When I was a kid, my dad used to take me to the local bazaars (farmers markets) back in Uzbekistan. While we picked out the freshest tandoori bread, I often saw homeless people approach, asking if we could buy them some or spare a bit of change. Living through these experiences left a deep hole in me - a sadness and a heavy weight I couldn’t quite understand at the time. I struggled to grasp how these people had to depend on the kindness of strangers just to make it through another day.

But those moments also sparked a lot of questions in my young mind: Why does poverty exist in a world that’s constantly developing? Why can’t we build systems or institutions that truly support those in need? My mind would go in circles, trying to make sense of it all and trying to put 2 + 2 together.

Two decades have passed since then, and even though the math still doesn’t add up, I’ve come to realize something: I may not be able to change the world at scale (at least not yet), but I can start by improving one life at a time and doing my part to positively impact the communities around me. But before I could embark on that journey, I had to realize something very important: To bring the right energy and support to those who need it, I must first ensure that I am mentally and physically balanced.

This page illustrates some of the social initiatives I’ve been involved in since the age of 15 - small steps toward making a difference.