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
Finding Sisterhood at Sahasra Deepika
"...we shared a bond: a bond centered in a love for education and a will to fight and work until girls around the world are given what they deserve." Sisterhood, especially in Indian heritage is a big thing to us, and it's a special bond for the girls in India. It's...
Leaders Light the Way honors International Women’s Day
Sahasra Deepika has always been in favor of women's empowerment. We believe that equal rights to women and men should be prioritized and applied. The same goes for education. That's why it's a priority in our institution, to give education to the girls in Bangalore....
A Window to Sahasra Deepika
“No matter where a human being is on the planet we all have a common thread. We want to be loved and we want to have opportunities that make us grow and learn.” It's amazing how someone you haven't met before will change you and how you see the world. And it was a...
A Night of One Thousand Spotlights
Inspiration blooms in every way. Sometimes, you're just eating, running, thinking or watching something, then you'll get inspired by it. And you can also inspire other people by just being yourself. You don't need to be famous, or have a lot of money to inspire other....
