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SHAKTII

Educate. Empower. Edify.

Project SHAKTII is an after school program to empower girl students from underprivileged backgrounds. We at Shaktii believe in a hands-on learning experience that focuses on delivering a wholesome education to these bright young girls.
SHAKTII was conceived in the year 2015 to create a model for meaningful engagement of students in arena of learning and self-development. SHAKTII made its impact in New City international school and Satish Haware Junior college, Kharghar from 2015 to 2019. We have since 2019 moved to a new location in Kharghar. We had girls attending Shaktii programme from 5 different schools of Kharghar.

We are proud and happy to announce that Shaktii has completed 10 years!

Why Shaktii?

India has an impressive enrolment rate in primary school but the rate drastically reduces especially for girls as they proceed into secondary school.

It is estimated that for every 100 girls that enroll in school in rural India, forty reach grade four, seven reach grade 8, nine reach grade 9, and only one reaches grade 12(source: Infochangeindia.com). Therefore, only 35% of girls reach the upper secondary level of education in India.

These stark statistics show that girls need support to complete their school education.

Our Vision

We at Shaktii, will educate, empower and edify girls from the underprivileged sections of the society of India through a quality holistic after-school programme.

Mission Statements

EDUCATE

Educate holistically through academic support and enrich their social skills, soft skills, life skills and sports.

EMPOWER

Empower girl students from underprivileged society by:
Providing vocational training & further education through NIOS Programme for those who cannot pursue their studies beyond Std X or XII,
Providing financial support to bright girl students to pursue higher education.

EDIFY

Edify by motivating and guiding girl students to pursue their dreams, and providing a safe and healthy environment for them.




Objectives of Shaktii

01.

Innovation

Create academic programme and implement using innovative teaching techniques, inviting experts, and field visits throughout the academic year.

02.

Mentoring

Provide mentoring for non-academic programmes to develop social skills, soft skills, leadership skills and life skills throughout the academic year.

03.

Vocational Training

Identify girls who are unable to pursue studies beyond Std X or XII and provide vocational training & further education through NIOS Programme.

04.

Financial Support

Identify bright girl students and provide financial support to enable them to pursue higher education.

05.

Complete Safety

Ensure emotional and physical safety of each Shaktii student in the classroom and on field trips.

06.

Learning Environment

Provide a healthy learning environment.

07.

Role Models

Mentors to become role models to establish values like integrity, teamwork, punctuality and commitment.

TRUSTEES OF SHAKTII

Mrs. Vimala Nandakumar - Chairperson & Mentor

We are stepping into 11th year of Shaktii - An After School programme.
We are eager to see this batch perform better than the previous batches. Every year has posed different challenges and having 10 years of experience in facing them has made us strong. We have been preparing to transition the Shaktii after-school programme into an Academy. Hoping and praying that becomes a reality this year.

Our vision is to make female literacy 100% of Navi Mumbai.
Please join us in making this dream a reality.

TRUSTEES OF SHAKTII

A.N.Nandakumar, Member - Board of Trustees

As Shaktii enters its eleventh year, the expectations are big. That is because Shaktii has reached great heights in terms of the achieving its goal to educate and empower and edify girls from the under-served sections of the society. The quality of Shaktii-ites is there for all to see. This year Shaktii Academy should be established. Shaktii should acquire suitable premises with sustained infrastructural and financial support. Shaktii should help girls to make progress through NIOS. I am confident that Shaktii will do all this and more in its eleventh year. I wish Shaktii all the best in its endeavors.

TRUSTEES OF SHAKTII

Ashish Gehlot - Trustee, Shaktii NGO

For me, Shaktii is not just an NGO—it is a movement of hope, guided by the vision of our founder, Mrs. Vimla Nandakumar, whose dedication for over a decade has shaped the lives of countless underprivileged girls. Her commitment, along with the relentless efforts of the Shaktii team, continues to transform challenges into opportunities and dreams into realities.
As a trustee, my role is to carry forward this vision and help expand its impact. With my professional experience in building sustainable growth and driving meaningful results, I work alongside Mrs. Nandakumar and our team to ensure that Shaktii remains a nurturing space where every girl has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

At Shaktii, we believe in going beyond education—we focus on *holistic development*, *mentorship*, and *empowerment*, so that every girl discovers her voice, her confidence, and her potential. Witnessing these young minds blossom into leaders of tomorrow is both humbling and inspiring, and it reaffirms my commitment to this cause every single day.
Together, with the vision of our founder and the collective strength of our team and supporters, we remain dedicated to unlocking possibilities for girls who deserve every chance to shine.

TRUSTEES OF SHAKTII

Lakshmi Ravindran - Trustee, Shaktii NGO

"I got introduced to Shaktii in 2015 and I have been a silent (strong though) but back end supporter since then! While the core principle of helping under privileged girls' "to dream" was attractive enough to jump onboard I have been seeing the innovative way of teaching which is transforming these 8th and 9th std girls in their 2 years at Shaktii.
This is the best of schooling they will get, and Vimala Aunty, along with all mentors is ensuring they not only strengthen their basics (no rote learning) of Grade 1 to Grade 7 but offer these girls also a holistic learning through unique teaching methods, having sessions for them to interact with experts/ entrepreneurs from varied fields, exposure to various creative activities etc.

While in the early part I have helped Shaktii with fund raising, website creation etc I have now joined them as Trustee.
Shaktii alumni now includes a Doctor, Fashion Model and to-be MBA in AI. The trust wants to expand to become an Academy and ensure more girls' benefit. They are now getting ready to guide the girls' on pursuing NIOS. If anyone is interested in this reach out and by giving some time to Shaktii feel satisfied in making an actual difference. Every tiny support counts for Shaktii and Vimala Aunty to make this larger!"

