Niha Jain

Niha Jain is a junior at Harvard University. Since age 13, she has been an advocate for women's rights, mobilizing young girls in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana to volunteer at a battered women's shelter and to raise awareness of domestic violence.

During college, Niha has collaboratively spearheaded community development projects to empower female sex workers in India. She is currently helping to implement educational interventions in rural India that would allow more adolescent girls to attend school.

Niha has served on various national boards, including the America's Promise Alliance Youth Steering Committee and Nestlé Very Best in Youth Foundation Board. For her academic achievements and her commitment to public service, Niha has received awards from the Clinton Global Initiative, the Independence Bowl, Toyota, Prudential, Nestlé USA, and others.

For more information, you can read Niha's biweekly column on social impact in The Harvard Crimson (thecrimson.com), or visit the website for the biennial youth leadership summit she founded at generationunitedtosucceed.webs.com

2011Valerie Grant