The Education and Outreach team at Asia Society Texas Center works with high school and university interns each semester. We have a long-standing internship program with HISD's Houston Academy for International Studies, which is also a part of Asia Society's International Studies Schools Network. Through our internship program, students directly engage with curriculum-writing, program development, and outreach efforts. Interns learn more about Asian art, history, and culture while gaining direct experience in working with students and families.

We'd like to shine a light on one of our high school interns, Pravdeep Banwait. Pravdeep started volunteering with Asia Society as a high school junior, and now serves as a rockstar intern. In every project she takes on, she brings creativity, energy, and new thinking. We especially love her passion for sharing her culture with Asia Society kids, students, and families.

Learn a little more about Pravdeep and her internship experience below!

Pravdeep Banwait

My name is Pravdeep Banwait, and I am a senior at Houston Academy for International Studies. When looking back at my childhood, I recall feeling the blasts of excitement before attending field trips to different museums but also the disappointment in never being able to relate to any of the information or art pieces being presented. I noticed a lack of Indian representation in art forms at a young age, and it wasn’t because Indian art didn’t exist, more so due to the lack of a platform to portray South Asian art. When learning about the Asia Society, I was ecstatic to see the Asian community being represented in ways I had never seen before in my hometown, Houston, Texas.

During my junior year, I had the privilege of volunteering with the Asia Society at their Lunar New Year celebration. Giving my time to such an amazing organization, all while learning new things about the holiday, motivated me to intern here as well. I realized that while the projects will be learning opportunities so will the new people I meet and work with. The diverse group of interns and faculty has truly helped me expand in perspective and knowledge. Coming together to work on projects such as Night Market, Virtual Diwali Day, Lunar New Year, and the AsiaFest Passage Zine served as a platform for me to portray my talent and story while hearing about others as well.

Going into college, I aspire to major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as I am intrigued by the role women played in history and today’s world, specifically in Asia. Due to this passion, I studied abroad in Hyderabad, India, with a program called Empowering Girls Through Health Education, another factor that motivated me to intern at ASTC. I wish to continue exploring my culture through the means of the Asia Society while also being exposed to other cultures of Asia. I would like to thank ASTC for all the opportunities they’ve given me to grow so far, and I look forward to gaining more knowledge through future projects.

Major support for Education & Outreach programs at Asia Society Texas Center comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as The Brown Foundation, Inc., and The Houston Endowment. Additional funding is also provided by the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, as well as through contributions from the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals committed to bringing exceptional programming and exhibitions to Asia Society Texas Center. 

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.