9.DIDI

In Shaheen Mistri's story, titled "Didi," she narrates her own inspiring experiences. Shaheen Mistri begins by sharing that at the age of 12, she was seriously contemplating her goals but couldn't select a path.

While living in Jakarta in her colonial home, she visited an orphanage that changed her life. There, she met children who were weeping, laughing, silent, and yelling. From that point onwards, her perception of the world changed. She understood that she was leading a comfortable and cozy life while many children her age were leading miserable ones.

During Shaheen Mistri's summer holidays, she used to come to Mumbai where she volunteered for "The Happy Home" and the "School for the Blind." Gradually, she began to notice the inequalities faced by people from different walks of life. The sight of children begging for food while she comfortably traveled in her car deeply touched her.

During one of her summer vacations, while sitting in a taxi, three children came to the window of her car asking for food. This incident changed her life and led her to undergo an identity crisis.

When Shaheen Mistri's summer holidays were about to end, she called her parents and requested permission to continue her life in India. Her parents agreed to two conditions: she had to get admission to the best college in India for her undergraduate studies and go abroad for her graduation.

For her undergraduate studies, Shaheen Mistri opted for St. Xavier's College, where her parents had pursued their higher education. She managed to secure admission there. While studying, she realized the differences between the Indian and Western education systems. The Indian education system promoted a "bookish" form of learning, while the Western education system emphasized "academic rigor" and "intellectual stimulation."

During her time at college, she started exploring the areas where low-income communities lived. One day, she visited a slum where 10,000 people lived without water, proper waste disposal systems, and adequate toilets. On that day, she met an 18-year-old girl named Sandhaya, with whom Shaheen Mistri formed a strong bond. She visited Sandhaya and other children in the slum every day, teaching them a little English, math, and a song. They affectionately called her Didi.

Shaheen Mistri wanted to start an organization to teach underprivileged children. She understood that India had people willing to teach kids, available spaces that could be used as classrooms, and government funds for providing better education to children. This realization led to the formation of Akanksha. Shaheen Mistri approached many schools to request a classroom for teaching children, but most school authorities did not cooperate. Finally, the principal of Holy Name High School in Colaba provided her with a classroom, which became the first Akanksha center. Volunteers from St. Xavier's College taught the kids in that school.

The Akanksha Foundation was formally established in 1991. Initially, it had only 15 students, but later the foundation expanded to 58 centers in 6 schools, providing education to 3500 children. These children were able to learn basic English, math, values, and develop self-esteem and confidence. Shaheen Mistri's journey is truly inspiring as she built a new world of virtue, knowledge, and a positive outlook.