Hi!
I hope you’re doing well. I am writing this to share a little story from our recent Panjimuttayi event. A story that reminded me why each of you matters so deeply to iLAB.
It was the final day. The school grounds were buzzing with tired but triumphant volunteers tidying up after five days of celebrations. Forty incredible young people from the Kappakkal community had poured their hearts into organising workshops, sports, art projects and so much more. In the midst of it all stood Hussain*, an iLAB MissionTEN alumnus who sat in those very classrooms four years ago, dreaming of a brighter future. That afternoon, we honoured him as a changemaker and role model.
Snapshots from Panjimuttayi
Later, as our program director Sabeena dashed over to the iLAB Skill Hub to grab a few things, she borrowed Hussain’s phone to make a quick call. That phone had stopped working properly. It hung up mid-call and kept misdirecting her. Hussain then told her, rather casually, that iLAB had given him that phone back when he was still one of our students. Four years on, it was still in his hands, still doing its job. A reminder for us that a small act, a simple gift of connection and trust, can ripple out in ways we might never fully see.
Each of you has been part of those ripples. Whether you taught a coding class in a hot, crowded room, stayed up late planning a community festival, or simply offered an encouraging word to a shy teenager, you’ve helped write these stories of transformation. As we look ahead, there are more children to light up with a sense of possibility, more laptops to place in young hands and more changemakers like Hussain waiting for their moment.
Will you join us once again? This time, we need help of a different kind. Even a small gift—enough to cover a month of internet for ten students, or a handful of art supplies, or a single skill-building workshop—can blossom into hope and opportunity for years to come. A little something you can gift us each month will go a long way to change lives for dozens of children, women and families in our communities.
Thank you for every late night, every brainstorm, every smile and every encouragement you’ve shared. Your commitment is the lifeblood of iLAB’s work, and together, we’re proving that when communities and volunteers unite, incredible things happen. One child, one family, one future at a time.
With gratitude and excitement for what’s next,
Nasmina,
Founder, iLAB
Small acts for a Big future
*Name changed to protect privacy