of cultural competency and expanding important messages to reach people of all different types in this incredible multicultural world. WorkinThe work environment is incredibly encouraging and supportive, and I am excited to attend every meeting because being a TeachAids volunteer makes me feel like I am making a difference in the lives of others. I cannot wait to see what else I can learn and the amazing things that TeachAids will do!

I volunteered with TeachAIDS after I'd taken one of the Founder's classes at Stanford (Piya Sorcar). As a former Stanford football team captain, I had a lot of exposure to concussions but didn't know a lot about them. I was then given the opportunity to be a part of TeachAIDS as we developed our groundbreaking concussion education program. The mission and research make it possible for people to confidently overcome the dark challenges that concussions can sometimes present, and I'm grateful to have been a part of something so big! TeachAIDS is a wonderful place that's really making a difference in the world, especially with the CrashCourse Concussion Education Program. Thousands of youth across the country are being educated and such knowledge will lead to safer play and longer lives.
As a (very delicious and nutritious) cherry on top, Piya Sorcar is a tremendous leader. She is full of integrity and abundant leadership, and helped me navigate personal challenges I was facing in my life while I was a volunteer there. She has a profoundly deep passion to change the world and she makes everyone around her a better person.

I started working with TeachAids over three years ago and have enjoyed every minute of it. The leaders, other volunteers, advisors, etc. that contribute to this nonprofit really do it for the good of all the causes they work on. Each person pours their heart into what they're doing and it's so amazing to be a part of. The TeachAids team really has become a family to me and to see the care that they have for those around them is so meaningful. They know that the causes they work on (HIV/AIDS, Concussion, COVID-19) can really make a difference and they give it their all to educate anyone they can on how to solve these difficult problems.

As a 2020 Computer Science + Social Good Fellow for TeachAids, I worked extensively on the Concussion Story Wall Project. Through this project, I utilized my technical skills to help engineer the Story Wall website, which is a free resource containing 4000+ patient stories and expert medical advice. Like all TeachAids products, this resource is entirely free and built for the sole purpose of revolutionizing health education. I also helped as a member of the CoviDB team working to address misinformation related to COVID-19. In this role, I helped to collate reliable expert-vetted articles relating to COVID-19.

My experience with TeachAids was immensely positive and tangibly shaped my future aspirations to become a physician addressing neurological issues like concussions. Moreover, TeachAids as a company is run incredibly effectively, focuses on research-based approaches, and seamlessly integrates a diverse group of volunteers with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes via novel technological approaches to education. At TeachAids, I was encouraged to think creatively, identify innovative approaches to difficult problems, and work in pursuit of a more equitable future. To me, TeachAids stands as the epitome of non-profit work done exceedingly well.

I joined TeachAIDS this past summer working remotely as a graphic design intern. When I returned to school in the fall I was able to continue my work and become a more integral member of the team through an interface design research course. I am currently a senior studying human-computer interaction, and over the past few years I have therefore taken coursework related to the field. Now in my final year, I have completed so many courses wondering "what was the point?" because I couldn't find any real-world application. I'll admit that I was feeling a bit disillusioned and unsure of the skill set I'd be leaving college with. It wasn't until I joined TeachAIDS, however, that I became fully aware of the power and impact a well designed interface can really have. I am continually in awe of how effectively TeachAIDS has tackled the issue of HIV prevention. Becoming a part of TeachAIDS has been an invaluable experience that has opened my eyes in so many ways.

TeachAIDS has found a seemingly simple solution to a very complex problem. When I first learned of their animated software, I stopped and asked myself why no one had thought of it sooner. They have reworked HIV prevention education so that the content is both culturally appropriate and highly informative. I've learned that everything that goes on behind the scenes is far from simple and only made possible by the team's tireless efforts. What amazes me the most is the entire team's unwavering passion and commitment to the cause. Everyone is so determined to produce the best quality work possible because they believe in it so strongly. While every team member works painstakingly to perfect the minutia of their individual tasks, they are able to do so because they never lose sight of the big picture. It's hard not to feel so driven by work which you know has such a global impact.