SUPPORTER OF SHAKTII

Siddharth Swarup

I've been associated with Shaktii for over five years, and it’s been a truly inspiring journey. The girls, some of whom I have seen through the entirety of their time at Shaktii, have grown into confident, capable individuals, excelling in their chosen fields. Seeing their transformation just goes to show when given resources and opportunities they are capable of competing with the best. A personal highlight for me was attending their music class, which gave me a firsthand glimpse into the energy and determination of these young women filled with joy. Their success is a testament to their grit and the unwavering guidance of Vimala ma’am, whose vision and commitment has shaped the academy from day1.

Supporting Shaktii continues to be one of the most meaningful parts of my life.

SUPPORTER OF SHAKTII

Roshan Harwansh, Flame University

Interning at Shaktii was an incredibly meaningful and eye-opening experience. Over the course of the internship, I supported program design, conducted interactive sessions with students, helped plan and execute key events like Founder’s Day, and created a brochure encompassing what the future of Shaktii could like with the NIOS program.
But beyond the responsibilities, what impacted me most was working alongside girls whose ambition, resilience, and drive to learn were nothing short of inspiring. From a 12-year-old who moved cities for her education to a young girl building her own chocolate business, each story challenged my assumptions about access, agency, and what it means to create opportunity.
Working with the founder and the team, I gained a firsthand understanding of what grassroots leadership rooted in empathy and conviction looks like. This experience has sharpened my communication and planning skills, and more importantly, deepened my perspective on educational equity and social change.

Current Mentors

Ms. Kalyani Basu

In this 11th year of Shaktii, I am looking forward to bringing more excitement into my lessons so that the girls enjoy learning.I am looking forward to work with all the mentors to have a greater impact on the lives of these lovely girls and see them blossom into smart,confident all rounders.

Also I am looking forward to see Shaktii After School Programnturn into full fledged Academy.


Ms. Shweta Mehta

I am associated with Shaktii from almost 2 years.
Its been really an enriching journey. I am looking ahead for this 11 th year with lots of enthusiasm.i would love to see this after school program to grow into full fledged NIOS program.
I am very positive about it as I know the dedication of Vimla ma'am and Kalyani ma'am for it.

All the very best for team Shakti!


Ms. Madhu Rekhan

Namastey
I am Madhu Rekhan, associated with Shaktii for last 4 years. I teach chemistry , which is perceived as something very difficult to learn , by the girls. In the process of making chemistry easy , I have learnt and still learning many ways of presenting the subject in easier ways.
Shaktii, an after school program , is providing access to quality education , life skills, and mentorship programs to improve learning outcomes. Shaktii is providing scholarships, educational resources, and safe learning environments to the girl.
Shaktii, an after school program, is doing a great work in fostering confidence, leadership, and self-determination in girls.
Shaktii is guided by a vision of a world where all girls are valued, respected, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential. Shaktii is training girls to become leaders and advocates for issues that matter to them.
Educated and empowered girls are more likely to participate in the workforce and contribute to breaking cycles of poverty.

I am grateful to be a part of this value creating organisation.


Ms. Prerna Goel

When I first joined Shaktii five years ago, I thought I’d be teaching English. In truth, I’ve been learning just as much — about courage, curiosity, and the quiet strength that grows when someone believes in you.
Every week/other week, I work with a group of girls from under-privileged backgrounds, helping them find their voice in a language that often feels distant. We start with simple words and short conversations, but slowly something chnages — the hesitation fades, the smiles widen, and sentences begin to carry stories, opinions, laughter.
Our classes aren’t really about grammar; they’re about confidence. Watching these girls speak up for the first time, tell a joke in English, or introduce themselves proudly — those are the moments that stay with me.

Being part of Shaktii has reminded me that change doesn’t always need grand gestures. Sometimes, it begins with listening, with showing up week after week, and with helping someone realise that their voice matters.


Ms. Aparna Saxena

I have been associated with Shaktii even before it was Shaktii because Vimala ma'am and I had a dream of shaping education differently.
She has been an inspiration to me since my teenage years and we worked together on the Maths Club during my junior college and I have wonderful memories of enjoying the experience and being part of something that made education fun.
When Shaktii was started, I offered whatever support I could from wherever I was based. And since the past 5 years, I have been taking sessions covering India and now the environment; both topics which are very close to my heart.
Giving time for Shaktii, makes me feel part of something beyond myself, a change that is needed.

I love the way, the girls participate and show keenness to learn and this keeps me going because these girls are the future of my country and citizens of the world.


