Our Activities

February 2026

“The 11th anniversary of Shaktii was celebrated on 15 February 2026 at the Shaktii Centre, Kharghar. The Chief Guest was Ms Ujwala Haware. The special guest was Ms Kranti Khanolkar-Sety and Mr Alok Jhamb was the guest of honour.
The programme commenced at the appointed hour with the usual gaiety which was maintained throughout. The Chairperson of Shaktii Ms Vimala Nandakumar welcomed the guests and invitees and requested Ms Kalyani Basu to conduct the programme. Ms Basu gave a brief introduction of each guest who had evidently achieved great milestones in their chosen careers. She then asked two smart girls Tanu Parihar and Bhavika Vaskar to conduct the programme. They invited nine girls to explain the nine values of Shaktii
Honesty, Punctuality, Creativity ,Compassion, Gratitude , Discipline, Confidence, Happiness and Gracefulness
Tanu and Bhavika announced a dance performance with a Blue Umbrella. The music was melodious and the dance graceful. The performance deserved an encore. In keeping with the efforts of instilling in the girls in poetry as an important art form, Ms Sujata Udeshi and Ms Manisha Jhamb recited poems on Shaktii and the mentors. Then the scene quickly changed and the girls displayed their prowess in academics. They explained how the digit 6 can be used six times to arrive at the numbers 1 to 10. For example, (6÷6) + (6÷6) +(6 -6) = 2. Not to left out of the limelight, Anushka Singh recalled how Yuvraj Singh scored 6 sixers in one over in the T20 World Cup competition in 2007 creating a world record. Then they explained the basic properties of Physics such as linear propagation, reflection and refraction. It was brief and informative. The Cell counselling was a skit performed by different parts of the biological each cell claiming to be more important than the others. This battle was very informative and interesting. Then came along a two dimensional representation of sodium chloride explaining how the solitary electron from the outermost orbit of a sodium atom goes over to a chlorine atom completing its outermost orbit. That is ionic bond simplified and presented as common salt.
Ms Shehzin Naik had sponsored an award for the “True Shakti-ite”. Among the girls present it had to be determined who should be awarded the award. While every girl was vying to the spot three were short-listed. The three girls were interviewed by Ms Vimla Chaudhary. Based on their answers , Shehzin chose Bhavika Vaskar for the award.
Ms Basu announce the prizes won by the girls in the competitions and conduct. The prizes were handed to the winners by the guests.
The much awaited part of the programme arrived as the girls dances to the Shaktii anthem “Shaktii ke sang”. As the programme drew to a conclusion Dhanroshni proposed the vote of thanks. She thanked the guests , Trustees and her mentors.
All guests were impressed with the girls who had imbibed the spirit of Shaktii. Their confidence was evident since the girls were short of confidence when they joined Shaktii. In the brief celebration of the steel anniversary of Shaktii, the girls displayed evidence of the efforts of Shaktii coming into fruition. Shaktii marches forward.”
Dr. A.N.Nandakumar

“Yesterday, I had the privilege of witnessing a true powerhouse in action: “Team Shaktii”. For almost a year Team Shaktii have been in touch with us at Svatantra and I am glad, I finally made a visit on their 11th Annual Day. For 11 years, Project Shaktii has been a dedicated after-school program for girl students from underprivileged backgrounds, honestly it is so much more, that I felt it is no short of a launchpad for the next generation of women leaders.
I was deeply moved by the selfless effort of the visionary founder, Ms. Vimala Nandakumar . Her dream is crystal clear to educate, empower, and edify through quality learning and holistic development that goes far beyond the constraints of a formal school syllabus. What stood out in my attention was:
1. Immense Confidence: These young girls carry themselves with a poise that speaks volumes of the mentorship they receive.
2. Command of Language: Their grip on language, especially English was remarkable and a testament to the high standards of the program.
3. Grit to Dream Big: They aren’t just looking to finish school; they are looking to change their worlds.
It is rare to see such love and humility paired with such high-impact results. I am truly humbled by this experience and look forward to supporting this cause in my own way. A shout out to my network: Any companies or CSR professionals looking to fund / support genuine, high-impact girl-child education, I cannot recommend Project Shaktii enough.They are doing the hard, beautiful work of building a more equitable future, one student at a time. Ofcourse goes without saying, any mentors or coaches wanting to volunteer, I am sure Team Shaktii would be happy to receive guidance from experts.
Congratulations, Team Shaktii! Shaktii- An After School Program.”
Ms Kranti Khanolkar-Sety

