At OJASH WELFARE Society, we discovered early on that the most powerful catalyst for children's education is an empowered mother. Our "Shakti Mata" program works with mothers in rural communities, providing them literacy training, financial education, and vocational skills. The results have been extraordinary: children of program participants show 40% higher school attendance and significantly better academic performance. When a mother can read, she reads to her children. When she understands the value of education, she fights for her children's schooling even against societal pressure.
The program began with 25 women in one village and has now expanded to reach 200 mothers across 15 villages. We teach basic literacy, numeracy, and digital skills like using smartphones for educational apps. But more importantly, we build confidence. Many women who joined our program had never spoken in public, never made a decision without their husband's permission, never believed they could learn anything new. Today, these same women lead parent-teacher meetings, help their children with homework, and make informed decisions about their family's future.
Kamla Bai's story exemplifies our program's impact. A mother of four who never attended school, she joined Shakti Mata two years ago. Today, she can read Hindi newspapers, operates a mobile phone, and runs a small tailoring business from home. More importantly, all four of her children now attend school—something she once thought impossible. "I was blind," she says, "not because I couldn't see, but because I couldn't read. Now I see everything clearly, and I want my daughters to see even more." Her eldest daughter now dreams of becoming a teacher.
We have also established women's self-help groups that save collectively and support each other during emergencies. These groups have become powerful advocates for children's education in their communities. When families consider pulling girls out of school for marriage, these women intervene. When children face discrimination, these mothers speak up. The program has created a network of education champions who ensure no child in their community is denied schooling. Empowering women isn't just a goal—it's a strategy that multiplies impact across generations.