Making them smarter

ACTIVITIES FOR 2025-26

Orientation Day 1
14th June 2025
- The first day of our orientation of 2025-26. It was all about Goal setting in our lives.
- The first day of orientation always starts with Satyendra Singh sir every year. He is our favourite motivational speaker. Today, he came up with a goal setting topic. He taught us how important it is to set a goal and have clarity of that goal in our lives. Sir spoke about 'S-W-O-T' (Strength, Weakness,Opportunity, threats) which helps us realise our strengths and weaknesses so that we choose a realistic goal.
- He also explained how important these next set of words are in setting our goals (P-B-S-T-R-A-F) Positive, balanced, Specific , time bound , Achievable , Realistic/Practical , Flexible. He gave us a lot of anecdotes from his own life, about his Son and many others about setting goals and achieving it.
- He explained all the above very well and today we learnt the specific way to set goals. His enthusiasm and confidence were on the peak as always, and we enjoyed ourselves a lot.
- At last, we did a small exercise of visualising our goals and dreams with our eyes closed and concentrating on our visualization as if it was real.
- It was a day filled with learning to build our goals, learn to visualise it and ultimately make it happen.
Reported by Tanushreepriya Sharma.
Orientation Day 2 (Session 1)
Origami session
- Today on the second day of our orientation program, we had a fun and creative origami session conducted by Roshan didi. She taught us how to make a beautiful paper crane and shared an interesting belief that if someone makes 1000 cranes, their wish will come true.
- After that, we tried making a paper box, which was quite tricky. Only one group managed to complete it successfully.
- Overall, it was an enjoyable session and a learning experience for everyone.
Reported by Suhana Shaikh.
Orientation Day 2 (Session 2)
German Language Session
- Today the second session was conducted by Sheela Shankara Iyer Ma'am. It was an enriching and engaging session that introduced girls to the basics of the German language .
- This class aimed to make girls familiar with simple German greetings and pronunciation. Girls learned common German phrases like “Hallo” (Hello), “Guten Morgen” (Good morning), and how to introduce themselves in German.
- The class also included fun activities such as the famous rhyme "Head ,Shoulder, Knees and Toes" in German language and pronunciation of all the body parts .
- Sheela ma'am also showed us the currency used in Germany and we all held the euros in our hand. The bills and coins were used to make us learn numbers in German.
- In conclusion, the German class by Sheela Ma'am was a highly enjoyable learning experience. It sparked interest in the German language among the girls and we are motivated to learn the German language.
Reported by Tanu Parihar.
Orientation Day 3 (Session 1)
Yoga Session
- Today our session was of Yoga with Nitya Nair . She started with basic yoga asanas. A basic yoga session begins with Surya namaskar, 12 different yoga positions. Then the breathing excercise, Pranayama and some gentle warm-up stretches, followed by a sequence of yoga poses like Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Butterfly Pose (Purna Titli Asana) Vrikshasana (Tree Pose), Balasaan (Child pose) , and Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose). She also showed us some yoga positions which will help us with the painful cramps during menstruation.
- She also included some Relaxation and Meditation. These poses helps us to improve strength, flexibility, and balance, while meditating and relaxing helps in calming the mind and reducing all the stresses.
- And lastly we did Corpse pose, Shava Asana. It's a resting pose where we lie on our back, fully relaxed, while extending and relaxing our arms and legs. The aim of this pose is to release all tension , stress and all negative thoughts in each part of the body.
- Today, we really enjoyed our Yoga session, learnt many asanas and the benefits of them.
- We all enjoyed immensely.
Reported by Bhumi Koli
Orientation Day 3 (Session 2)
Self Defence Class
- Today's session was about Self defence with Sadhil Singh
- It was really an amazing session. Sadhil bhaiya taught us some cool self-defense moves that will help us stay safe. He also spoke about use of pepper spray,stones,and nails. He also showed us how to stay calm and not get too stressed when things get tough.
- He made the class super fun and interesting. He told us about all the soft spots where a perpetrator can be hurt and we can run away to safety. We all paired up and practiced the moves to get a feel of it. We all became friends and had a great time learning together.
- The whole session was really helpful, and we learnt a lot. We feel more confident now that we can handle situations better.
- We are super thankful to Vimla ma'am and Kalyani ma'am for organizing the orientation program for us. Thankful to Roshan Didi for arranging today's sessions.
- It was such a great experience, and we'll always be grateful for it!
Reported by Siddhi Bhingare.
Orientation Day 4 (Session 1)
Photography session
- We had a photography session by Janak Shah, sir. He was really an enthusiastic person. In today's session, he described a bit about the photographer profession and also a brief about the efforts and joyfulness as a photographer. He was full of beans while explaining all those things.
- He also taught us about the camera . "How to have a great grip on it?" , "How to click?" About the lens , body, etc. He guided us so well.
- Suhana as a photographer and Prerna as a model demonstrated us to click photos and play with lights . It was on could nine today, and we really enjoyed it a lot.
Reported by Tanushreepriya
Orientation Day 4 (Session 2)
Makeup Art Session
- Today's first session was conducted by Lipi Sengupta ma'am.She is a professional makeup artist.
- She started the session with the aim of teaching girls the basic techniques and products used for a fresh, natural, and elegant daytime look.
- She began with a short segment on the importance of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Girls were guided on selecting the right shade of foundation with light coverage, followed by the use of a concealer only where necessary. Compact powder was suggested to set the makeup without creating a cakey look.
- Light, neutral shades were used on the eyes to give a bright and awake appearance. Eyeliner and mascara techniques were demonstrated to define the eyes properly .
- After the eye makeup it was time to apply nude and pink lip shades suitable for daywear.
- The session ended up with the application of soft peach and pink shades for blush. A light highlighter was applied to give a natural glow to the cheekbones and nose.
- Lipi ma'am also gave us a lot many tips of home remedies for clear skin and home made scrubs and face pack.
- The session was informative and interactive, providing knowledge on achieving a clean and confident daytime look .
Reported by Tanu Parihar.
Orientation Day 5
Importance of Mental Health
- Today 19th june we had a session on mental wellness with Shrikant Iyer Sir and Manisha Jhamb Ma’am of Mind Buddies.
- The session started with a short meditation guided by Shrikant Sir.It helped us feel very calm and relaxed. We are thankful for that peaceful moment.
- After that, they gave us journals and discussed the importance of having goals in life. We were given 5 minutes to write our goals, and then we all read out our goals. When girls shared their goals very confidently everyone clapped and appreciated every girl.
- Later, Shrikanth Sir and Manisha Ma'am spoke about mental health and encouraged us to open up about our feelings. In the end, they asked us to write about that one emotion that hurts us the most. Our next session is going to be about that emotion. I am already looking forward to it.
- We are truly grateful to Shrikant Sir and Manisha Ma’am for spending time with us and guiding us so well.I personally want to thank Mind Buddies. As always I felt very peaceful and motivated after attending the session. So thank you Shrikant sir , Manisha ma'am for the wonderful session.Thank you my mentors for arranging this wonderful sessions.
Reported by Bhavika Vaskar
Orientation Day 6
Painting inspired by "JAMINI ROY".
- Today was a session about Painting inspired by “JAMINI ROY”. This session was conducted by Sudha Bharshikar ma’am.
- Ma’am started this session by introducing herself, her paintings and then she showed her two paintings inspired by Jamini Roy.
- Jamini Roy ,he was one of the famous artist of 20th century. He was from Kolkata . He rejected the European academic style and developed linear decorative colorful art style rooted in Bengali folk traditions. His most famous painting is " Mother & Child". From 1924 onwards, Jamini Roy experimented with a new, more simplistic visual style. His images for the most part became monochromatic – an austere play of white, soft grey and black. With a masterly control of the brush, he created contours with fluid, calligraphic lines.
- Sudha Ma’am divided us into two groups then she showed us two paintings and made us draw those paintings in 15 minutes. While drawing it, at first I thought it would be very hard to draw it but the way Sudha ma'am explained the process, it became very easy.
- We laughed,cracked some jokes while enjoying the process of drawing and painting. While drawing and painting, Sudha ma’am kept helping us with useful tips. Her dedication to help us create those paintings resulted in beautiful and mesmerizing art work by the girls.
- At the end of the session , on behalf of Shaktii I thanked Sudha ma'am for coming to our centre and conducting such a wonderful session for all of us and presented her a small token of our love.
Reported by Prerna Mansare
Orientation Day 7
Public Speaking
- Today we had a session on the topic of Public Speaking. This session was conducted by Tanishi didi.
- She gave us a lot of tips about public speaking with examples from her own experiences. Her tips were really helpful to all the Shaktii girls because Tanishi didi is not much older than us and we could relate to her experiences.
- Next she he told us about OREO method used in learning Public Speaking.
O - speak out your opinion
R - give reason for your opinion.
E - give an example
O - say your opinion again citing the reason.