February 2026

– Dr Pallavi Rahane visited Shaktii centre for session on dental check up with her assistant Ritu.
– She least expected to see Gowri Bedekar and Ganpatrao Bedekar perform a dance to ” Tel malish ” song of Johnny Walker.
– While she enjoyed a glass of “Kewarh ” she interacted with the girls. After examining the teeth of girls, she gave each one good advice.
– Some had cavities, others had a danger of developing some. Only two or three girls had perfect teeth. She left not before extracting promises from the girls that they brush two days a week.
– The session ended with clicking pics with the girls. We thank Dr Pallavi for giving us time. We hope to meet her again in the future.
Vimala Nandakumar

February 2026

– Dr. Dawood Vaid, mentor to NIOS Academies and founder of Golden Sparrow and a mindset coach who stepped away from a lavish engineering and corporate career to join India’s schooling revolution shared how NIOS is shaping pathways for flexible meaningful education.
– Shakti – A word that quietly carries courage, resilience, and untapped strength. And if you really know, it lives most powerfully in young girls. Recently visited Shakti Learning Centre at Kharghar and let’s just say the name fits perfectly.
– Led by the inspiring Vimala Maam a math whiz, ex principal and author alongside Kalyani Basu ji who is now steering the NIOS Academy, this place is reimagining how girls learn think and grow. In a world still obsessed with rote learning, Shakti is choosing curiosity over conformity and confidence over compliance.
– It was a pleasure to introduce the power of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), a system that truly supports flexible meaningful education for young minds who deserve more than just textbooks. Walked in impressed walked out inspired.
– More power more purpose more Shakti.

February 2026

– Thanks to Mr. Dawood Vaid, the girls got to know that a Marathon is of 42 km. The girls ran a Maths Marathon yesterday.
– Four teams: Aryabhat, Newton, Ramanajun and Pythagoras. They had to solve 42 problems based on the concepts taught in 9th and 8th and finish first. They huddled before the start of the Maths Marathon.
– Aryabhat team won. ( They were known as “couch potatoes in a rat race earlier!” )

February 2026

– Every year Mr.Satyendra Singh comes to Shaktii at the beginning of first term to teach the girls the power of subconscious mind and he also comes at the end of second term to teach the girls memory techniques which is helpful not only for their upcoming exams but for life time.
– Yesterday on 23rd of February Mr.Singh came and took the session on memory techniques. Girls learnt why we forget and what do you have to do to remember things.
A ….. Attention.
A ….. Association.
I …… Impression
( making a video in your mind) R ….. Repeat / Recall.
– They also learnt how to remember big answers by making illogical association of the main words. At the end of the session the girls could remember and recall 20 random words forwards and backwards. The girls themselves were amazed. We at Shaktii are grateful to Mr Satyendra Singh for religiously coming to Shaktii every year and helping the girls.

February 2026

– On 24th February we had our last session with Shrikanth Iyer Sir. The topic was “Developing Foresight”.
– This session was very informative. He divided the session into three parts.
1.Developing foresight.
2.Practices to reach your goal
3.Positive affirmation.
– First, Sir explained what foresight was. Girls discussed some problems that can occur as a hindrance to reach their goals and how they would want to resolve it. Sir gave us four words from Patanjali Yogasutra.
1.Maitri – Friendliness toward everyone and also yourselves
2.Karuna – Forgiving,helping and being kind.
3.Mudita – Appreciate good people and good things.
4.Upeksha – Distance yourself from all negativities.
– Sir explained about the uses of these yogasutras in our daily lives and use them to secure our relationships. After this he asked us to write the best practices that we would want for ourselves for the year 2026. We all read out what we had written for ourselves. This activity was very enriching. At the end Sir gave us a powerful positive affirmation. “I can effortlessly do all that is in my best interest”.
– The session came to an end with a proper GOODBYE from all of us to Srikanth Sir.
Tanu Parihar

February 2026

– On this day, World NGO DAY, Shaktii- An After School Program completes 11 years.
– We come back in Jun for beginning our 12th Year.