I never expected to feel at such an early stage (as an undergraduate) that my work actually matters. Interns are not usually given real responsibility, but my mentors at TeachAIDS encourage me to tackle projects which are important to me but will also serve to further TeachAIDS' overall goals. Our work actually has a lasting impact across the globe, and this truth is both incredibly humbling and inspiring. Although I am an intern and new to the team, I was never made to feel low in the hierarchy. Everyone literally sits and works together like a real team. Everyone's opinions and work are valued, and I am always welcomed to share my ideas. Working with this group and contributing to TeachAIDS' immensely important work has made me much more confident of my abilities and excited for the future.

I cannot fully express how thankful I am to have become part of the TeachAIDS team. It has been an incredible learning opportunity, and I know I will always carry this experience forward with me. I strongly encourage anyone who is looking work that is diverse and has a far-reaching impact to volunteer for TeachAIDS. At first I worried that my varied skill set would not fit their work, but I found my place and I'm sure anyone else with a genuine desire to make a difference can too.

During my first year as a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin in 2012, I was introduced to Piya Sorcer and TeachAIDS through a friend. As I learned more about TeachAIDS, I kept saying to myself, this is amazing work! This is the type of work that I want to be doing! I was initially impressed with TeachAIDS because it embodies many of the things I believe most about public health, international development, and social justice. TeachAIDS empowers people with knowledge. It makes that knowledge available for free to people all over the world in ways that are culturally appropriate and language specific. The material in the tutorials is also evidence-based and easy to understand. TeachAIDS has not let me down, and I am still impressed.

As an intern with TeachAIDS for the past year, I have had the opportunity to work closely with TeachAIDS staff on communication and outreach efforts. I have learned about countless organizations across the world that are using material from TeachAIDS to educate children and adults about HIV and AIDS, and I have been tasked with putting their stories onto paper. I have even had the opportunity to help with content review of the TeachAIDS animations. Additionally, I have contributed to the collection and editing of material related to TeachAIDS celebrity icons.

Writing about the use of TeachAIDS as a tool for public health (and a means to open up a dialogue about HIV and AIDS) has been beneficial to me as a student and as a professional. I have gained insight into how a non-profit organization like TeachAIDs functions, and I learned a great deal about all the detailed steps involved in producing culturally appropriate health-messaging tools. Currently, I am working as an intern from a distance, and much of my work has been independent. Regardless, I still get plenty of contact time with TeachAIDS. I know that I can always email or call with questions.

During my own recent travel, I have had the opportunity to share TeachAIDS tutorials with non-governmental organizations in Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. Sitting with students while they watched the videos was life changing. In particular, I remember my time in Kenya, where a group of more than 50 secondary students huddled around just one laptop to learn about HIV. After the animation, the students asked insightful questions and together discussed cultural misconceptions about HIV and AIDS. By the end, students were correcting one another about how HIV is transmitted. I was encouraged to see Kenyan youth soaking up such important information.

Most importantly, I have received mentorship and support throughout my internship. I know that my work contributing to the greater purpose and efforts of TeachAIDS. My internship has been a wonderful complement to my studies, and I look forward to working with TeachAIDS in the future.

I started volunteering at TeachAIDS part-time during the spring of my freshman year. That experience translated into a full-time summer internship as the project that I was working on gained momentum and became increasingly crucial for scaling the TeachAIDS software to many other countries/regions. As a sophomore at Stanford University interested in the dual fields of computer science and economics, volunteering at TeachAIDS has provided me with unique opportunities that lie at the intersection of both areas. I was able to use my programming knowledge to help address scaling and size issues in the distribution process.

Unlike traditional software engineering opportunities, the work that I have done at TeachAIDS has a very real global impact. It is incredible and a privilege that as a freshman I could design and build a meaningful software project from scratch where the results of my work could directly impact the trajectory of the organization’s ability to distribute the TeachAIDS software to many new regions. It has been a fantastic experience to meet and work with all of the wonderfully dedicated, motivated, and incredibly intelligent individuals who make TeachAIDS so special. At TeachAIDS people of numerous and varied talents and skills have come together to create important technology that addresses the human condition.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I have had, this past year, to utilize my computer science skills for mass impact in this major global health challenge. The people who I’ve met and the projects that I have worked on have made volunteering for TeachAIDS an incredible experience.