- A number of girls came in front of the whole class and spoke using the OREO method. It was a wonderful excercise.
- Then we were divided into two groups and Tanishi didi gave topics to each group. We had to defend our topic and the other group had to counter our arguments. We learnt debating.We all had lots of fun. Tanishi didi was quite impressed with us.
- I got the opportunity to thank Tanishi didi profusely on behalf all Shaktii-ites and presented her with a small gift of love from Shaktii.
Reported by Gauri Shakhapure
Orientation Day 8
Vedic Maths Session
- Today ,we had a mind blowing session by Mr. Mahesh Maheshwari about Vedic Maths. Mahesh Sir is a C.A by profession and his passion is teaching Vedic Maths.
- Vedic Maths is derived from ancient Indian Vedas. They are based on actual near perfect calculations. The techniques simplifies big calculation using logical tricks and solves the problems within minutes.
- There are 16 formulae for various calculations. We could learn five of them. We practiced and solved various problems using formulas.
- 1.Ekadhikena Purvena.( एकाधिकेन पूर्वेण). First we have drawn four straight lines one shorter than the other. The formula was used to square numbers ending in 9. For example: (9999)^2= 99980001
- 2. Nikhilam Navatashcaramam Dashatah 'निखिलम् नवतः श्चरमं दशतः' means "All from 9 and the last from 10." This sutra is used for multiplying numbers close to powers of 10 like 10, 100, 1000, etc. For example, to multiply 99998 × 99997, subtract both from 100000: we get 2 and 3. Cross-subtract: 99998 – 3 = 99995. Multiply 2 × 3 = 06. Final answer = 9999500006. This method makes large number multiplication faster and easier.
- 3.Suniya Sam Samuchay 'सुन्यीय सम समुच्चय' :- It is a Vedic Maths trick for multiplying two-digit numbers with the same first digit and last digits adding to 10. Multiply the first digit by its next number, then multiply the last digits. Join both results for the final answer.
- 4.Anupaye Suniye Anyat 'अनुपाये सुनिए अन्यत्' :- It is a Vedic Maths principle used when solving equations like 7(x + 1) = 5(x + 1). Here, since x + 1 ≠ 0, we subtract both sides and get a contradiction (7 ≠ 5). So, we apply the sutra and assume x + 1 = 0, which gives x = -1 as the solution. This shortcut helps solve such equations quickly when the usual method fails.
- 5.Ekanyunena Purvena 'एकन्यूननेन पूर्वेण' (By one less than the previous one):- Ekanyunena Purvena is a Vedic Maths trick used to multiply numbers close to a power of 10 (like 9, 99, 999 etc). It means "by one less than the previous." For example, in 97 × 96, subtract each from 100: 3 and 4. Now cross-subtract: 97 – 4 = 93, and 3 × 4 = 12. So, the answer is 9312.
- We understood how Vedic formulas can be a powerful tool for speedy calculations in mathematics.
Reported by Suhana Shaikh and Tanushreepriya Sharma.
Orientation Day 9
Poetry Writing Session
- Today we had a poetry writing session by Dr. Sujata Udeshi. In her session, Ma'am wanted us all to find our innermost feeling and pen it . She made us meditate to a soothing music for few minutes and then she told us all to write whatever thoughts we had due to the beautiful environment. It was just a peaceful session with only our thoughts. We girls wrote hindi poems with beautiful words. Sujata ma'am just planted a seed in our minds and our creative juices started flowing.
- Also, Sujata Udeshi ma'am had brought her friend Nasima ma'am. She was also enjoying with us and giving her suggestions to our writing.
- The session was mindful and peaceful. Some of us were surprised that they could write poetry. The poems by Sujata Ma’am just touched our hearts . The poems were as sweet and beautiful as her.
Reported by Tanushreepriya Sharma
Orientation Day 10 (Session 1)
Fireless Cooking Session
- Today, we had an exciting fireless cooking session conducted by Shehzin Ma'am, who has completed her studies in London. She demonstrated how to make Sev Puri and Tokri Chaat — without using fire.
- The activity was fun and engaging. Ma'am quickly assembled the delicious dishes with the help of Suman aunty using various ingredients like chutneys, boiled potatoes, spices, and sev. First she made Tokri Chaat and then Sev Puri. Everyone enjoyed watching the process and later got to taste the yummy chaats.
- After the cooking, we had a fun spelling quiz related to the activity. I was happy to get the most spellings correct and even received some chocolates as a reward! I shared those chocolates with my friends.
- It was a very enjoyable and interactive session filled with learning and tasty treats. The chaats were delicious not only because she is a excellent cook,but because she always put love and affection into the food.
Report by Suhana Shaikh.
Orientation Day 10 (Session 2)
Dos and Don'ts of Social media
- Today’s session was about the Dos and Don’ts of Social Media, conducted by Abhishek Gupta. The session began with an introduction of Abhishek Gupta by our mentors
- Sir started by explaining what social media is and also talked about artificial intelligence. He highlighted that social media has both advantages and disadvantages.
- Advantages:
Marketing and promoting businesses
Sharing photos with family and friends
Educational purposes and learning new things
- Disadvantages:
Addiction
Distraction from studies
Don’t do these things on social media
Don’t click on random links, as you may get hacked
Don’t share your personal information
Don’t fill out any forms without asking your parents
Don’t share your location or travel plans publicly
Never share your bank details or passwords
In case you get hacked, report it immediately to Facebook or Instagram, and avoid using that account until you receive a response or confirmation email from them.
- Today's session was very informative and helpful. Now, we are more aware of how to use social media safely and responsibly.
Reported by Sandhya Pawar
Orientation Day 11
Bharatnatyam Session
- A special Bharatanatyam session was conducted by Yuvika Didi. The session was a beautiful blend of learning and appreciating our cultural.
- Yuvika Didi, an experienced Bharatanatyam dancer of 8 years, began the session with a short introduction to significance of the word "Bharatanatyam", one of the oldest classical dance forms of India.
- The session included a demonstration of basic adavus (steps) and postures.Yuvika Didi patiently guided the girls through the movements, focusing on the movements of hand, and feet, She also introduced a few common mudras .
- Four girls were chosen to perform a small choreography on 29th of June on the occasion of founder's day. So she chose Tanu ,Veda,Gauri and Sampada.
- Overall, the Bharatanatyam session was an enriching experience that helped girls to get to know about cultural heritage and sparked interest in classical dance.
- We thank Yuvika Didi for sharing her knowledge and inspiring us with her art.
Reported by Tanu Parihar
Orientation Day 12 (Session 1)
Kathak Session
- Today we had an enchanting Kathak session by Heta Ma'am and Adya Ma'am from Tihai Akademi. At first, they mesmerized us with their performance on "Ayigiri Nandini" and then guided us through the dance moves.
- We were all captivated by their expertise and elegance. They made us dance to half of the song for about 30 minutes. Ma'am selected 6 girls including me, for the Founder's Day performance and taught us with patience and precision for the remaining 30 minutes. It was an amazing experience. Their passion for Kathak was evident in every step and gesture.
- We're grateful for the opportunity to learn from them, and their teaching style was truly inspiring. The session was informative, engaging, and a delight to be a part of.
Reported by Kaveri Marzapur
Orientation Day 12 (Session 2)
Sustainable Environment
- Today we had an a much needed session by Asmita ma'am, Charu ma'am, and Shruti ma'am. The topic was "Sustenance of environment with all the living things around you" .
- Asmita ma'am and her friends runs an NGO called "shrunkhala". Ma'am started the session with small introduction of girls asking their names, std and where they lived. Then she made us write whom all we interact with in our daily life. No one wrote trees, insects or birds or microorganisms.