Laptops for Students – 27th February

February 2026

– A good Samaritan Mr.Dhiraj Shah from my residential building, is a retired computer specialist. His two daughters live in the US. So every year he with his wife Hemangi Shah visits them and in one of his visit he noticed that friends of his daughters just throw away their not so old laptops for a new one. He decided to bring two laptops each year and refurbish them and donate it to a deserving Shaktii girl.
– Tanushree Priya , Suhana and Shagun have received the first three laptops.

January 2026

– On 9th of January 2026, we had a Hungarian visitor at Shaktii, Gregory Kovac. He is an architect and winner of many awards for his innovative beautiful architecture all over the world. He is a close friend of our mentor Aparna Saxena and he took us all on a tour of his journey of all over the world.
– He showed us a wonderful presentation of right from where he was born, that is Hungary, then the countries he studied, Great Britain and New York ,USA.
– He then showed us all the buildings that he has helped renovate all over the world into absolutely stunning new structures. His expertise of taking old structures and making them into new modern innovative designs without destroying the old structure was visible in each of his designs. Greg’s presentation also included something about the culture and food of each of the places that he has studied and worked. We all found his journey incredible. The girls enjoyed the whole session as it was quite interactive.
– Greg wrote Shaktii a gracious note after his visit, as follows
“Dear Vimala Ma’am,
Thank you very much for your generous hospitality — for the lovely breakfast, the book, and for introducing me to the beautiful and meaningful work you have built at Shaktii School. It was truly inspiring to experience the dedication and care that underpin everything you do at Shaktii. I was deeply touched by the loving kindness of the young ladies, and by their enthusiasm — whether they were picking up trash together, patiently teaching me Hindi, or engaging so openly in every activity.
The visit was both meaningful and uplifting, and I am very grateful for the time and warmth you shared with me. I hope to see you all again in the near future.
With warm regards,
Gregory“

January 2026

– In the morning, we went to DPS Lake. The weather was very pleasant and calm. We were excited to see flamingos, but there were no signs of flamingos at the lake. After that, we went to another nearby lake. At the second lake, we collected some garbage to help keep the place clean and protect nature. While doing this activity, we also saw different types of birds around the lake such as kingfisher, seagull, painted stork, and cormorant. The environment was very peaceful and made us feel happy and relaxed. After spending some time there, we returned with good memories and a feeling of joy.
– We are very grateful to Vimala Ma’am, Kalyani Ma’am, Aparna Ma’am, and Greg Sir for giving us this wonderful opportunity and guiding us throughout the visit.
Kashvi and Dhanroshni.

January 2026

– After almost ten years of imagining this, I finally got the chance to visit the Shaktii classroom today! Shaktii is an afterschool program for high-need girls in Navi Mumbai. Having taught a few batches of girls (remotely) since 2015, I finally got this chance today.
– The 17 students in class was each enthusiastic, curious and unafraid to challenge! I encouraged them to be imaginative and participate in storytelling activities with confidence. They met me where I was and dragged me several paces forward. Their willingness to attempt new tasks, respond to my playful challenges and push any boundary that I set for them was breathtaking.
– We’re on our way to writing an illustrated story and getting it published together, the girls and I. A dream I wouldn’t have dared to dream if it weren’t for the incredible platform that Shaktii, as a program, offers them.
– At the end of the session, we had an impromptu Q&A session. I was asked a lot of interesting questions, one of which was “what is your dream destination?” I wanted to say “this, this, this place right here!!” But she’s a teenager and might have rolled her eyes at my earnestness. So I said “Australia” instead. 🙂
Aparna Muralidharan.

