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“Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. And one who believes this would definitely help others in conquering this weapon.”
In the bustling city of Mumbai, India, a young girl named Shaheen Mistri was born into a Parsi family on March 16, 1971. Her childhood was characterized by a multicultural upbringing, as her family moved across five different countries, including Lebanon, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Greece, and Indonesia. At the young age of 12, Shaheen began volunteering, setting the foundation for her lifelong commitment to community service and education.
Empowering Underprivileged Youth - The Akansha Foundation
Upon returning to India at the age of 18, Shaheen pursued her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. It was during this time that her unwavering dedication to educating the underprivileged led her to initiate the Akansha Foundation in 1989.
Starting with just 15 students, the non-profit educational center has since grown exponentially, serving over 15,000 children in Pune and Mumbai. With support from her parents, friends, and Citibank, the Akansha Foundation became a beacon of hope for countless children seeking a brighter future. Today, the center teaches 3,500 students in 58 centers and 21 schools.
Shaheen’s Second Chapter - Teach For India
In 2008, Shaheen's vision expanded even further, inspired by the Teach For America model. She founded Teach For India with a daring ambition to provide an excellent education to every child in India, driven by a movement of dedicated leaders committed to ending educational inequity.
Today, Teach For India's impact is immense, reaching over 32,000 children through the dedication of over 900 Fellows and 250 staff members across eight cities. The Teach For India Alumni community, comprising over 3800 members, has had a direct impact on one million children and an indirect reach of 33 million children.
Other Accomplishments of Shaheen
Shaheen's advocacy for student voice and partnership gave birth to innovative initiatives like the Maya Musical, the Kids Education Revolution, and The Greatest Show on Earth, all centered around student leadership. She recognized the power of teachers as leaders and conceptualized Firki, a Teacher Training Portal providing a curated platform for teachers to learn and grow together. This transformative portal currently engages 150,000 users, igniting a positive change in the education landscape.
Driven by an unwavering commitment to leave no child behind, Shaheen founded TFIx, an incubator for passionate education entrepreneurs willing to adapt Teach For India's successful model to their specific context and regions in rural areas. Thanks to the efforts of these TFIx entrepreneurs, over 62,000 children across India now have access to quality education, bridging the gap between urban and rural educational opportunities.
Awards and Accolades
Shaheen's remarkable contributions to education achieved her numerous accolades which include the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Development and Welfare of Women and Children in 2019, as well as the Beyond Business - ETPrime Women Leadership Award in 2020. Her commitment to empowering the underprivileged and fostering a culture of equality has inspired many and earned her the title of an Ashoka Fellow, a Global Leader for Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum, and an Asia Society 21 Leader.
Beyond her remarkable work in education, Shaheen is also an accomplished author, having penned the book "Redrawing India" and the Miss Muglee children's books. Her journey from a compassionate young volunteer to a trailblazing social entrepreneur serves as an inspiration to all, especially women seeking to create meaningful solutions to real-world problems.
Through her relentless pursuit of educational equity, she has transformed the lives of underprivileged children and empowered future generations of leaders. Her dedication to making quality education accessible to all is a beacon of hope and a model for social entrepreneurs worldwide. Shaheen's story reminds us that with passion, determination, and compassion, we can create a brighter and more equitable future for all.
Written by Harshita Kumar
Also, Read The Path to make leaders through Volunteering: Rural Education in India
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