By Krishiv Shah
Ria Badhwar, a remarkable 17-year-old from Leesburg, Virginia, is the founder of Empower Nari, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women in crisis, particularly those facing mental health challenges and hardship in the DMV area. The initiative, born from Ria's personal experiences, aims to provide resources and support to women and youth dealing with mental health issues, financial instability, and more.
Ria’s journey to founding Empower Nari is extremely personal. At just 5 years old, her parents divorced and in 2022 due to severe mental health issues, Ria’s mother left the family. These hardships had a profound impact on Ria’s own mental health and well-being. She struggled with severe depression and anxiety, but through therapy and support, she found a way to manage her own mental health and was inspired to help others facing similar struggles.
Ria Badhwar (Photo courtesy: Ria Badhwar)
In an interview with her, Ria mentioned that, “I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I did alone. That’s why I started Empower Nari. Nari means “woman” in Sanskrit, and our core mission is to empower women through support and advocacy.” She didn't want anyone else to go through what she did alone, especially considering the extreme wealth gap and lack of access to therapists for many people.
Empower Nari's Mission and Initiatives
Empower Nari's mission is to empower women and youth by providing resources and support for mental health and other challenges. The organization focuses on helping low-income women and youth struggling with mental health issues.
One of their most notable initiatives was collecting over 7,000 articles of clothing, which were donated to the Women Giving Back shelter in Sterling, Virginia. The community's response was overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating the need and support for such efforts. On July 28, 2024, they partnered with City Girls Who Walk D.C., the largest women-only walking group in the DMV area with 250 members. Women Giving Back Shelter has been featured in major media outlets including The Washington Post, D.C. News Now. Together they organized a charity walk on July 28, 2024, to support the women’s shelter in Sterling, Virginia. They also raised close to $305 to support the women’s shelter and women in need.
Challenges and Aspirations
Starting and running a non-profit organization as a high school student comes with its challenges. Ria undoubtedly faced obstacles such as limited resources and a hard time being able to address complex issues such as mental health and financial instability, which many times can become stigmatized. Despite these obstacles, Ria's determination and passion have driven Empower Nari's success. She has aspirations of becoming a divorce attorney and family law practitioner, driven by her own experiences and a desire to help others navigate challenging family situations.
Taking Empower Nari to the Next Level
Looking ahead, Ria envisions Empower Nari growing into a more comprehensive support system for women and youth. The organization plans to create and send out care packages to domestic violence survivors, as well as write handwritten letters to domestic violence survivors. Ria also has aspirations to go to the State Senate and talk more about mental health issues especially with youth, as well as go to local middle schools to talk more about opening up with mental health issues and helping the community.
Ria’s work is nothing short of inspirational and filled with passion. Ria’s personal hardships, coupled with her profound resilience, created Empower Nari, which now is making a transformative impact in numerous women’s lives. I applaud Ria for her bravery and dedication and wish her all the best in her future endeavors with Empower Nari.
(Krishiv Shah, the founder and submission coordinator of Kaleidoscope, is an Indian-American senior at Syosset High School with aspirations to pursue a degree in South Asian Studies and Business)
