The two-hour event brought community members and children together through mixed-team activities, festive games, Secret Santa gifting, music, and dinner. Each team included adults and children to encourage connection, confidence, and shared joy.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Nidhi said, “Christmas is about belonging. This celebration allowed our community to share joy in the most meaningful way – with presence, kindness, and love.”

Dimple Somji, founder of With Love NGO, shared, “Our aim was simple: to make every child feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Watching the girls light up reminded us why collective kindness matters.”

The evening highlighted community spirit and the power of simple gestures to create lasting memories.

The post Mind Body Soul Community and With Love NGO Celebrate Christmas with Ghar Aashram Girls in Pune appeared first on NRI News.

From being the Chief Guest at LPF’s very first award function in 1996 to exactly 30 years later, she called it an ‘Inspiring Journey’. In 1996, she was concerned whether the Foundation would survive even for ten years, and if it did, she would return as the Chief Guest & she did in 2005 & also said that now she is confident that the Foundation will successfully run forever. Today, her presence was not only an inspiration to the young scholars but also a testament to continuity, resilience & the power of keeping faith in the vision & mission of the Foundation.

Freny Tarapore, Shernaz Edibam, Maya Thadani (shared video message) & Firoz Poonawalla, LPF’s Founder Trustees, graced the event with their presence & each one of them spoke, making the event truly memorable.

Dr. Bedi released the souvenir on the occasion of LPF’s 30 years of Excellence & Mr. Poonawalla presented it to her & spoke about its significance, “This wall clock is a symbol of ever-running & ever-growing Lila Poonawalla Foundation, and I am happy to gift it to you on the occasion of the Foundation’s 30th anniversary.”

The presence of Members of the LPF Board of Trustees, together with several of the 1996 (first) batch Girls, some joining the celebration in person and others sharing their heartfelt video messages, added a truly special touch to the event. The continued guidance of the Trustees, constant support from Individuals, Charity Partners, Trainers, Alumni, Well-wishers, and the dedicated office team are the reasons why LPF was able to bring this transformative change in the lives of thousands of girls.

Apart from that, LPF’s several Corporate Partners, without whom this journey of growth & impact wouldn’t be possible, marked their presence at the event. They not just supported financially but also contributed to the holistic development of Girls through conducting volunteering programs, industrial visits, placement drives & by providing constant mentorship & guidance.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bedi shared, “ I am feeling proud to return as the Chief Guest in the 30th year of the Foundation. Three decades ago, when I came, there were just 20 girls, and now LPF is a family of more than 18,000, which reminds me of the strength that you LILA Girls have. The responsibility lies on your shoulders, run this movement for many, many years & decades”.

Reflecting on the journey, Ms. Lila Poonawalla said, “Our mission has always gone beyond scholarships. It is about nurturing confident, capable, and compassionate women leaders of tomorrow & I thank you all who have believed in this mission and walked with us.”

Over the years, LPF has grown beyond Pune and operates in five additional regions: Wardha, Amravati, Nagpur, Hyderabad & Bengaluru. It expanded the scholarship programs to support not only Post-graduation & undergraduate, but it also launched a program for School Girls 2morrow 2gether’ across various streams.

As LPF marks 30 years of impact, the Foundation now looks ahead to positively transform the lives of nearly 25,000 financially challenged girls by 2030, impacting not only the girls but also their families & the communities they live in.

The post Dr. Kiran Bedi’s Inspiring Presence at the 30th Lila Poonawalla Foundation appeared first on NRI News.

MUMBAI: The K.C. Mahindra Education Trust proudly announces the re-defined intervention from Project Nanhi Kali with an innovative campaign that integrates football into the curriculum for underprivileged schoolgirls across India. This campaign, created by Ogilvy, underscores the Trust’s commitment to holistic education, blending academic learning with essential life skills acquired through sports.

KC Mahindra Education Trust started Project Nanhi Kali to encourage and support underprivileged girls to complete 10 years of schooling. In alignment with the National Education Policy which advocates the integration of sports as part of the curriculum, Project Nanhi Kali is introducing the girls to the game of football.

Project Nanhi Kali’s campaign film captures the transformative power of football on young girls, highlighting real-life stories of schoolgirls from across India who are part of this program. These girls are not just learning to play football; they are gaining confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of self-worth that transcends the football field. The film is a testament to how sports can be a powerful vehicle for change, teaching values such as teamwork, perseverance, and resilience.

Project Nanhi Kali has transformed the lives of more than 700,000 girls across India.

Watch the film here: 

Commenting on the new film, Sheetal Mehta, Trustee and Executive Director, of K.C. Mahindra Education Trust says, “At Project Nanhi Kali, we empower underprivileged girls through a transformative blend of education including 21st-century skills and sports leadership training. This holistic approach provides the girls with the essential tools to succeed in life. Our ‘Lessons from a Football’ film vividly showcases how football teaches crucial values like teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. By incorporating sports into our program, we see Nanhi Kalis evolving into a strong, confident leader who is ready to take on the world.”

Asha Kharga, Chief Customer and Brand Officer, Mahindra Group also added, “Nanhi Kali represents Mahindra’s philosophy of Rise in action. We approached the new campaign with the mindset of an innovation launch. In alignment with the National Education Policy, Nanhi Kali has revamped its curriculum to be more holistic by integrating sports, while maintaining a focus on English, Math, Digital & Financial Literacy, and Soft Skills.“

“We needed to effectively communicate this shift and a day with the Nanhi Kalis in the village of Jambusar gave us rich insights. For these girls, football is more than a sport, it instills in them the confidence to Rise.” 

