About Build The Base Strong
Build The Base Strong is a free, student-led program that helps elementary and middle school students build the academic, organizational, and everyday skills they need to learn, grow, and thrive. It's built on the idea that before students can succeed in any one subject, they need a strong foundation — the everyday habits that make school and life easier to manage.
The program shares free resources and runs interactive sessions at local libraries, taught by student volunteers who remember what it's like to be figuring these skills out for the first time.
Why we started
A lot of students struggle in school not because they don't understand the material, but because no one ever taught them how to manage their time, stay organized, or study effectively. Build The Base Strong exists to close that gap — with resources and sessions built for students, by students.
Meet the founder
Aanya Desai is a high school student at Woodbridge Academy Magnet School in New Jersey with a strong interest in medicine, science, and helping others. She created Build The Base Strong to help kids and teens develop practical skills that can make everyday life a little easier — from managing their time and getting better sleep to handling stress and building healthy habits.
Outside of school, Aanya is a competitive figure skater and has been practicing Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance form, for over a decade. She has also taught younger children how to skate and volunteers in healthcare settings — experiences that have strengthened her interest in working with and helping others.
When she's not skating, dancing, volunteering, or working on Build The Base Strong, Aanya enjoys reading, baking, crocheting, and watching movies.