During the fall of my senior year at MIT, I took a Global Health Delivery and Management class at the Sloan School of Management. In that class, we studied how non-profits were improving the health of people around the world and even worked on case studies with specific organizations. After taking that class, I decided to volunteer with a non-profit in China called Fuyang AIDS Orphan Salvation Association during my January term. When I told the Professor (Anjali Sastry) about my plans, she introduced me to Piya Sorcar, the CEO of TeachAIDS. It turned out that Fuyang AIDS Orphan Salvation Association was actually a partner of TeachAIDS.

While volunteering in China, not only did I work on improving the health delivery process, but I also spent several days educating high school and middle school students about HIV. TeachAIDS provided me with highly useful and accessible HIV educational material. The educational videos were not only accurate and informative, but also easily understood by the Chinese students. I still remember several students coming up to me and telling me how shocked they were with all the misconceptions they had regarding HIV. HIV education is severely lacking in many parts of the world and TeachAIDS is one organization that has been able to effectively address this problem with a unique and innovative solution—animated, educational software.

Since then, I have continued to volunteer with TeachAids on a variety of fundraising and research projects. It has been especially eye-opening learning about and identifying various funders and supporters of HIV prevention efforts. Although funding for treatment of HIV is entirely necessary, funding for prevention of HIV will ultimately lead to the end of HIV. For this reason, prevention efforts like those of TeachAIDS are especially critical to curbing continued spread of HIV. I've also actively worked with other volunteers on identifying new countries that TeachAIDS should develop software for. In my last project, I definitely pushed myself to the limits and developed greater skills in strategic planning as I evaluated HIV prevention efforts in a dozen countries and identified possible HIV non-profits and partners in each.

I’m blessed and grateful for the opportunity to work with TeachAIDS. The staff and volunteers are all very passionate and welcoming; I definitely feel like my volunteer efforts have been useful. Even after graduating from MIT, I've still continued to volunteer with TeachAIDS because I believe they are making a meaningful and important impact in the fight against HIV.

The TeachAIDS philosophy that every human being deserves access to excellent HIV/AIDS education is so clear in their every day work. I am inspired by the emphasis the team puts on carefully researching the culture surrounding HIV/AIDS in populations of interest, and the effort that goes into developing a tool that will actually be useful. Millions of people around the world are learning more about HIV/AIDS through the work of TeachAIDS, and it is amazing that an organization this small is affecting change on such a large scale. This is not surprising once you see how effective this non-profit is.

Volunteering at TeachAIDS is hands-on and involved. When I started volunteering as a sophomore in college, I worked on the Kinyarwanda translation as a translator, and soon enough, I was recruiting Kinyarwanda speakers to do the back translation. It wasn't too long till I started communicating with organizations who would use the education materials in Rwanda, and working with different levels of government to make sure these materials are a resource to all. In a short time, I learned so much about the challenging process of making materials accessible to people, as well as the politics of public health, communications etc.

Volunteering at TeachAIDS has given me an opportunity to be involved in really important work, and do so with incredible people. The people I have met in the past ~4 years volunteering at TeachAIDS are the most passionate, thoughtful, and committed. I am so grateful to have been part of a group that so intensely believes in doing good in the world, and doing it well.

While looking for public health internships for the summer, I stumbled across an email about TeachAIDS and its internship opportunities. When I checked out their website I was impressed with their product, mission, worldwide success, and partnerships with internationally recognized organizations and companies. So I contacted the organization and became a volunteer.

