The Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Mentoring Program

Vikram Uppal is the co-founder of AID India in San Francisco, California. He has led the organization in all areas of philanthropy for more than 15 years. Vikram “Vik” Uppal engages with several additional charitable organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area manages several unique programs, including Community-Based Mentoring services. The organization’s core program, community mentoring involves pairing a highly qualified adult mentor, known as a Big, with one of the program’s enrolled children, a Little. Pairs regularly meet in one-on-one scenarios that allow both parties to develop trust and, from the Big’s perspective, a more nuanced understanding of a particular child’s needs.

There are no strict guidelines dictating how Bigs and Littles spend their time, except that activities should appeal to shared interests. Common examples include attending athletic events, engaging in various outdoor activities, and attending community attractions such as museums or zoos. Big Brothers Big Sisters focuses on the bond Bigs and Littles develop, which ideally translates to better grades for children, stronger relationships with family and friends, and a decreased risk for drug and alcohol abuse.

Morocco’s Trekking Friendly Atlas Mountains

Based in San Francisco, Vikram Uppal is an entrepreneur who also maintains a strong community focus as co-founder of the charitable organization Aid India. An avid traveler, Vik Uppal has traveled to locales around the world including Italy, Thailand, China, and Morocco. 

One of the premier outdoor destinations in Morocco is the Atlas mountains, which span 1,200 miles from Tunisia to Agadir, a port on the Atlantic coast. Trekkers typically stay within four distinct areas: Sahro, Sirwa, Toubkal, and M’goun. The latter offers a relatively large population and lush vegetation, while the first two are hotter and less traveled. Easily accessed from Marrakesh, Toubkal features North Africa’s highest peak Jbel Toubkal, which reaches 13,671 feet and is popular among climbers.

For many, one of the highlights of the Atlas mountains is the chance to encounter rare birdlife, with the region providing a critical refuge for many larger avian species. Among those to watch for are Bonelli's Eagle, Moussier's Redstart, and the Barbary Falcon. There are also ancient terraced Berber villages dotting the mountains, with many featuring compact houses, mosques, and wells within the traditional fortifications of compacted mud walls.