January 2026

– The National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India every year on January 24. It was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Government of India in 2008, with the purpose to spread awareness among people about all the inequalities girls face in the Indian society. 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.
– Since it was a holiday for Shaktii, the day was celebrated in a different way. The girls were asked to send a 30 secs video on why they feel proud of being a girl child!! ( these were the responses)
“I feel proud for being a girl since for being a girl we need lots of strength and courage. I think I have the courage to face challenges, to aim high and to work harder. So as I’m growing and I know I will be a woman out of the girl one day, I will have lots of responsibilities and I will have to fulfil them. I am grateful to god that he chose me as a girl because he knows that I am capable of fulfiling all the responsibilities and I am capable of doing everything and I too think that I am capable of doing everything in this world.” — Tanu Parihar
“I am proud of being a Shaktii girl because it not only enhances our English but also teaches us how to believe in ourselves. Shaktii empowers girls to ensure that in future they are not dependent. Nobody has told me that. I am my own best friend first. Shaktii makes me aware of it. That’s why I feel very proud of Shaktii and Shaktii will be a memorable part of my life.” – Sampada Monde
“I am proud of being of being a girl because it has made me stronger and understanding. I have learnt that how to care for people, stand up for myself and handle my challenges in my own way. It’s a part of being who I am and I am happy with that. Being a girl gives me strength to face the world confidently. That is why I feel proud for myself.” — Dhanroshni Saw
“I feel proud of being a girl child because being a girl means having strength with softness. A girl balances emotion, courage beautifully from handling responsibility to supporting her family. A girl shows amazing inner power everyday. Though she is suffers from her toughest times still she stands strong and supports everyone. That is why I feel proud of being a girl child because she is powerful, inteliigent and unstoppable girl. If she decides, she can achieve anything.” — Bhavika Vaksar
“Namaste. I am awesome Anushka from Class XIII. Being a girl is super cool, we are strong, we can do anything and we are awesome. We can make a difference, we have fun and we rock. We are friends, sisters, daughters and leaders. We are kind, smart and brave. We support each other and we do our thing. Being a girl is super amazing and we should be super proud of it. We are unstoppable and that’s what makes us awesome. So let’s own it, love it and rock being a girl.” — Anushka “Namaste everyone, I am Disha from Class XIII. I feel proud to be a girl because girls are strong, caring and capable of handling many responsibilities. They faces challenges with courage and still move forward with confidence. Being a girl means having the power to grow and bring positive changes.” — Disha
“Namaste everyone, I am Nidhi Singh from Class XIII. I am proud to be a girl because being a girl is a symbol of strength, love and courage. Girls are caring daughters, loving sisters, responsible mothers, and successful leaders. So today girls are achieving great success in every field whether it is science, sports, politics or education. So that is why I feel proud of myself.” — Nidhi Singh

January 2026

“An Evening of Purpose… An Evening of Inspiration
RCNM Samaritans was privileged to host the Vocational Excellence Awards 2026 — a heartfelt celebration of individuals who quietly dedicate their lives to making our society kinder, healthier and more hopeful.
We had the honour of celebrating Mrs. Vimala Nandkumar (Shaktii Foundation) for Lighting the path of education for underprivileged children and empowering young lives with dignity and opportunity. Chief Guest DGND Rtn. Srijit Poothen beautifully reminded us that Rotary’s true strength lies in recognising and supporting such selfless changemakers and inviting more hands and hearts to join the journey of service.
Moments like these remind us… greatness is not about recognition, but about the silent difference one makes in countless lives.”
Mr. Abhijit Chaudhury, President, RCNM Samaritans

December 2025

– Shaktii center mentors arranged a session called as block printing. In which girls were asked to bring their own white coloured stole. Ma’am arrived at time and started the session.
– Firstly she told us to arrange the clothes properly on a place. Vimala ma’am provided us the blocks and colours also. Kalyani ma’am disturbed colours among the girls.
– As soon as girls started printing their clothes they felt it interesting and creative. Each and every girl was doing it gracefully. At the end the session got concluded by sone instructions by Arunima ma’am.
– Everyone thanked Arunima ma’am and this is how the session ended up.