As a volunteer, I had the privilege of working on creating TeachAIDS materials for India, Rwanda, and Botswana, the country of my birth. While working on the project I was particularly impressed with the entire TeachAIDS team and research-based design process. The non-profit has a team of dedicated and passionate professionals, field experts, and volunteers. All these talents come together to create medically-accurate, pedagogically-grounded, and culturally-tailored education materials. The organization’s mission is clear: provide communities worldwide with the best HIV/AIDS education materials available. And that’s exactly what they do.

Being a part of TeachAIDS has been an important part of my Stanford career and my personal development. I’ve been truly blessed to be a part of an organization that is revolutionizing HIV prevention and making an impact - in my country and countries around the world.

I joined TeachAIDS as a volunteer in 2010 after learning about the work that TeachAIDS had accomplished in China and India. Several TeachAIDS volunteers, who I later had the opportunity to work with, spoke to an HIV&AIDS seminar course at Stanford about their work. I was compelled by the unfolding of TeachAIDS from the Ph.D. research of the CEO and Founder, Dr. Piya Sorcar, in India. I became interested in the innovative, practical approach the organization decided to take to overcome cultural and legal barriers to educating learners about a taboo topic like HIV&AIDS. From the beginning, I believed in TeachAIDS, both because of the endless positive testimonials I heard from around the world and the rigorous research results I learned about through professors at Stanford University.
It was only when I began volunteering with TeachAIDS that I saw the incredible amount of collaboration TeachAIDS has been able to encourage and the barriers TeachAIDS has overcome in pursuit of an HIV-free generation. The success of TeachAIDS comes from the collective work of Stanford experts, volunteers, and organizations from around the world. Through this collaboration, TeachAIDS produces high-quality HIV prevention education tutorials that are culturally-accessible, medically-accurate, and proven effective. The tutorials use images, references, icons, endorsements, and languages that are suitable for a specific cultural context. Combined with interactive animations, this approach not only teaches learners how to protect themselves from HIV&AIDS, but also increases retention.
I have gained invaluable experience during my time at TeachAIDS and had the opportunity to work with a wide-range of projects. Despite the organization's commitments, volunteers are incorporated into the organization and learn a great deal about the nonprofit field as well as HIV prevention education. I have pursued additional experience in the nonprofit field, and I can truly say that the standards, cooperation, and commitment to maintaining an ethical organizational philosophy are unparalleled. TeachAIDS is truly groundbreaking and the slew of recognition the organization has received reflects the effectiveness of its innovative approach.
To support TeachAIDS will make you a part of an international effort to provide much needed HIV prevention education to the people that need it the most.

In 2009 I had made the decision to take a year off of my normal corporate work and volunteer. I met Piya the founder and Ceo of TeachAIDS and had an amazing experience volunteering in Africa as well as locally. More nonprofits should be run like this - they are very streamline and run like a company with no wast like I have seen in other nonprofits.

I came to TeachAIDS as a volunteer in 2009, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. TeachAIDS is easily the best nonprofit I've worked for, and distinguishes itself due to it's commitment to creating a great product with the help of great people. TeachAIDS holds itself to the highest standard of excellence, and it's rapid growth over the last 5 years is a testament to this standard. TeachAIDS creates a product that is in demand, high-quality, and crucial to the fight against HIV/AIDS and associated taboos. Furthermore, the experience I received by working at TeachAIDS was extremely valuable to my professional development. I've gone from TeachAIDS to a highly-regarded economic consulting firm and plan to pursue medical school. Whether you're a donor, potential volunteer, or ally in the fight against HIV/AIDS, you will find TeachAIDS at the very top of your list.

TeachAIDS is a very unique organization, not only because of its new approach to HIV/AIDS education and prevention, but also because the staff and volunteers are such an incredible group of dedicated, driven, and passionate people. All non-profits and those who work with them are obviously committed to a mission, but TeachAIDS simply takes it to another level. Working with people who are so completely invested in creating and distributing the amazing TeachAIDS materials for FREE around the world has been an education in what it means to truly devote oneself to making a positive difference in the lives of others. Furthermore, all that TeachAIDS accomplishes is done with limited funding and staff—it has been astounding to see what the organization has done despite so little in the way of traditional resources.

