Miss. Ritika Mehra (28) is the Founder and President of Bridging the Gap, an expatriate organization founded in Amstelveen in 2010 whose aim is to integrate the expatriate Indian community with the local Indian and Dutch communities in the Netherlands, through a cultural and social platform.
Having undergone an international school education, Ritika’s thoughts on culture, heritage and identity blossomed. Being of Indian origin, yet growing up in Dutch society instilled a multi-cultural perspective in her approach to life, which was enhanced, having attended university in Bristol, the United Kingdom. Witnessing the cultural differences between India, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, she soon realized the need to establish a balance – being rooted in ones culture, yet at the same time, integrated in the local community.
In 2009, Ritika co-organized the Diwali Festival Amstelveen with the Amsterdam and Amstelveen City Councils. In 2009, the festival attracted over 5,000 visitors and has since doubled in attendees, where in 2014; more than 16,000 people visited the festival. Ritika’s participation and active involvement – among the other organizers – has established the Diwali Festival as a landmark event in exhibiting the rich, vibrant culture of India in the Netherlands.
Noting the success of the Diwali Festival in bringing together the Netherlands and India, in January 2010 Ritika founded Bridging the Gap Foundation (BTG), maintaining her commitment to integration and cultural awareness. BTG strives on supporting local organization, charities, initiatives and talent. BTG not only stands for bringing together cultures but also binding the communities as well as bridging generations.
Further to her involvement in the Diwali Festival and BTG, Ritika also works full-time for an American IT company supporting EMEA within the HR department. Additionally, she is also a part of Rotaract and has her own commercial events company – Make it Happen.
In this dynamic, international society present today in the Netherlands, Ritika symbolizes the young initiative and vigor of the multi-cultured youth as she continues to bridge the people and cultures of the Netherlands and India together.
Her motto: Inspire a generation.
