Seeds of Hope
Meet the Team
Seeds of Hope is student-run, and our current student board spans all four grades of high school and multiple different high schools. If you want to get involved at Seeds of Hope, contact us at oehs.seedsofhope@gmail.com!
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Aarin Bothra
I’m Aarin, a senior at Oswego East High School in Illinois. I’ve always had a passion for the environment and, as I entered high school, I also discovered that making an impact in my community is something that I enjoy. This motivated me to start Seeds of Hope as I saw a lack of awareness and resources in our community regarding the lack of native plants and prairies. I wanted to make a difference–one seed at a time. I also co-invented Algae Air, an algae-based biofiltration system for schools, which received a provisional patent and $7,500 in funding. In my free time, I love to learn languages, read, stargaze, garden, and code. I am incredibly proud and grateful to see the organization grow so much and make such a big impact in the community.
Director of Operations
Linda Rahali
Hello! I’m Linda Rahali and I’m a senior at Oswego East High School. I am Secretary of the Oswego East Rocketry team, a board member for MSA, and I am also involved in BPA and Science Olympiad. Outside of school, I enjoy playing the piano, doing karate, spending time outdoors, reading, and hanging out with friends and family. Seeds of Hope has been an amazing way to be involved with my community and make a real difference on the environment. The lack of native plants in Illinois is an issue that is often overlooked, but our team has put in tremendous work in raising awareness and taking action. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of Seeds of Hope and I can’t wait to see the great things this organization will achieve!
Director of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Sheza Khan
Hi! I’m Sheza Khan, a sophomore at Oswego East High School. At East, I'm the President and founder of my school's Medicine and Astronomy Club. Outside of school, I'm a dedicated member of Seeds of Hope. I joined to help protect Illinois’ native prairie plants and combat local environmental challenges in the Oswego/Aurora area. I believe that hands-on, community-driven action is the key to creating lasting change. My favorite nature activity is gardening, which I enjoy with my parents every spring and summer. We plant pollinator-friendly flowers, grow tomatoes and strawberries, and care for them as they flourish, reminding me of nature’s resilience and the importance of preserving it.
.png)
Executive Secretary
Niraj Viju Sulaja
I’m Niraj Viju Sulaja, a senior at Oswego East High School. In my free time, I enjoy watching and discussing cinema, spending time with friends and family, graphic design, and photography! I joined Seeds of Hope to get more involved in bringing positive changes to the environment, especially here in Illinois. It brings me joy to know that I can bring real environmental improvements to my community–and even beyond— through Seeds of Hope. I have participated in local clean-up projects organized through my school and other community organizations. I enjoy nature photography, and I love visiting National and State Parks when I travel!
Director of Finance and Fundraising
Krishiv Majmundar
I’m Krishiv Majmundar, a junior at Oswego East High School. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, watching sports, and hanging out with my friends! I joined Seeds of Hope in order to contribute to making a difference in my community. I found it to be an effective way to work towards fixing some of the environmental problems we have in our community. I have participated in multiple trash pick-up initiatives through school clubs and volunteered at recycling events. My favorite nature activity is hiking with either my friends or my family!
Director of Content and Communications
Avery Ku
Hi! My name is Avery Ku, and I’m a sophomore at Oswego East High School. I enjoy playing the trumpet and engaging in various sports such as swimming and tennis! :) I have gone trash picking with a group of my friends every month by walking around the neighborhood and throwing away any garbage found for fun.
Director of Grants and Partnerships
Prabhav Parna
​I’m Prabhav Parna, a junior at Oswego East High School. In my free time, I play and watch sports. In the future, I want to pursue agricultural engineering, and joining Seeds of Hope can help me contribute meaningfully towards promoting sustainability through collaboration and innovation. I enjoy gardening, growing plants, and spending time outdoors.