TeachAIDS is not only an amazing organization, it's an amazing organization to volunteer for. I have been volunteering with TeachAIDS for almost a year and a half, and I have had the chance to work on projects that volunteers at most organizations would never see. From research and data management, to fundraising, marketing, and product development I have been able to do in-depth, meaningful work with TeachAIDS. I cannot overstate both the professional and personal impact of working with this organization, or how much I have learned from my experiences there.

Truthfully, it's just hard to express how special this organization is. TeachAIDS is different simply because of the work they do, but even more importantly how they do it. I've never seen such meticulousness, dedication to quality and efficacy, and motivation to make a positive change in the world. It has been truly unbelievable to see the impact TeachAIDS is having on HIV/AIDS education around the globe, and I look forward to seeing the organization's reach and influence grow as the TeachAIDS team continues to do impeccable work.

Sometimes we have moments in our lives where we have the opportunity to become a part of something extraordinary. As soon as I began interning with TeachAIDS in 2010, I knew I had found such an opportunity. During my time as a volunteer with TeachAIDS, I have been able to contribute in many ways to their noble, ambitious mission of providing research-based and culturally-tailored HIV/AIDS learning materials free-of-charge to countries all over the world.

As a student interested in a career in medicine, I had an interest in getting involved with organizations that focused on solving medical problems of communities with limited medical access and health education. HIV has always been a very challenging disease, not only because of medical concerns, but also because of the cultural stigma involved in discussing prevention, transmission, and treatment. Without appropriate teaching materials, communities often choose not to frankly address the causes of transmission, even while infection rates climb. For this reason, TeachAIDS fills an enormous need in the effort to provide HIV prevention education to information-starved communities worldwide. Whether planning fundraising events, writing blog posts, or proof-reading teaching materials, participating in TeachAIDS’ successes has showed me that even in areas with medical access, the role of information and prevention in healthcare--not just direct treatment--cannot be overlooked. The success of TeachAIDS’ materials in the education, and perhaps more importantly, the information-retention, of schools and communities is beyond inspiring. It’s definitely worth it to look through all of the research and results provided at their website.

The organization is run effectively, operating with very budget-minded and efficient goal-setting. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t time to form great relationships within the non-profit. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people and gain many new friends. It has truly been a privilege to be a part of the TeachAIDS family, united with the same humanitarian purpose. I will continue to give my energy to TeachAIDS’ efforts, helping in whatever way I can.

To make a very long story short(er), my experience with TeachAIDS was the biggest influence for me not just wanting to go to medical school, but also to focus on giving back to underrepresented communities. Let me explain a little more about why.

TeachAIDS is an organization that truly puts the mission of getting their wonderful HIV/AIDS educational materials out to as many educators and volunteers as possible. This organization doesn’t put departmental politics in the way of this goal. Since our mission is simple, it’s easy for everyone to get behind it and work quickly and effectively to accomplish our goals. In the year that I was actively volunteering, I saw Ministries of Education from countries all over the world incorporate our materials into their prevention efforts, Indian celebrities donated their likeness and voices to make our materials more contemporary and culturally relevant, and got their materials up and running on YouTube, allowing for millions more viewers to access these videos from not just their computers but also their mobile devices.

This organization showed me both how much work still remains to do in the realm of public health and education. While TeachAIDS focuses on international education, I firmly believe many more organizations and learners here in the states can benefit from these materials. Secondly, I saw how much work TeachAIDS did (and continues to do) with such a small staff and a minimal operating budget. TeachAIDS directly affects the lives of so many people on a budget that’s a tiny fraction of what larger organizations have.

Now that I am in medical school, I am using the lessons of cultural humility, resource allocation, and educational presentations I learned at TeachAIDS to become a more effective future medical provider. I can’t begin to explain how much TeachAIDS has given me and I can only hope that many more passionate volunteers, educators, and donors see the incredible work that TeachAIDS does every day.

I typically don’t write public reviews; however, in this case, I felt compelled to share my story with future volunteers seeking outstanding learning opportunities.