December 2025

– This was a memorable day for some Shaktii-ites and their mothers. I heard from Kranti Sety of Aditya Birla Group of Industries that Shaktii Girls were invited to attend the Aditya Vikram Birla’s Sangeeta Kala Kendra Puraskar 2025 function and passes were to be given to Shaktii girls to attend the function and transport would be organized. I could not say ‘No’.
– What followed my ‘Yes’ to her was a beginning of an incredible experience of attending the grand event at JIO Garden, BKC, Mumbai. Buses were sent to every nook and cranny of the city to bring people/children of a large number of NGOs. Nearly 4500 people assembled at the venue at 4.30 PM to watch the spectacular event – of Smt Parveen Sultana get her lifetime achievement award. A speech by Aditya Vikram Birla (AI generated) on encouraging performing arts and recognizing talent was absolutely inspiring.
– We had the fortune of listening to Smt Rajshri Birla and the other dignitaries. Our desire to see and hear Shreya Ghoshal sing our favorite numbers was richly rewarded. She was at her best yesterday. She sang with so much energy, melody and passion that the audience listened spell bound. The finale was a dance performance of none other than Bollywood star Rekha.
– Shaktii girls could not believe that they were the recipients of an exhilarating concert of this order. We returned not exhausted but fully energized by songs of Shreya Ghoshal. We are grateful to Kranti Sety for inviting Shaktii girls to attend the function. We thank the volunteers Ketan, Megha, Maneesh Kumar- the bus drive and his assistant for making the trip smooth and comfortable. Hats off to Aditya Birla group for thinking of NGOs and for making elaborate arrangements for the children – taking into consideration their comfort and safety. Snack boxes and water were served enroute to the venue and again during the return journey.
– Everything was planned so meticulously and executed extremely well. Speaks volumes about the BIG HEART of ADITYA BIRLA GROUP.

December 2025

– On 17th December 2025, we all came together at Shaktii Centre to participate in “We Are the World” competition. Presence of our guests – Ms.Deepika Oberoi and Major Archana ,made the day even more special. We welcomed them warmly with a “Namaste.”
– To begin with the guests had some fun – Tanu and Bhavika performed a short musical skit of Ganpatrao Bedekar and Gowri Bedekar which brought smiles and laughter to everyone. Around 2:30 pm we started our competition. After that our anchor Tanu carried the program forward with confidence. Six enthusiastic teams representing Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, and the USA leaving (leaving out Antarctica ) participated Each and every team gave their presentation with enthusiasm and full of confidence.
– The judges, Major Archana and Ms. Deepika Oberoi, had a very tough task in deciding the winners because all the teams performed well.They also motivated and encouraged us with their kind words. They shared tips as to how we can become more confident without being nervous.
– Finally, the results were announced. China team was declared the winner taking into consideration the feedback from the girls. Through this competition, we didn’t just perform — we learned teamwork, gained confidence, and felt inspired. A special thanks to our mentors Vimala maam and Kalyani mam for helping us and making this event a great success At the end Bhavika gave the vote of thanks .
Bhavika Vaskar

December 2025

– Today Dr.Shubjangi Adate came to Shaktii Centre to address the girls and their mothers. Dr.Shubhangi Adate is a renowned gynaecologist of Navi-Mumbai, her specialization being Cosmetic Gynaecology. She owns a hospital called Ornate hospital in Kharghar. She holds the India record of delivering a baby safely from the heaviest lady.
– Dr. Shubhangi spoke to the girls about hygiene, how to keep oneself clean and dry and the benefits maintaining hygiene. She also addressed the issues of irregular menstrual cycles and offered the girls with problems consultation at her hospital free of cost.
– This was a very important and much needed session for the Shaktii girls as well as their mothers. Shaktii is grateful to Dr Shubhangi Adate for visiting the centre inspite of her busy schedule.

December 2025

-Shaktii was nominated from amongst 200 NGOs and was awarded the Socio Star Award in the category of “Education”, for our dedicated hard work along with 39 other NGOs.
A note of gratitude to the management team of CSRHAT
“We at Shaktii, would like to convey our sincere gratitude to CSRHAT management for the excellent award function today. Every aspect of the function was meticulously planned and executed extremely well. The panel discussions were enlightening and the anchor was brilliant.
NGOs need platforms like the one you organized for the incredible work that is being done. It is really a great gesture on your part to recognize NGO efforts and award them trophies.
We were happy that the jury selected Shaktii from around 200 NGOs from all over Maharashtra”
Vimala Nandakumar, Chairperson

