Slam Out Loud accomplishes this by harnessing the transformative power of performing and visual arts to help children from underserved communities find their voice via creative expression, allowing them to learn to imagine what could be rather than what is.

Tracing the origins of what sparked her interest in starting this venture, Jigyasa tells us how she started her journey as a Teach for India fellow, working with low-income students. As a child, she was an introvert. Her 4th-grade teacher, Manisha, with her caring aura, helped Jigyasa find the confidence to explore her interests. Jigyasa’s mother used to take her to mushayaras, where she would perform her poetry and win Rs.100. For the first time, she tasted accomplishment and realised that she, too, had potential. She grew to believe that with enough love and acceptance, anybody could be happy. This sparked in her the interest to move on to the next larger, natural progression of her goals. 

In a short while, Jigyasa has been able to create substantial influence with her work. What’s more impressive is that Jigyasa started when she was only 22 years old. At a time when people are still figuring out who they are, thinking about the next stages in their career, she was able to make her mark, and impact the lives of hundreds of kids. Her trajectory and success stand to impress.