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The South Asian Business Council of Virginia (SABCVA), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrated the graduation of more than 120 participants from its Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Internship Program, concluding a summer of free, project-based technology training and mentorship.
According to SABCVA, volunteer mentors and industry professionals led the program, dedicating evenings and weekends to teaching, reviewing projects and coaching interns.
“When one of us rises, we all rise together,” said SABCVA Founder and Chairman Mansoor Qureshi. “Our mission is simple: to create opportunities, share resources, and empower each other. We did not wait for funding to start creating opportunities. We did this because we believe in giving back to our community.”
“We are not just helping young people find jobs. We are helping them develop skills, build confidence, launch businesses, and become future leaders and entrepreneurs,” he added.
Several interns are now working to turn projects developed during the program into entrepreneurial ventures. Some teams have registered companies, while others are establishing businesses, according to the organization.
Rather than focusing solely on coursework, interns worked in teams to design and build functional applications. The program also offered professional development in “resume writing, interview preparation, personal branding, elevator pitches, Agile and Scrum methodology, networking, leadership, and entrepreneurship.”
“These young professionals are not only preparing for jobs, they are becoming entrepreneurs,” Qureshi said. “They are developing AI products, building teams, and taking steps toward creating companies that could one day create jobs and opportunities for others. Seeing young people become entrepreneurs and future job creators is one of the best feelings for us.”
Intern Projects Recognized
During the graduation ceremony, teams presented their projects to a panel comprising Sadiq Ahmed, chair of SABCVA’s AI Committee; Ranbir Bhutani, co-chair of the Technology and Cybersecurity Committee; Ashish Yadav, chair of the Innovation and Strategic Growth Committee; and Qureshi.
Four teams received recognition:
- First place: SABCVA AI Chatbot, developed by Saeefh M. Essa, Moaz Shaikh, Shajiuddin Mohammed, Shahaan Tareen, Shaheer Tareen and Aneeq Yussouf.
- Second place: AI Learning Path Generator, or CourseForge, developed by AliAkbar Bhatti, Abdullah Ishaq, Vaibhav Pandey, Daud Abdi Hassan, Ali Aamir and Pratyush Badave.
- Shared third place: SABCVA Alumni and Intern Connection Platform, developed by Lily DeBell, Zeba Lodhi, Eisha Basit, Anosha Khairi and Darling Paumen.
- Shared third place: TrafficAI, developed by Vihaan Sethi, Aarush Bibhuti, Ethan Jakka, Arnav Singh, Arnav Gupta, Saaiem Shuja and Karthik Mittadhoddi.
An Ethical Advisory Board, led by intern Darling Paumen, reviewed the projects for bias, privacy, transparency and human oversight. The board developed an AI governance policy, an ethical review scorecard, a bias and fairness checklist, and guidance covering consent and data handling.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam spoke at the ceremony about investing in young people and developing opportunities for the next generation. He offered to help interns present their projects to relevant stakeholders on Capitol Hill.
Loudoun County Treasurer Henry C. Eickelberg discussed workforce development, mentorship and community service. Anil Sharma, CEO of 22nd Century Technologies, encouraged the graduates to continue developing their skills and said his company would consider qualified interns for potential employment opportunities.
“Our job does not end when the internship ends,” Qureshi said. “We want to continue connecting our interns with employers, leaders, mentors, investors, government agencies, and opportunities that can help them take the next step.”
Ahmed led the AI program, while Bhutani led the cybersecurity component. Additional workshops and mentorship were provided by Sarah Basha, Iqbal Ismail, AI Committee Co-Chair Vivek Rao and Arpana Chini.
The management team included Yadav; Sajani Rao, chair of Strategic Partnerships and Development; Vivek Rao; Archana Gupta, general secretary and women’s empowerment adviser; Nina Singh, co-chair of Innovation and Strategic Growth; Asma; and Bret Anderson, director of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement. Samara Mansoor, chair of Youth Empowerment, emceed the ceremony.
Eickelberg presented Leadership Awards to the organizers for their contributions to the program.
- Mansoor Qureshi, Founder and Chairman
- Ashish Yadav, Chair, Innovation and Strategic Growth
- Nina Singh, Co-Chair, Innovation and Strategic Growth
- Bret Anderson, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement
- Sajani Rao, Chair, Strategic Partnerships and Development
- Archana Gupta, General Secretary
- Sadiq Ahmed, Chair, AI Committee
- Ranbir Bhutani, Co-Chair, Technology and Cybersecurity
“These awards belong to the entire SABCVA family,” Qureshi said. “Behind every successful program are countless hours from our volunteers, mentors, management team, advisors, and community leaders. This was truly a team effort.”
Mission 1000 Internships
The organization also launched Mission 1000 Internships, an initiative aimed at creating 1,000 internship opportunities for students and young professionals across Virginia.
The initiative will seek opportunities in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, technology, leadership and workforce development, entrepreneurship and other emerging fields.
“Mission 1000 is not just about helping young people find jobs,” Qureshi said. “We want to help create innovators, entrepreneurs, and future job creators. Today’s interns can become tomorrow’s CEOs, founders, technology leaders, and employers.”
SABCVA is inviting Virginia employers, technology companies, government contractors, small businesses and community organizations to create internships and participate in the initiative.