- She showed us two videos which made us realise that for each and everything around us to be happy and healthy and that too continuously for ever, we need to show love, empathy and maintain healthy symbiotic relationship with everything around us in nature.
- Love,empathy and ego vs eco came out as the main values which should be followed for healthy and sustainable environment.
- Environmental sustenance is not a choice but a necessity. Every small step taken by individuals and communities can make a big difference. It is our duty to protect the environment so that future generations can live a safe and healthy life.
- That's why we need to show empathy not sympathy. Instead of being greedy let's show some love towards nature.
Reported by Nikita Yadav
June 2025
Founder's Day - 29th June
- Though our Founder's Day is on 1st July, this year 29th June was a Sunday and we decided to celebrate it on this day. Our Chief guests were Ms.Ujjawala Haware {Founder of Haware Engineers & Builders}, Ms.Aseem Gokarna Harwansh {Founder of AGH Design,an award winning design consultancy firm practising sustainable landscapes,horticulture & environment solutions} and Mr.Pankaj Harwansh{Executive director of BNI, who uses his wealth of knowledge ,expertise and passion to help small businesses to grow and succeed}.
- Roshan Harwansh, {an undergrad student of Flame University,Pune , is doing her internship at Shaktii} was the master of ceremony and she conducted the whole program smoothly , with ease. After welcoming the Chief Guests Roshan asked our senior student Prapti Patil to sing a song. Prapti mesmerised all of us with her beautiful rendition of the famous song "Jyoti Kalash Chhalke". After that it was time to see a bharatanatyam performance . The girls learnt the steps in one day and performed beautifully. Next, the core values of Shakti were turned into rhyming lines and performed by Prapti, Nitika,Suhana and Tanushreepriya.
- Then it was time to felicitate the 10th passout girls. 13 girls of the batch 2023-2025 passed their tenth grade with flying colors and they attribute their success to the time spent at Shaktii. So it was our privilege and joy to felicitate them.
- Then it was time for another dance form which the girls learnt in a day. Invoking Shakti with kathak performance was absolutely fantastic. It was then time to release the new brochure made by Roshan. The amount of effort put in by Roshan in making the brochure was clearly visible in the appreciation it got by everyone.
- There was a surprise for Tanushreepriya ,who just got promoted to 10th grade after spending two years at Shaktii. A good samaritan Mr.Dhiraj Shah & his wife Mrs.Hemangi Shah gifted Tanushree a laptop because of her fantastic performance in academics.
- After that,the chief guests spoke to the girls and motivated them with their inspiring words. Shaktii anthem ,the Shaktii song was played and the girls hummed along with it. Then it was time for the Vote Of Thanks by Tanu Parihar and Bhavika Vaskar of present 9th grade. Both did an excellent job of thanking everyone. This was an amazing beginning for the 11th year of Shaktii.
August 2025
T-shirt distribution - 14th August
- On 14th Aug Innerwheel club Bayside, sponsored the T-Shirts this year.
- We thank Jaya Chetri for sponsoring T shirts
- We also thank Sandeep Kumar of Bong Connection for designing them.
August 2025
Mera Bharat Mahan - 16th August
- We all came together at Shaktii and celebrated the day with the “Mera Bharat Mahan” competition. The presence of our guests made the day even more special, and we welcomed them warmly with a "Namaste."
- To begin with some fun, Bhavika and Tanu performed a short act called the “G&G Tea Stall” (Gowri and Ganpat Rao Bidekar Tea Stall), where they playfully offered tea and coffee. This brought smiles and created a cheerful atmosphere.
- Afterwards, our anchors Disha and Soumya carried the program forward with confidence. Together, we all sang the patriotic song “Lehra Do,” filling the hall with energy and pride.
- The competition then started, with five enthusiastic teams representing Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, and one Union Territory. Each team performed with dedication, and after every team’s performance, we had a ramp walk, which added extra fun and excitement to the event.
- The judges had a very tough task in deciding the winners because all the teams performed so well. Along with announcing results, they also motivated and encouraged us with their kind words. Finally, the Assam team was declared the winner and received their prize.And they secleted Best individual performer and Danroshni was declared as Best Individual performer.
- The event ended on a joyful note with delicious snacks arranged by Vimla Ma’am and sweet chocolates distributed by Manisha Ma’am.
- Through this competition, we didn’t just perform — we learned many things, gained confidence, and felt inspired. A special thanks to , Vimala Ma’am, Kalyani Ma’am and Priyanka Didi for helping us and making this event possible and memorable.
- Finally, Sampada gave the vote of thanks, wrapping up the event beautifully.
Bhavika Vaskar, Tanu Parihar
August 2025
"How Navi-Mumbai came into existence" - Local Gyan - 23rd August
- A special awareness session was organized at our Shakti Centre by three representatives of Local Gyan, Rajesh Krishnan Sir ,Sonam Ambe Ma'am and Arjun Sir.
- The session began at 2.20 p.m. For our session, we were introduced to the fundamentals of city planning, focusing on land use and urban infrastructure. We explored how Navi Mumbai, unlike a typical greenfield development, was carefully designed by engineers who drew inspiration from Dutch techniques to make the city livable. These complex lessons were simplified for us through lessons in history, geography, science and city planning and in the end some discussions were done on our civic responsibilities. This helped us understand our role in shaping and sustaining our city, Navi-Mumbai.
- The day before our session, we had been given some questions to discuss with our parents, such as, where did our parents live before coming to Navi-Mumbai, why did they move to Navi Mumbai, and what was our grandparents's original occupation. This helped us understand our family history and the reasons behind their migration to this city. During the session, they shared valuable information about Navi Mumbai and its origin. They raised an important question, since originally Navi-Mumbai was 4.5 meters below sea level, how did it become habitable and why doesn't the city get flooded every time when it rains heavily?” After giving us around 20 minutes to think about it and come out with solutions, they listened to each one of us for our solutions. One of my classmates had almost the correct solution.
- Then with their beautiful model of mountain,land and sea, they explained the engineering solutions behind it. First, the engineers reclaimed the land from under water by cutting part of the hills and filling the sea area. This raised the land level by about 3.5 meters. To raise the level for the remaining 1 meter , embankments with big rocks, building of dikes and proper drainage systems like pumping stations to pump the water back into the sea were created. Finally, strong protective sea barriers were built to stop high tides from entering the city. The engineers who helped build this beautiful city drew their inspiration from Dutch techniques to make the city livable.Thus the city of Navi-Mumbai came into existence and it took away a large chunk of the burden of the extremely overpopulated Mumbai city. At the end of the session, they also explained why floods occur during heavy rain. They made us realise that plastic waste thrown here and there on the road or in the drain is done by people. This uncivil behaviour of people results in blocked drains, which stops the water from flowing smoothly and causes waterlogging in several areas. We swore we will behave better and throw our garbage in bins and also educate others to do the same.
- The session concluded with students sharing their views. It was indeed a very informative session, where we all learned not only about our families and our city but also about the importance of responsible behaviour to keep our Navi-Mumbai safe.
