I enjoy reading and writing poetry, going for long walks, and making friends with people from diverse cultures. I think we have more in common than we'd like to believe. I tend to resist labels, and that has given me the freedom to explore a variety of things: from volunteering at a backpackers' hostel to researching love legends to working as a school teacher to facilitating conversations around gender and body image to organizing events with folk musicians. I enjoy learning about spiritual traditions, and challenging myself to confront my own biases. At the moment, I write on contemporary issues for various publications, and also work with the The Prajnya Trust's Education for Peace Initiative.

On the work front, I consult with Centre for Civil Society, an organization devoted to promoting liberal ideas among young people. I have worked with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development on a project aimed at enabling textbook writers to embed ideas of peace, social justice, sustainable development and global citizenship into school textbooks. Apart from this, I run an initiative called Friendships Across Borders: Aao Dosti Karein to transform the hostility between Indians and Pakistanis into friendship through peace education workshops, storytelling and social media interactions. I have also been writing on education, arts, culture, gender and peacebuilding for several publications over the last decade.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I believe in the power of human connection to bridge divides between cultures.

Interests

Southasia, peace work, arts, working with children, education, literature

• arts
• literature
• education
• teaching

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have met the Dalai Lama, and received his blessings.

Teach, Learn, Share

More about me here:
https://www.facebook.com/chintangirishmodi123

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, Laughter, Listening, Friendship

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

India