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"When She Leads" is an interview series celebrating and affirming the young women of Shadhika's leadership.
When She Leads: An Interview Series
June 13, 2020
Reading Time: 7 minutesWhen She Leads is an interview series celebrating and affirming the young women of Shadhika’s leadership. At Shadhika, we know that “When she leads, change follows” and so, we are excited to bring you first-hand interviews and stories from our young women leaders.
When She Leads: From the Front Lines
November–December 2020
For our third and final installment of this year’s When She Leads interview series, we speak to four partner site field staff working directly with the young women of Shadhika about their experiences being women leaders during a global pandemic.
Sonali
Sonali is a Community Organizer in Sanjay Nagar & Project Coordinator of Shadhika After School Programs for Sanjay Nagar and Shelar communities with our partner site Vacha in Maharashtra. Here she shares about her work of community organizing amidst the pandemic and what it is like be a mentor and to provide a support system to the young women program participants in her communities. Read her interview.
Deblina
Deblina is a District Coordinator in the Murshidabad communities with our partner site Jabala in West Bengal. Here she shares about learning to manage the new and emerging needs of the young women she works with and co-create solutions alongside them towards the betterment of their entire community. Read her interview.
Anjali
Anjali is a Community Staff Mentor in the Azamgarh communities with our partner site Milaan in Uttar Pradesh. Here she shares about her direct engagement with young women program participants, the ways mentorship has changed during the pandemic, and what it is like to balance work and furthering her own education. Read her interview.
Reena
Reena is a Youth Coordinator with our partner site Sahiyar in Gujarat. Here she shares her personal journey from being a young woman who participated in Sahiyar’s programs to becoming a Social Worker who is now on staff at Sahiyar. Her giving back to the next generation of young women in her community is an inspiration to us all.  Read her interview.
When She Leads: Back to School
September–October 2020
As the pandemic continues, the young women of Shadhika have managed postponed or canceled exams and the uncertainty of school reopening. In our second When She Leads interview series, we speak to five young women of Shadhika about their experiences managing online classes, the digital divide, preparing for college or matriculating to their next grade level all while navigating the pandemic.
Tajdina
Tajdina is a second year Shadhika Scholar who is pursuing her Nursing degree. She is a program participant with our partner site Jabala in West Bengal. Here she shares about the transition to online classes amidst the daily pressures of life at home during a pandemic and her hopes for the future. Read her interview.
Mangala
Mangala is a rising Shadhika Scholar who intends to pursue a degree in Education. She is a program participant with our partner site Baale Mane in Karnataka. Here she tells us about why she chose to pursue education. Her commitment to the next generation is an inspiration to all of us, especially as we watch teachers and educators address the challenges of school start during COVID with care and creativity. Read her interview.
Geeta
Geeta is a rising Shadhika Scholar who intends to pursue a degree in Business Management. She is a program participant with our partner site Vacha in Maharashtra. Here she shares how central her friendships are to her ability to overcome the stress of school closing and exams. Like the rest of us, her relationships are her haven for strength and guidance. Read her interview.
Priyanka
Priyanka is a rising Shadhika Scholar who plans to pursue a Bachelor’s of Legislative Law towards a career as a Civil Judge. She is a program participant with our partner site Milaan in Uttar Pradesh. Here she shares her dream of becoming a judge so she can be in a position of power to advocate for gender justice. Read her interview.
Swati
Swati is a rising 12th grade student who plans to pursue a Bachelor’s of Medicine to become a medical doctor. She is a program participant and a Grade 11-12 Shadhika Scholar with our partner site Vacha in Maharashtra. Here she shares her dream of success in the rigorous field of science and her determination to make it no matter the obstacles. Read her interview.
When She Leads: Under Lockdown
June – July 2020
Throughout COVID-19 in India, the young women of Shadhika have shown their tenacity, creativity, and resilience. Though the daily context in India has shown little reprieve, and is in many respects worsening, these young women are responding as leaders in support of their friends, families, and communities. In the first When She Leads interview series, we speak to several young women of Shadhika about their experiences since the COVID-19 lockdown in India.
Reshma
Reshma is a second-year Shadhika Scholar pursuing a nursing degree in Delhi. She is a participant with our grantee partner site, STOP India. Recently, her community experienced a major fire. In the face of such devastation, Reshma led a clothing and food collection for those impacted. Read her interview.
Parvati
Parvati is a third-year Shadhika Scholar pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree of Banking & Insurance and a participant with our grantee partner site Vacha, in Maharashtra. Recently, her family migrated to their village of origin. However, Parvati has persevered and negotiated with her family to continue pursuing her educational goals. Read her interview.
Mirekha, Navya, Shashikala, & Manasa
These four young women are from Baale Mane, our partner site in Karnataka. Here they share about their experiences since the lockdown and how they’re trying to stay mentally and physically healthy. Read their interview.
Sanjuckta & Pranjuckta
Sanjuckta & Pranjuckta are sisters who came to Shadhika through our partner Jabala in Bengal. Their sisterhood is the bedrock of their advocacy for gender equality in their community and in India. In this interview, they speak with humor and passion about leaning on each other during the lockdown and supporting each other’s vision for a female-driven future. Read their interview.