Vipin was born in India but hasn't spent time there since his move to the U.S. at age 6. He always understood the magnitude of change the country has gone through in the last 21 years, but was thrilled to experience it first-hand as an AIF Clinton Fellow this year. At his host placement with the Jaipur Rugs Foundation, he applied his skills in digital marketing and technology to help bridge the gap between untapped rural artisans, skills building, and leadership training for sustainable livelihoods. Before becoming an AIF Clinton Fellow, Vipin had the unique experience of working directly with AIF as a volunteer with the New York Young Professionals Chapter for four years to raise funds and awareness about AIF's programs among young South Asian professionals in the city. One of his goals as a Fellow was to see if what he had learned as a physically distant volunteer, would effectively translate to the work required on the ground. Another goal? He was eager to try as many regional varieties of biryani as his ten months would allow him to stomach and see if his current favorite, the hometown Hyderabadi variant, could possibly be topped.
