Alexia Pritchard, long-time supporter of Shadhika, had the opportunity to spend time in Kolkata visiting our projects a couple of years ago.  She was captivated by New Light’s  Soma Home and has made this inspiring movie about the at-risk girls who’re given the opportunity to build a future for themselves in a safe and nurturing [...]

‎Check out this trailer (link below) for a documentary on the Nick Kristof/Sheryl WuDunn book on women’s rights. We’re excited to see it includes Urmi, the founder of New Light, one of the projects supported by Shadhika. The documentary is a powerful reminder of the work being done all over the world by dedicated people [...]

This must be the season of anniversaries.  We just celebrated New Light’s eleventh, and today (December 3) we were invited as guests of honor for Monimala’s seventh.  However, getting there was not a simple matter…  Normally we travel around with Urmi’s car and her driver, Jadob, who is both Robinson Crusoe’s Friday and Passe-par-tout from [...]

On Friday December 2, we visited Paripurnata, Shadhika’s original project.  A little adventure on the way there – our driver did not know the area on the edge of the city and we wandered around a bit before finding the building.  As we pulled in Mr. Basu, the Honorary Secretary (director), was on the steps [...]

Greetings from Kolkata!  We arrived here November 29th – Juthica (founder), Maureen (Board member) and myself (Peter, Treasurer and Secretary).  It is Maureen’s first visit to India and she is taking it all in like a pro.  Juthica and I have not been here for 2 whole years, long enough to have gotten unused to [...]