During my 2008 visit to Orissa, India, where my family is originally from, I was shocked to find that HIV prevalence was becoming a growing problem for the communities in this region. So, when I came to Stanford, I started to look for solutions to address this problem. My search ended with TeachAIDS.

TeachAIDS has designed the highest quality products for teaching about HIV prevention. I strongly feel that, just like a child’s math textbook or the newspaper, the TeachAIDS animations are educational and informative works that every person has the right to gain from. Having the backing of Stanford doctors and educators, the materials are a trusted source for accurate and perceptive health information that you really don’t see anywhere else.

Since 2008, I have been volunteering with the nonprofit to adapt and bring these products to India and the rest of the world. For example, during the development of the TeachAIDS animation for Orissa, I had the opportunity to work with Prashanta Nanda, former Minister of State of Orissa and esteemed Indian actor, director, and singer, along with Ira Mohanty, one of the most recognizable singers in the state. Nanda and Mohanty donated their voices for the male and female versions of the TeachAIDS Oriya animations. ‘A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.’ Recording the Oriya version with these artists is that moment in my life! The warmth and support for the work I was helping enable in Orissa made me realize the powerful potential of TeachAIDS.

The nonprofit is a vast learning ground that develops sound educational materials and, at the same time, exceptional human beings, who have the potential to make a grand difference in the world. I have grown professionally and personally at a rate that I consider a success in itself. TeachAIDS has provided me with access to do cutting-edge research on the nonprofit’s animations in Botswana and India, work with famous Stanford professors like Professor Clifford Nass, and speak at global platforms like the 2011 Asia Pacific Advanced Network Conference. Such rare opportunities (for even a Stanford undergraduate) have really helped build my confidence. TeachAIDS has pushed my boundaries and allowed me to rediscover my skills and personality. Everyday brings new learning and challenges, and the office culture is such that I feel free to explore and share ideas. Whereas most of my Stanford undergrad friends are merely relegated to backbone operations in their volunteer opportunities, I feel like an active team member at TeachAIDS.

For all these reasons, I am so happy to have been part of the TeachAIDS family for the past four years. I will continue to volunteer even after graduating from Stanford because being a part of TeachAIDS has been the most fulfilling aspect of my life.

To be honest, I am completely smitten with TeachAIDS. And with good cause. I discovered them whilst searching for jobs/organizations I would readily add to my "has-a-heart-and-soul" list. While I found dozens and dozens of nonprofits also committed to sustainable growth and development, TeachAIDS resonated with me on whole other level. Their meticulous, research-based, culturally sensitive approach to HIV/AIDS prevention education can be likened to nothing I've yet seen! I was privileged to have worked on a number of fundraising and development projects in the past and will forever remain a part of the T.A family in the future.

In addition to the phenomenal work TeachAIDS engages in at the global level (which speaks for itself), I was equally struck by how they operate with such integrity at the local level. Having lived, breathed and worked all things nonprofit for the better part of my life, I cannot stress how important this is!! The very clear "outward orientation" of their work, coupled with a wholesale lack of ego, has allowed for a seamless adoption of TeachAIDS materials in more than 70 countries and counting!

I was not drawn to volunteer on account of the breadth of their work-- plenty of organizations also have an impressive international scope--but because of their unique model of sustainability. TeachAIDS materials are free of charge, licensed through Creative Commons, and help to facilitate meaningful community engagement. Every interested man, woman, or child can obtain, disseminate and implement the materials in a manner best suited for their community. This means TeachAIDS is not a distant 'parent' organization sitting thousands of miles out, determining *what* the implementation process will look like. Simply put, they develop incredibly high quality applications and offer them generously (read: no strings attached) to the world.

If any of this resonates with you, I would highly recommend taking stock of your talents and resources to see if there might be a natural fit. If you're geographically or otherwise limited, perhaps you can at least help to spread the word about TeachAIDS. There are numerous opportunities to speak up for populations who might not have the voice or audience we so freely enjoy!

*This is an entirely unsolicited and honest assessment of my experience with TeachAIDS.