December 2025

– The NGO Shaktii organized a joyful Christmas celebration for the children, filled with engaging and creative activities. The event featured a variety of games and competitions, including the Best Christmas Tree Competition, Rudolf Reindeer Dance, Housie with a Difference, along with several other fun games that encouraged participation and teamwork. A special Secret Santa activity was also organized, adding an element of surprise and excitement for the children.
– The children participated enthusiastically in all the activities and thoroughly enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Each child was dressed in Christmas-themed colours, which added vibrancy and charm to the celebration. Their excitement and cheerful energy reflected the true spirit of Christmas, making the event lively and memorable for everyone present.
– Overall, the celebration was a great success, bringing smiles, laughter, and festive cheer to all the children. The Christmas spirit remained high throughout the event, creating a warm and inclusive environment. The activities not only entertained the children but also helped foster creativity, joy, and togetherness, making the celebration at NGO Shaktii a truly meaningful experience
Madhu Vivek Rekhan

December 2025

– The children of Shaktii were taken on an educational visit to Altres Technologies with the objective of familiarizing them with corporate life and work culture. The entire visit was arranged by Sir Sriram Dharmadhikari, ensuring a well-structured and meaningful experience for the children. Upon arrival at the company, breakfast arrangements were made for the children. Following this, Sir Sachin Bagal and Vidya Raghavan ma’am briefed the children about Altres Technologies, its establishment in Mumbai in 2016, its workforce of 107 employees, its head office in Hawaii, and the overall functioning of the organization.
– The children were then addressed by Sir Suvi Kulkarni the CIO, who encouraged them and motivated them to explore future career possibilities. The session was interactive, and the children were encouraged to ask questions, all of which were patiently answered. After this, the children were taken on a guided tour of the company, where they were introduced to various departments. They were shown how payroll systems work, given an overview of coding, and explained how coding functions in real-world corporate settings.
– Post the tour, the Shaktii girls presented on two women scientists, creative mathematics, Shaktii values, review of The Blue Umbrella and performed the Shaktii song. To conclude the visit, Altres Technologies organized a fun quiz for the children, followed by gift distribution. The visit ended with the children being dropped back safely in a bus owned by Altres Technologies. Overall, the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and returned happy, inspired, and enriched by their exposure to the corporate environment.
Madhu Vivek Rekhan

November 2025

– Today, on World Children’s Day on behalf of Six Seconds and UNICEF, I visited Shaktii, an all-girls NGO in Kharghar, known for their after-school programme, to conduct a Pop Up festival and I don’t think I’ll forget the experience anytime soon!
– The moment I walked in, the girls, a brilliant, high spirited bunch from 8th to 10th grade, made us feel like we’d known them for years. They were so full of warmth, curiosity, and kindness that the space instantly felt like a little community!! We carried out this mental-health pop-up festival with activities like an “emotional walk,” the “wish chain,” and “blooming kindness,” and the girls poured their hearts into everything, from writing their wishes for themselves and the world, to expressing feelings and rights with honesty, and celebrating the people they love through tiny paper flowers
– As a third year psychology major student, watching them speak so openly about their as well as others’ emotions felt incredibly wholesome. It reminded me how important safe spaces are for youngsters, spaces where they’re heard, validated, and encouraged to grow. The chairperson Mrs. Vimala ma’am, as well as the mentors, Ms. Kalyani & Ms. Madhu ma’am, along with the Shaktii team were just as inspiring: patient, cooperative, genuinely invested, and unconditionally loving towards the girls, which played such an important role in holding the space together and making every activity feel safe and comfortable. Walking out, I felt lighter, softer, and honestly like a much better human, as the teaching process was mutual today, exactly the theme we hoped to bring alive, for which, I’m immensely grateful!
– Shaktii isn’t just an educational NGO; it’s a place where kindness is taught through example, confidence blooms quietly, and every girl is made to believe that her voice matters, and I experienced that feeling today!!
Raashi Jain, TYBA Psychology Major, St. Xaviers College

