What We Do
Sahasra Deepika Institute
Our core program focusing on girls’ education
Sahasra Deepika Institute provides a stable, caring environment and well-rounded education for 65 girls in Bangalore from kindergarten to 10th standard. The majority of girls in our care come from single-parent households; most of their mothers work as maids, laborers or in the garment industry. Our four-acre campus includes a residential facility for girls, library, state of the art school, organic garden and playground.
Deeksha High is the school located on our campus for students from kindergarten through 10th grade. It is the result of our partnership with Academic Center for Excellence. This bold venture provides the girls at Sahasra Deepika Institute the opportunity to attend an academically challenging school in the safety of our campus, with peers from middle-class families.
Women’s Empowerment
“Women’s empowerment means social rights, political rights, the economic stability of the country itself.”
–Justice Ram Mohan Reddy.
It’s Her Turn: Bringing Women Together
In July 2018, as part of the 20th anniversary commemoration, Sahasra Deepika hosted a discussion by and for women empowerment program entitled, “It’s Her Turn: Forging a New Path for Women in India.” Panelists included Dr. Sunita Maheshwari, a noted physician and entrepreneur; Tanvi Gandhi, an Executive Producer at Phantom Films; and Preeti Gandhi, editor of Houzz India. The discussion was moderated by Monika Samtani, founder of Ms. Media and The Fem Word. Women of all ages shared their experiences as they strive to integrate tradition, family, opportunity and individuality. Future discussions will be conducted in 2019. All are welcome to join the conversation!
Helping Teachers in the Community
Sahasra Deepika’s Women’s Empowerment Program is focused on fostering a dialogue around a very important issue: the high drop-out rate for girls in India. By bringing together teachers from government schools, community leaders, and other educators in a collaborative forum, we strive to: develop a deeper understanding of the problem; make teachers aware of their unique position as a role model for the girls in their classrooms; and stimulate the development of creative approaches to the problem.
Our second biennial Women’s Empowerment Seminar was held on November 19th, 2016, with over 30 teachers and distinguished guest speakers: Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, formerly of the High Court of Karnataka; Divya Narayanappa, District Child Protection Officer, Bangalore Urban District; Kathyayini Chamaraj, freelance journalist and Executive Trustee, CIVIC Bangalore; and advocate and journalist Anjali Ramanna.
We are planning for our next Women’s Empowerment Seminar. Please contact us if you would like to participate.
Latest News
A Call to Action— Relief Work During COVID-19
"It’s essential that organizations and individuals capable of contributing to the cause of COVID-19 relief do so, in order to ensure that those who are living in destitute circumstances have access to basic human necessities." Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the...
College During Quarantine
"Let us all thank our medical communities for keeping the sickness from spreading like a wildfire. And let's all pray for everyone's wellness."--Hamsa, a recent graduate of Sahasra Deepika, reflects on life during quarantine." In all of its states and union...
11th Annual Spelling Bee
The 11th Annual Sahasra Deepika Spelling Bee was held on January 18th at R.V. Teachers College in Jayanagar, Bangalore. One hundred finalists competed to win a college scholarship. Annual spelling bee contests are always being held in Sahasra Deepika. We believe that...
A different Thanksgiving
Here in Sahasra Deepika, we like to think that every day should be an opportunity to be grateful for everything. Not everyone can have the privilege to do something with support from other people. But today, it's a different Thanksgiving that we want to celebrate here...
