Vithika Yadav | Photo: Diplomatic Courier

Congratulations to Vithika Yadav and Aashika Damodar!

Both have been honored this month by Diplomatic Courier magazine for being two of the “Top 99 Under 33 Young Professionals in Foreign Policy.”

The annual list aims to spot rising stars whose creativity, determination and passion make them standouts among the millennial generation.

Vithika served as an Atlas Fellow with FTS in Washington in 2007-2008, helping us nurture relationships with frontline grassroots partner organizations.

She is called a “shaper” in this year’s top leader list.  “A shaper changes the public discourse on an aspect of foreign policy or raises awareness on a critical issue,” the magazine notes.

Aashika Damodar | Photo: Diplomatic Courier

Today, Vithika is based in India. She is helping FTS train staff at the Punarnawa Ashram, setting standards for the care of sex slavery survivors. She also works with MTV, Radio Netherlands and other global awareness-raising initiatives.

Aashika was awarded an Anne Templeton Zimmerman Fellowship as part of the Free the Salves Freedom Awards. She worked in our Washington office in 2008-2009.

Aashika is credited as an “innovator” in the Diplomatic Courier’s young leader list. “An innovator designs a new solution to a critical global challenge,” the magazine says.

Aashika founded Survivors Connect, a non-profit that develops technology platforms for the anti-trafficking movement. She’s also started a social enterprise called Breaking Heels, which sells survivor inspired fashion.