November 2025

– We chose 12th November to celebrate Science at Shaktii as WISE, Women in Science Conference. It was also chosen because it happens to be the birth anniversary of Padmashree Late. Shrimati Rohini Godbole, a theoretical Physicist.
– It so happened that our library had this book about 31 women scientists who are doing fantastic work in their respective fields but they are not that well known to us common people. So Vimala Ma’am got this idea of making our girls enact as some of those scientists and make it into a celebration of these wonderful scientists.
– We assigned the girls scientists of different fields and gave them brief information about their scientists and the work that they are doing. We then gave them five criterias {1] Introduction, 2] details of their work, 3] Visuals, 4] How their work is helpful to the society/country, 5] Conclusion} and asked them to do some more research about their assigned scientist and come up with their presentation paper. Winner of this assignment would be the winner of the “Budding Scientist Award”. Our Shaktii girls are incredible. Every one of them came up with wonderful papers of their assigned scientists with amazing hand made props and pictures as visuals. Looking at their tremendous interest, we decided to divide the girls into two groups according to the level of their calibre and we also added a consolation prize. Before the girls could come as scientists, eighth class girls performed a small skit about congruence of triangles to show how they learn Maths in a fun way in Shaktii and as Maths is the queen of science it was an appropriate beginning of today’s program.
– Judges for this competition were Retired Scientist of BARC Dr.Lalita Dhareshwar, Retired Scientist of BARC Dr.Nandakumar and Ms.Kamakshi Vairagi, a physics teacher. All three judges had words of appreciation for the girls and of course a few golden pieces of advice from their experiences in the field of science. Each girl presented her paper in front of the judges with full confidence and answered the questions asked by the judges. Sampada Monde won the Budding Scientist award. She was enacting the Seismologist Kusala Rajendran and the Consolation prize was won by Shagun Kanojia, who presented her paper as Environmental Scientist Vanita Prasad. Both from the ninth class. Preeti Marjapur of eighth class was a wonderful anchor today and carried the whole show with a lot of pizzazz and also the Vote of thanks was proposed by an eighth standard girl, Anushka Singh.
– Prizes might have been won by 9th class girls, but 8th class girls proved that they are smart and confident too. The highlight of today’s program was two video messages for the girls of Shaktii from two women scientist, Dr.Arpita Ghosh {Molecular Geneticist & Cancer Biologist}, through whom we got in touch with Dr. Lipi Thukral {Computational Structural Biologist}. Dr.Lipi is featured in the book amongst the 31 scientists and we were all thrilled to get a video message from her. The success of today’s program reflects the hard work put in by every Shaktii girl and we all got to learn that Science is not just Physics,Chemistry and Biology, Science is in every aspect of our lives.
– Imagination is more important than knowledge – Albert Einstein. Kalyani Basu

November 2025

– Today, at Shakti Centre we had our Drama Class with Deepak Suryavanshi Sir. Sir taught us how to speak clearly, how to pronounce words properly, how to use expressions, and how to present ourselves on stage with confidence.
– Sir’s acting is on another level. He showed us different ways of delivering dialogues, and the whole class enjoyed every moment. We are Kashvi and Dhanroshni, and we really loved the session. It was fun, lively, full of learning.
– This was one of the best experiences for us because we learned so much about voice, clear pronunciation, clarity, expression in a very enjoyable way. We are grateful to Deepak Sir for teaching us with so much energy and for making the session unforgettable.
Kashvi Bhoir, Dhanroshni Saw, std VIII

October 2025

– 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

– 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

October 2025

– Today our combined class was filled with bright undergraduate students of NMMIS university who had come to do a career counselling session with our girls.
– Nandini Patt brought her team of rotracts of NMMIS college and they were all students of different streams like Law, Finance, Marketing, Psychology and Food and beverage industry.. They had all come prepared to share their experiences of why and how they chose their careers and help the girls understand a little bit about choosing their careers.
– Nandini started the session by asking the girls three questions, their names ,their hobbies and one good thing that happened today. One by one Shaktii girls gave excellent replies. Then the NMMIS students did the same thing. It was a wonderful ice breaking session.
– After this the girls were told about all the different streams that they can pursue by the NMIMS students. The finance students spoke about all the career options in finance. Marketing students talked about creativity in marketing. Likewise Food & Beverage student spoke about all the job options in the hospitality industry.. Psychology students spoke about the nuances of a career as a psychologist. Due to time constraint law students missed the opportunity to speak about career options in law. But they promised to send a video with all the necessary information.
– The session ended with a photo session chocolate distribution.
Kalyani Basu

September 2025

– 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

– 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

– 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

– 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.

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.

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

“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.

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.

– 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.

(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.

(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.

(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

(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.

(Session 1) – Photography

– 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

(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.

 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

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

 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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.