Project RISHI @ UCLA
Our Projects
Project RISHI at UCLA is committed to creating lasting change through our diverse campaigns and programs. While we maintain a clear mission, we employ a broad range of strategies to address critical issues within the South Asian community, including water sanitation, healthcare, and women's and community empowerment.
Learn more about our initiatives and get involved yourself.
Health Infrastructure
About Our Team
The Health Infrastructure Committee focuses on improving access to essential health services and promoting sustainable practices that address long-standing barriers within the community.
Past Projects
The Health Infrastructure team at Project RISHI UCLA has made significant strides in advancing access to critical healthcare in Vadamanapakkam through its partnership with Sankara Nethralaya, a leading nonprofit eye hospital. In response to the widespread presence of untreated visual impairments RISHI and Sankara Nethralaya launched two free eye care camps in 2024, providing comprehensive screenings and interventions to over 150 patients in a single day. These camps offered air pressure tests, retina imaging, and lens refraction exams, with many patients receiving subsidized bifocal glasses and referrals for free cataract surgeries. Sankara’s mobile medical team handled clinical logistics while RISHI volunteers assisted with check-ins, patient coordination, and data collection. Beyond diagnosis and treatment, the camps offered detailed one-on-one consultations to explain surgical processes and follow-up steps. Community feedback revealed a strong appreciation for the services, with villagers, such as a local tuition teacher, reporting meaningful improvements in quality of life and professional function thanks to the corrective lenses. Following the camps, the RISHI team conducted extensive surveys to gather holistic health data, uncovering broader public health concerns in the village: poor access to fresh vegetables, low daily water intake, and a strong link between labor-intensive occupations and chronic pain. These insights prompted discussions about future nutrition-focused interventions, such as kitchen gardens and diet education sessions.
Ongoing Projects
Building on past initiatives such as medical camps and cataract surgeries in collaboration with Sankara Nethralaya, the team has identified critical gaps in nutrition, healthcare awareness, and service delivery. Current efforts include funding prenatal screening equipment, supporting vegetable cultivation to diversify diets through kitchen gardens, and organizing general medical camps in partnership with NAMCO and local public health centers. To ensure that projects are responsive and effective, the committee engages in active planning through focus groups, expert consultations, and community surveys. These strategies help develop community-specific interventions, ranging from educational modules and awareness campaigns to infrastructure improvements.