- The organisation Local Gyan was set up because the founders Rajesh Krishnan & Sonam Ambe believed that problem solving and critical thinking begins with observation.They are based in Vashi,Navi-Mumbai. We are grateful to Rajesh ,Sonam & Arjun for coming to Shaktii Centre and conducting this session so beautifully and making a complex topic into a simple & fun one for the Shaktii girls.
August 2025
Ganesh Making - 25th August
- A creative and joyful session was conducted by Priyanka didi, where girls learned how to make a Ganpati idol using terracotta clay.
- The session was hands-on, and aimed at teaching girls the basic structure of Lord Ganesha using simple clay modeling techniques.
- Materials Used: Terracotta clay, A clean plastic for the surface, Small sculpting tools, Water (for smoothing the clay)
- Priyanka didi guided the girls step-by-step in creating the Ganpati idol using clay balls of different sizes. The session was a fun and educational experience for all participants. It encouraged creativity and cultural. Under the patient and clear guidance of Priyanka didi, everyone was able to create their own beautiful and simple terracotta Ganpati idol.
- The Vote of thanks was given by Bhavika Vaskar .
September 2025
Mad Ad Show - 10th September
- To get rid of the monotony experienced by girls on Discount and commission chapter , we thought of challenging the girls with an event "Mad Ad Show"
- Eight standard girls were divided into four teams. They were asked to set up shop selling items of their choice-offer discounts . They needed also think of a jingle to sell their items.
- The std IX girls were split into two groups – they were judges to deicide which team offered best offer, calculated discount correctly and if they were customer friendly.
- Fashionable Clothes, Bracelets, make- up items and artificial jewllery were displayed offering 25% to 50 % discount. It was an excitement through out the class. The girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves singing ads for their products, inviting the std IX girls to their shops and almost forcing them to buy. It was according to them fun filled maths class.
September 2025
First Guru Day - 11th September
- 11th september 2025 was a beautiful day of celebration at Shaktii because it was a day to honor Mothers, who are the first Guru of their child, with the apt title "First Guru Day".
- Mothers of all the shakti girls were invited for this program and they all came on time. Tanu Parihar and Sampada Monde were the anchors for the program. They started the program by welcoming all mothers. Though at Shaktii we insist on talking in English , just for the benefit of all the mothers , this program was conducted in Hindi. The next item on the program was suggested by the Shaktii-ite Bhavika Vaskar. She made every girl realise that they never pay compliments to their mothers. S they all paid at-least two compliments to their mothers. Hearing them some of the mothers were already teary eyed. Next item made more mothers tearful because all the girls danced for their mothers on the song "Thodi si cute hai,thodi si karari bhi,thodi si cool hai,thodi si purani bhi". This was a dance where the girls showed how their mothers cared for them,loved them unconditionally. Even we mentors were in tears. It was quite emotional. To lighten the mood there was a competition of mothers draping saree on their daughters. It was fun to watch the competitiveness.
- The previous day the girls had written two lines about their mothers in Hindi. I read them out and asked the mothers if they could relate to it. To my pleasant surprise each mother recognised their daughter from what they had written. Then the girls sang the Sahktii song for their mothers.
- Then Vimala Ma'am spoke to the mothers about how we mentors are trying to mold their daughters into confident girls and that they should cooperate with us by sending them to us regularly. She also thanked them for coming. The mothers helped in the felicitation of the mentors who were present.
- Mothers were offered chocolates and of course a hot beverage by our very own "Gouri & Ganpat tea stall" with their super fun performance. This absolutely cute program ended with a vote of thanks by Tanya and Dhanroshni.
- I am sure "First Guru Day" has brought the shaktii girls closer to their mothers.
September 2025
Spell well Competition - 20th September
- On 20.09.2025 the finals of Spell well was held. 8 finalists fought for the 1st position. Danroshni Saw won the 1st prize convincingly.
- Here is her report on the event: "I was having confidence about winning from the beginning itself. I knew I can do and I would win the competition. Expressing this positive feeling is a natural part of winning. I think first two round were quite simple and third and final round were challenging . Vimala ma'am and kalyani ma'am played a big role in my winning.
- After the third round there was a wild card entry for those who were trying their best. I want to express my deepest thanks to the mentors for their and support and encouragement.
- Thank you for always being there to guide and support me"
Danroshni Saw
September 2025
Visit to Yusuf Meherally Centre - 21st September
- The girls of Shaktii visited the Yusuf Meherally Centre. The trip began at 9:10 a.m., and we reached our destination by 10:30 a.m. During the bus journey, we played several games which made the travel lively and enjoyable.
- After arriving, we had breakfast in the bus. Following that, all the girls introduced themselves to Asmita ma’am and sang songs on their expectations for the day.
- Our first visit was to the Butterfly Garden, where we saw many beautiful flowers, plants, and butterflies. From there, we moved to explore the herbal medicine plants section. We observed plants like cancer-curing herbs, bay leaves, guava, pepper plants, and even saw an ant house.
- Next, we learned how people at the centre produce natural oils such as coconut oil, peanut oil, and others. The process was explained to us in detail, highlighting how the oils are filtered without using any chemicals.
- Afterwards, we walked towards the canteen and sitting area. Asmita ma’am conducted a brain activity.The girls were divided into five groups named Prithvi, Agni, Jal, Vayu, and Aakash. Each group was asked to express their feelings towards Shaktii without using pen and paper—only with natural materials like leaves, soil, and stones. Along with this, every group had to write a short poem based on their group’s name. The activity brought out creativity and teamwork. Some groups made houses with leaves, while others created a temple to represent that Shaktii is our comfort place.
- After the activity, we saw how chemical-free fertilizers are made using natural processes and earthworms for decomposition. We also visited the carpentry section, where we observed wooden furniture like foldable chairs and tables being made. Some of the girls also tried their hands at pottery making and created clay pots.
- Towards the end of the trip, we met and thanked Asmita ma’am, clicked some memorable pictures with her, and then departed from Yusuf Meherally Centre. We reached the Shaktii Centre by 4:00 p.m. Back at the centre, all the girls were given a post-trip worksheet, which they completed before heading home. The entire trip went smoothly as planned. It was both enjoyable and educational, helping us learn about nature, eco-friendly practices, and creativity, while also strengthening our bond with Shaktii.
October 2025
Kaun Banega Mathematician - 3rd & 4th October
- On 3rd of October .At Shaktii centre we had KBM ( koun banega Mathematician) .There where 8 girls in final round .But 3 girls got eliminated in first round.In second round more 3 girls got eliminated. At the end only two girls were in the finale Tanu and Sampada. I am Tanu one of the girls from finals and I was so nervous in the first round but I passed first round , second round but in the third round I got one question wrong .
- Offcourse the winner was Sampada Monde and I was second winner .I was so happy for Sampada .It was the best thing I experienced in my life .
- I am grateful to Vimala ma'am for making the questions and patiently teaching maths to all the girls
Tanu Parihar

