EP #7: Jananie Baskaran - Raising $60K For Charity Using Photography

Jananie Baskaran is a photographer, artist, and founder of the non-profit organization Palm Roots. She joins Ara to discuss how she raised $60,000 through sponsorships, what it was like being one of the first female photographers in the Tamil community, and how The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari completely shifted her perspective, before Ara runs her through another speed round of Would You Rather.Ep7 Timestamps00:15 - Introducing Jananie Baskaran01:47 - How her visit to Jaffna lead to the creation of her non-profit Palm Roots03:53 - Raising $60,000 and the sponsors that helped make it happen04:49 - How transparency lead to the evolution of Palm Roots06:18 - Jananie’s plans for Palm Roots going forward07:23 - The negative perception of Jaffna (Jananie’s ambition to display the positive), and the entrepreneurial energy of the Tamil community09:19 - Jananie’s writing work, and speaking on the feeling of being a social outcast16:34 - Being one of first female photographers in the Tamil community and how the scene has changed since, in addition to how COVID has affected photographers19:29 - The importance of art in the world despite the negative perception that surrounds it as a career choice22:08 - Medical field by day, photography and creative arts by night23:52 - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari completely changed Jananie’s perspective25:52 - How self-reflection has helped Jananie overcome the famous Tamil phrase “what will other people think”29:20 - Where Jananie sees herself in the next 3-5 years29:55 - Wanting to be remembered for living life on her own terms and embodying kindness31:45 - The legacy Ara wants to leave behind32:32 - Finding identity in being Tamil35:59 - Jananie’s admiration for Tamil immigrants and Princess Diana39:29 - Advice Jananie would give to other aspiring Tamil creators41:33 - Would You Rather46:40 - Wrap UpConnect with her:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jaybasky/Palm Roots - https://www.instagram.com/palmroots_/Support the show