A Decade of Empowering Young Girls
As 2024 unfolds, Sarvam Shakti celebrates a momentous milestone – our 10th year of working tirelessly to empower young girls from marginalized backgrounds in Delhi and beyond! Since 2013, we have faced many battles and struggles, yet we grew from 20 to a massive 300+ girls in a decade. This is a time to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared with our dedicated team, our amazing Shaktis, and all our wonderful supporters.Â
Educating a girl can transform her life prospects and the prospects of the world. Yes, Sarvam Shakti started with a vision to empower underprivileged girls and make them recognize their inherent worth and create their own stories with confidence.  Â
This project offers both traditional and modern wisdom. Under this project, Shakti Sadhana, and Shakti Strong are the traditional learnings that teach them classical dance and yoga. Shakti Speak and Shakti Shiksha teach them English and essential computer skills. Along with these learnings, Sarvam Shakti wants the girls to be physically strong too and provides nutritious food and drink (Shakti Sanjeevani).Â
The Leading Light of Sarvam: Ms. Nehha BhatnagarÂ
Driving back on the journey of the Sarvam Foundation, it all began on a stage. In 2010, Ms. Nehha Bhatnagar, a renowned dancer, shared insights on "the power of dance" at the TEDx Pune Conference, which paved the way for the birth of the Sarvam Shakti.
Ms. Nehha Bhatnagar, the founder, holds the belief that dance can be a pathway to inner connection, opening doors to new experiences. She advocates that through dance and other skills, one can cultivate discipline, enjoy physical well-being, experience therapeutic effects, and develop aesthetic sensibilities. Her vision has always been to empower marginalized girls, ensuring they have their own identity and access to learning opportunities, allowing them to lead fulfilling lives.
The Evolution of Shaktis
Sarvam has become a home away from home for our Shaktis. They've built a strong network of friends and family, and their happiness is evident in their radiant smiles. Every day brings new skills and a boost in confidence. The nutritious meals at Sarvam contribute to their overall well-being.
The Shaktis captivating performances are a crowd-pleaser. They've graced stages at hotels, Independence Day celebrations, and prestigious educational institutions. Notably, the Senior Shaktis even had the international honour of performing in Poland from 2014-2018.
Empowered by their newfound confidence through Spoken English classes, the Shaktis are taking on leadership roles in their schools and actively participating in various activities. Their journey at Sarvam is a testament to their continuous growth and blossoming potential.
Looking Back on 2023 and the First Quarter of 2024
The past year and these first few months have been filled with exciting developments and continued growth for Sarvam Shakti. Here are some highlights:
Nehha Bhatnagar’s presence:Â
Nehha Bhatnagar's visit to India this quarter, 2024, brought renewed energy and inspiration to the entire Sarvam Family. She actively participated in various programs and interviews for Sarvam Shakti's senior batch in Gurgaon. Through these interactions, she has gained a deep understanding of their situations. In the coming quarter, she plans to launch new initiatives that will broaden Sarvam Shakti's reach and create a greater impact on the lives of the girls already involved in the program.
Showcasing Our Talent: Our talented Shaktis have performed at various events, including cultural functions and social gatherings! These experiences boost their confidence and leadership skills.
Check out our blogs about the extraordinary performance of our Shaktis at various events:
Celebrating Achievements:Â We've witnessed countless success stories as our Shaktis excel in their academics, develop their artistic talents, and become more self-assured young women.
Our 18-year-old Shaktis continues to impress! These talented graduate Shaktis were recently invited to interview for teacher-intern positions at the prestigious Heritage School, Vasant Kunj, for the 2024-25 academic year. This marks the second consecutive year our graduates have had this opportunity.Â
But wait, there is more! Two of our current Shakti interns at The Heritage School were part of the interview panel.Â
We're incredibly proud of our Shaktis achievements, every Shakti brings something special, and we celebrate them all!
Looking ahead, we're brimming with plans for the rest of 2024:
Bangalore Chapter: As Nehha Bhatnagar is planning to return to India next year, we're excited to focus again on our Bangalore chapter, empowering more girls there through holistic education and self-discovery.
Stronger Computer Skills:Â The computer teaching program will continue in full force, with daily 1-2 hour classes led by a qualified teacher. These classes will equip girls with valuable computer skills that can open doors to future opportunities.
Yoga certification program:Â We're launching a new yoga certification program this year! This is a fantastic opportunity for 20-30 girls to deepen their practice and become certified instructors.
Our mission remains unchanged;Â to transform the lives of girls by giving them the tools and confidence they need to thrive. We know that changing every life is a big challenge, but we're committed to making a difference, one girl at a time.
Thank you!
As we embark on this new year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Your donations, volunteer efforts, and well wishes have fueled our growth and empowered countless young lives.
Here's to a year filled with growth, joy, and the unwavering spirit of our Shaktis!
Written By: Syed Noor Un Nisa