Mission Shakti
a mission close to Her heart
Save, Educate, Empower!
“I do not want the girls of India to remain weak and dependent. I want them to be powerful and strong. Educate them! Empower them!”
Shakti Vidya Nidhi Kosh is a non-sectarian,
non-political and non-discriminatory organization
dedicated to empowering under-privileged girls so that
they can lead a wholesome, dignified life with
financial independence and actuate their inherent
potential. It is spearheaded by the mystic master
Anandmurti Gurumaa who has been zealously addressing
the issue of education and empowerment of girls
besides condemning the evil practices of female
foeticide and infanticide in her talks held around the
world. The core belief of Shakti is that
education is pivotal in accomplishing the mission of
female empowerment and changing the prevalent
misguided mindset, derivative of socio-cultural
factors towards the girl child and women in
general.
Inception
Self-respect through self-reliance
Almost 20 years ago, revered master Anandmurti
Gurumaa met a young child who was fatherless, with
no one to support her. She had no money for school
fees but lots of hope in her heart to study and
excel. Around the same time, another touching
encounter took place with a young mother of 3 girls,
pregnant with a fourth daughter, being pressurised
by the family to abort. The helplessness and plight
of both deeply moved the revered master and in 1999,
Shakti Vidya Nidhi Kosh was founded to redress the
gender bias coupled with providing opportunities for
empowerment through education.
Core
Since its inception in 1999 under the aegis
of Anandmurti Gurumaa, Shakti has been
empowering under-privileged girls by giving
them scholarships to complete their
education up to 12th standard. These girls
are the daughters of handicapped parents,
war martyrs, divorcee and widows, who are
not able to afford their education. In
certain cases the financial aid is extended
to help those who want to pursue higher
education or a professional career. Further
through its vocational training institutes
called Shakti Udaan, Shakti has also been
offering learning opportunities to girls
from deprived families so as to make them
self-reliant and independent.
Vision
An educated girl becomes an empowered woman,
who further educates and empowers her
family. She becomes a role model, a
forerunner of change and an inspiration for
many as she strives to learn, grow and
evolve. Managing and multitasking is her
forte and she does it with great panache as
she juggles home, family and career
responsibilities with commitment and
efficiency. She is a beacon, a guiding
light, a symbol of strength imparting
values, nurturing minds and shaping lives. Being
the bridge between generations, a woman
assumes a role of paramount significance. A
generation can be transformed with the
transformation of women; hence it explains
why is it imperative for a society to have
women who are awakened and aware.
6 Aims 1 Mission
To raise awareness about the heinous practices of female foeticide, infanticide and the brutalities inflicted on the girl child in India.
Creating Awareness
India is a land of rich heritage. Its
cultural and architectural roots and
traditions are a source of great
national pride. One aspect, which
perhaps, doesn’t get as much global
attention is its unique spiritual
inheritance. This land of Vedas and
sages has given us a distinctive legacy
of passing on esoteric metaphysical
knowledge of the ultimate truth, from
generation to generation through the
establishment called ashrams. These
were designed for serious aspirants
seeking the absolute existence, seeking
the highest plane of reality and
wanting to know the actual purpose of
human life.
Since prehistoric times
ashrams have been imparting structured
learning programmes where students
learn and practise vital inner yogic
sciences under the guidance of a living
master. Continuing this glorious
tradition is our ashram - Rishi
Chaitanya Trust. Established in 1997,
it is a non-government, non-profit
charitable organisation. Under the
guidance of revered master Anandmurti
Gurumaa, its main mission is to provide
dedicated services towards spiritual
upliftment of the masses. The trust
provides a residential retreat centre
where various activities are held
regularly in this regard and are open
to all without any discrimination.
Besides
this, the trust is very active in
humanitarian activities like mission
shakti aimed at empowering
underprivileged girls by providing them
with education and essential life
skills that enable financial
independence. As and when needed, the
trust also provides ad hoc help for
victims of natural disasters and
calamities.
Charitable events like
blood sharing camps, free health check
ups of poor folk residing in nearby
villages is also an integral part of
our mission. The master’s dynamic
vision ensures continual emergence of
new activities and programmes which
help in spreading our philanthropic
wings in order to reach out to more and
more destitute people.
The
ashram is an aesthetically designed
sanctum providing a perfect setting for
both, serious seekers wanting to make a
concerted effort towards their
spiritual evolution and worldly folk
seeking a sanctuary to unwind and take
a breather from their frenetic lives.
The ashram was founded on this very
basis of providing a conducive
environment for people to learn,
practice and thus spiritually evolve
under the guidance of a living
master.
Educating Girls
To provide education (up to 12th standard) to under-privileged girls in India by imparting financial support.
Empowering girls
To provide opportunities and financial aid to those girls who want to pursue higher education or a professional career.
Vocational Training
To help girls from deprived
families to become
self-reliant and financially
independent by providing
various vocational training
courses.
Aiding Institutes
To provide financial aid to
institutions which are
actively involved in
empowerment of girls and
their overall welfare.
Love & Care
To nourish the children with unconditional love and care to help them grow beyond the feeling of deprivation, emotional insecurity and low self-esteem.
Shakti's Success Stories
Sonya
Learning stitching and embroidery, in Shakti Udaan
institute Sonya has suffered with blood deficiency
since childhood. Coming from a traditional orthodox
family which couldn’t offer her much opportunities due
to financial hindrances, Sonya’s dreams weren’t
suppressed rather soared high. She dreamt of turning
her weakness into strength and wanted the world to see
her empowered. The fire in her continued to push her to
fulfil the wish of being self-reliant and making the
best use of her potential without putting any financial
strain on her family. She aspires to start her own
boutique soon.
Priya
When girls of her age would play without worry, Priya
would work hard day and night. Due to lack of funds
life has been a constant struggle for her. Yet despite
all odds she aspires to soar high as Shakti Udaan has
given her the wings to fly. She now studies herself,
supports her family and even teaches others. A
powerhouse that she indeed is!
Anu
Although she can’t speak but her eyes speak the
language of joy and enthusiasm. She speaks through her
expressions and listens through the gestures of others.
She learnt stitching at Shakti Udaan centre and is
today earning through her creativity. Her speech is
silent but her work speaks for itself. In a world where
people on countering little struggles give up their
goals and get absorbed in inferiority complex, Anu
casts a remarkable example by not only embracing her
weakness, rather still chasing her dreams.
Susheela
Susheela from Nepal, works as a house maid here in
India to make a living. Despite not being educated, her
eagerness to learn and hard work have made her life
prosperous. She wants to get back to her village and
open her own boutique centre where she can teach other
girls. ‘I will go far ahead, at least I feel so’,
quotes Susheela. What better can be achieved other than
instilling such unshakable belief in oneself?!
Sonia
Soniya now teaches stitching and embroidery to other
girls. Sonia could not pursue her higher studies due to
lack of funds, but she didn’t give up. Her father and
brother’s ill health created strained financial
condition for the family. To manage the fianances of
the house, she went to a Shakti Udaan centre and
decided to learn stitching. ‘I had never thought, I’ll
be able to do three tasks at one, stitching myself,
teaching others and pursuing studies again. With my
money I can take care of my own needs without any
hesitation, I feel proud of myself for being
self-reliant’, says Soniya. Her family is proud of her
and so is Shakti.
Sanju
It was a huge challenge for a differently abled girl
Sanju, coming from an ultra-conservative family to
complete the henna application course yet with great
tenacity and dedication, she did. Thrilled beyond
words, today Sanju successfully freelances and earns
her livelihood with dignity. Hats off to Sanju and all
our Shakti girls! We are proud of you!