Ogilvy India conceptualized this thought-provoking film. Kainaz Karmakar and Harshad Rajadhyaksha, Chief Creative Officers of Ogilvy India opined: “We visited a rural Nanhi Kali center and spent a lot of quality time interacting with several Nanhi Kalis, and their coaches. The raw, captivating, and liberating stories of what the simple game of football has come to mean for these little girls and their sense of confidence and self-worth, are what inspired us to create this piece of communication.

It is a privilege and honor for all of us at Ogilvy to partner with the super-driven Nanhi Kali client team in this journey. We are also very pleased with what our director, Afshan, has been able to bring to life in this film, working with so many amazing actual Nanhi Kalis who had never faced a movie camera in their lives, before this film.”

The post Nanhi Kali’s Groundbreaking Initiative Uniting Education and Sports for Girls appeared first on NRI News.

Nitrrothon 2024 brought together individuals from all walks of life to run for a cause greater than themselves. With race categories including 3km, 5km, and 10km, participants of varying fitness levels joined forces to support the education of underprivileged girls. The atmosphere was electric as runners crossed the finish line, knowing their efforts were contributing to positive change.

The presence of esteemed chief guests added to the grandeur of the event. Renowned Indian Actor, Ajinkya Deo, along with Sunil Tingre Ji and Chahat Dalal, lent their support to the cause, emphasizing the importance of empowering girls through education. Their inspiring words resonated with participants and spectators alike, reinforcing the significance of collective action in driving social change.

“Nitrro Fitness is deeply grateful to everyone who participated in Nitrrothon 2024,” said Prabodh Davkhare CMD & Founder of Nitrro Fitness. “Your dedication and commitment to empowering girls through education have made this event a tremendous success. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future for all.”

The impact of Nitrrothon extends far beyond the finish line. Funds raised from the event will go directly towards supporting the education of underprivileged girls, providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. By investing in education, Nitrro Fitness and its supporters are breaking barriers and creating pathways for a more equitable and just society.

As the cheers fade and the sweat dries, the spirit of Nitrrothon lives on. Nitrro Fitness remains committed to its mission of promoting health, wellness, and social responsibility within the community. Together, we will continue to strive for a world where every girl has the opportunity to fulfill her potential.

The post Nitrro Fitness Celebrates Success Of Nitrrothon 2024: Empowering Girls through Education appeared first on NRI News.

Renowned Bollywood actor Neha Dhupia graced the event as Chief Guest, joined by esteemed actor and psychiatrist Dr. Mohan Agashe as Guest of Honour. Packed with diverse activities, the summit aimed to engage, educate, and empower the participants.

Under the ‘Udayan Shalini Fellowship’ program that focuses on academic excellence and leadership development for deserving and underprivileged girls at risk of dropping out of formal education, particularly after 10th grade. The flagship event, ‘Celebrating Change,’ takes place every alternate year and gathers selected girls from each chapter for workshops, panel discussions, capacity building, and team activities.

Reflecting on the successful summit, Dr. Kiran Modi, Founder & Managing Trustee of Udayan Care, stated, “The Celebrating Change Summit 2023 has been a remarkable journey of empowerment and inspiration for the underprivileged girls. Witnessing their enthusiasm and dedication to embracing equity and driving positive change fills our hearts with immense pride. We are grateful to all participants, speakers, partners, and volunteers who made this event a resounding success.“

The grand finale of the summit witnessed the girls being divided into 10 groups, with each group assigned a specific topic. Their task was to collaborate and create short plays based on these topics, which were derived from the panel discussions and speaker sessions held over the previous three days. The Shalinis were given a timeframe of 24 hours to prepare these brief 10-minute performances. This activity served a dual purpose: to reinforce the knowledge acquired during the summit and to provide an enjoyable experience for all participants.

Over the past 20 years, the Udayan Shalini Fellowship Program has made a significant impact, starting from supporting only 72 girls in Delhi in 2002 to impacting the lives of nearly 13000 girls, today. The program has expanded to encompass 32 chapters across 13 states of India. This year’s summit united around 200 Shalinis from different chapters across India. The theme of the event was “Embrace Equity & Evolve”.

Day 1 commenced with an inaugural session and an icebreaker activity fostering camaraderie. An art session and learning theatre workshop empowered participants to convey their ideas effectively. A panel discussion on technology’s role in enabling equity offered insights into inclusivity.

Day 2 began with a sports activity, breaking gender stereotypes. A panel discussion on gender sensitization challenged norms, followed by a thought-provoking fireside chat on equity’s significance and the day concluded with a drum circle fostering unity.

Day 3 included a meditation session for well-being and a mental health session on resilience. A speaker session on decision-making skills and a case study on values in decision-making provided practical insights. A session on liberal education empowered participants as change agents.

The Celebrating Change Summit 2023 empowered participants and inspired a more equitable society. UDAYAN CARE extends appreciation to all participants, speakers, partners, and volunteers.

The post UDAYAN CARE Hosts Celebrating Change Summit 2023: Empowering Underprivileged Girls and Embracing Equity appeared first on NRI News.