- On 4th October, a fun and educational competition was organized at our centre Shakti.
- The name of the competition was "Kaun Banega Mathematician (KBM)". It was not just a competition, but an activity conducted to enhance our mental math skills and to check our improvement.
- The competition began in the third period. Both our mentors wished us all the best before the rounds started. There was an initial round to select participants for the finals. When the “KBM” background music was played, everyone’s heart started to race with excitement, but soon we calmed down and focused. Each participant answered their questions patiently.When my turn came, I felt a little nervous but also confident. I took a deep breath and started answering. To my great joy, I won the competition! It was an ecstatic and proud moment for me. My friends were even happier than I was because our mentors had always taught us to be happy for others’ success. Tanu won the second prize, and both our mentors congratulated us warmly.This competition helped me to test and improve my mental math skills.
- I am very grateful to our mentors for organizing such a wonderful and encouraging event.
Sampada
October 2025
International Girl Child Day - 11th October
- Eleventh October was celebrated at Shaktii with great fervor and enthusiasm. We had double celebrations as it was also last day of the 1 st term of the 11 th year of Shaktii.
- We thought of having Diwali party to end this milestone on a high note.
- A Rangoli competition was organized to bring in the mood of the festival of lights - art is something the girls are good at and enjoy. The theme was “Floral or Diya or Both”.
- Girls were divided in twos. Nine teams vied for the top spot. Surprisingly Sampada Monde was left alone as her team mate could not come. She was awarded the 1 st prize-not only was her Rangoli adjudged the best but also she finished first.
- Soumaya Pal and Danroshni Saw were awarded the second prize. Each team did a marvelous job of using best colour combinations and imagination to their rangolis .
- The celebrations were extra-special since three of the judges , my associates from Anushaktiinagar - Lalitha Ramaswamy (former Physics teacher of AEJC), Sheela Shanker ( German Teacher plus daughter of Parvati Teacher) and Shubhnagi Hinge (my former student and mentor ) agreed graciously to come to the centre. Gorgeous Arunima – a friend of Kalyani Basu was the fourth judge.
- Though Diwali will be celebrated a week later everywhere, Shaktii started it yesterday. Rangoli, Diyas, Sweets –the physical aspects were combined with laughter, jokes and joy. The girls left the centre with excitement and happiness for it did not matter who won the prize. They put in their best efforts. A lesson “ be happy for others “ –is learnt and practiced at Shaktii by the girls.

