We took our mission forward by leaps and bounds as, for the first time ever, we attended two large and prestigious conventions – North America Telugu Association (or NATA) and Telugu Association of North America (or TANA).

We first landed in sweltering Dallas to attend the NATA convention from 30th June to 2nd July 2023. Founded in 2013, North America Telugu Association is a newer, non-profit cultural organization serving the Telugu community living in the United States. The event was attended by some high-profile VIPs, change makers and celebrities.

The very next weekend, we flew to Philadelphia for the TANA convention, which was an even bigger, busier and glitzier affair. Telugu Association of North America is the oldest and biggest Indo-American organization in North America. The convention garnered an overwhelming response and was attended by over 15,000 people on each of the three days.

From riveting cultural performances to engaging business forums, the conventions offered a wide array of activities for all. The platform was skilfully leveraged by businesses of all kinds, including NGOs like Community Pure Water, to spread awareness and expand their reach.

We set up our booths to highlight eye-opening statistics, share success stories, and distribute informational materials. Our collateral displays ensured that our cause and impact are well represented, which was directly reflected in the genuine curiosity and generous contributions of those who walked by.

The attendees were more than willing to engage in meaningful conversations with us about the current state of water contamination, and the scope and impact of our intervention in rural India. While speaking to fellow Indians living abroad, we were touched by the heartfelt, overarching desire to give back to the villages and communities that they hail from. Besides on-the-spot donations, there were at least 20 individuals and businesses who expressed the desire to sponsor water purification centers in villages and schools of Andhra and Telangana.

Overall, the trade conventions offered us a valuable platform to advance our mission, strengthen our network, and forge cross-learning and collaborative partnerships with other businesses that can drive positive change. We would like to thank the organizers for enabling organizations like ours to reach tens of thousands of people within a span of a few days.