HAPPY DIWALI !!! Vimala Nandakumar

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Plans Ahead

Shaktii as an institution is in its transition phase now as we embark upon a bigger vision in the near future. We desire to evolve organically to a full fledged academy for these under-served girls

IMPACT STORIES...

  • Hello Ma'am, it's me Pranchal from New City Internaltional School.
    I just got admission in MBBS in Himachal. I want to thank you for supporting me.
    Thanks for believing in me. You are the best mentor!

    — Pranchal Sharma

  • Thank you Shaktii for not taking fees from us, infact giving us scholarships plus certificates. Thank you Shaktii for teaching Art, vocabulary, quiz games, technical maths, knowledgeable activities etc. and for taking us to visit many places Manibhavan, Byculla zoo, kidzania.
    Thank you Vimala Ma'am and all Shaktii mentors for starting Shaktii classes for girls. I am glad to be a part of it.

    — Aarati Chavan

  • Shaktii helped us in Std. X by increasing our English vocabulary and help us by solving our doubts.
    Mentors have taught us how to treat people even in bad times.
    They helped us in Std XI too by solving our Maths doubts.
    They made sure all girls were treated equally.

    — Adwita Kotian

  • Shaktii helped me in improving my English. Shaktii also helped me in studies, singing, arts etc. We also have leart Geography of the world.
    At Shaktii, all the mentors are very friendly and they helped me in may activities.
    I will always be grateful to Shaktii as it has improved by personality. "Shaktii is best!"

    — Raveena Lohar

  • Pranchal
  • Aarati
  • Adwita
  • Raveena


Help us make a difference

We are entering the eleventh year with gratitude for the support we get. We hope to provide better infrastructure in the coming years, with more goals to achieve we move ahead to help the girls realize their dreams. We know you are with us in this incredible journey!

Donations for the following are welcome:
1) Scholarship - Rs 10,000 per girl
2) Field Trip(s) - Rs 20,000 per trip
3) Stationery - Rs 500 per girl
4) Transportation - Rs 20,000 per month
5) Birthday Celebrations - Rs 500 per girl
6) Prizes for Competitions - Rs 500
7) Art Class - Rs 2,500 per year
8) Corpus Fund - Min Rs.10000
9) Student of the Year - Rs. 5000
10) Laptop - Rs. 28000
11) Sponsoring of former students' education

Donations to Shaktii Girl's Education Trust are exempt from Income Tax U/S 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961 vide Certificate No.CIT(E)/80G/1695 (2015-16)/(2016-17) dated 21st December 2016.
Write to us at following email addresses for further information:
shaktiigirls@gmail.com, vimalanandakumar4@gmail.com, lakshmiravindran@gmail.com

Shaktii Girl's Education Trust does not have any other branch