SARTHAK Scholarship & Mentoring Program for deserving students Sarthak Maitra! - It all started a few years back, with a concept, an idea, with a handful of young, vibrant, deserving students. eager to prove their metal and few passionate mentors, those who believed in them, believed in selfless giving and sharing their love, time, experience with these wonderful kids. It's been a wonderful and meaningful journey so far as Sarthak Maitra is able to reach hundreds of students and mentors, with strong support from corporate partners, passionate mentors and donors.

As we have witnessed the positive transformation, the joy and the fulfilment of dreams it has given us new hope! With your support we planning to reach out to many more! "Every minute that a mentor spends with the mentee will be a social investment and will also indirectly contribute to the nation's wealth.
The greatest dividend, however, remains the happiness derived from selfless giving !" Be a mentor- Initiate the change! Become positive partners in their growth!

A Scholarship & sponsorship Program for deserving Girl Students in a association with Kalyani Techno Forge Limited

When you Educate a Girl, you Educate a Nation !

Educating a girl child refers to every aspect of education that aims at developing the skill and knowledge of girls and women. The education of the girl child has the ability of bringing socio-economic changes. When a girl is protected through her rights, the society is assured of its sustainability. Some of the main reasons which act as barriers for girl child education are poverty, gender bias, gender-based violence as well as lack of proper sanitation facilities in schools, etc. In India as per census, 2011 female literacy rates have increased from 18.33 percent in 1951 to 74.00 percent in 2011. As per the report, India's country-wide female literacy rate is 70.3%, while the male literacy rate is estimated at 84.7%. India's average literacy rate stands at 77.7%, according to the NSO

• Empowering them to come forward and contribute towards the prosperity and development of the country
• Automatically brings economic independence and empowerment.
• Helps in the improvement of a good life. The identity of the girl won’t be lost. She can read and learn about her own rights.
• Educated girls bring an awareness of the important of hygiene and health. Through education, they can lead a healthy life style. The women that are educated can carter for their children better.
• Educated women are now looked upon with dignity and honour. They become a source of inspiration for millions of young girls who make them their role-models.
• Educated girls can prove to be successful in their different professions. When the girl child gets the opportunity to be educated, it gives her the better chance to become a successful cook, engineer, doctor or the choice of profession she wants.

By taking this in mind, in year 2019, in association with the Kalyani Techno forge Limited; a scholarship Project -Vidya was designed & initiated specially for deserving girl students from the remote villages near KTFL’s factory locations. Over the years, we selected 155 deserving girl students from the Seven locations, remote villages in Pune district, near Ranjangaon, Chakan, Khed, Jejuri Baramati, Mundhawa and Bhivadi (Rajasthan). We have also selected 91 girls from 5 orphanages. In this

• Mamata Bal Sadan, Saswad
• Maher Orphanage, Vadu Bu./Vadgaon Sheri
• Sarthak Seva Sangh, Ambale
• Samparc Balgram, BHaje
• Shikshangram, Devale

Scholarship - Sponsorship & Mentoring Program in association with OPUS Rural Foundation & OPUS consulting Project Shiksha is a scholarship for economically underprivileged & bright and deserving students from the remote villages in Shrigonda Taluka, of Ahmednagar district. This Project is supported by Opus Rural foundation. For Academic year 21-22, 25 students were selected and for academic year 22-23 another 22 students are selected for this scholarship program. from Dhavalgaon, Deodaithan, Yevati, Hingani Dumala, Arangaon Dumala, Rajpur, Math, Pimpri Kolandar, Rayagavhan, Pimpalgaon Pisa and Belvandi are selected for scholarship program. Sarthak not only give scholarship to students but also working on their skills, personality and overall development. These sessions were conducted at Dhavalgaon - Rural Shores call centre every month.

Scholarship - sponsorship & mentoring program for needy - deserving girl students in association with Tenneco Clean Air India Pvt ltd. Project Lakshya is Scholarship for deserving girl students from the remote villages at Chakan taluka. This project is supported by TENNECO clean Air India. In the year 2022-2023 the first batch of 20 girl students were selected for scholarships. Sarthak believes that only giving financial support is not sufficient. Along with financial help, we observed that personal attention and skill development is much more needed for these girls. In this five years journey, It will be our intention to make each girl aware of their own strength, understands their aptitude & passion, and equipped with essential life skills, study skills & professional skills that can be used in their career.

Importance of life skill in development of adolescents
In a constantly changing environment, having life skills is an essential part of being able to meet the challenges of everyday life. The dramatic changes in global economies over the past five years have been matched with the transformation in technology and these are all impacting on education, the workplace and our home life. To cope with the increasing pace and change of modern life, students need new life skills such as the ability to deal with stress and frustration. Today’s students will have many new jobs over the course of their lives, with associated pressures and the need for flexibility In everyday life, the development of life skills helps students to:

• Find new ways of thinking, decision making and problem solving.
• Communicate with clarity.
• Recognise the impact of their actions and teaches them to take responsibility for what they do rather than blame others or situations.
• Build confidence both in spoken skills and for group collaboration and cooperation.
• Analyse options, make decisions and understand why they make certain choices outside the classroom.
• Develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-worth and boost self-confidence.
• Positive and sustainable behavioural development and change in mentality.

Life skills training/ education considers psychosocial competencies and interpersonal skills that help students to take right decisions, solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, empathize with others, and cope with managing their lives in a healthy and productive manner. (WHO) defines Life skills as the abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. Life skill has been classified into three broad categories:

• Thinking skills: Thinking skills are the skill that enhances the logical faculty of the brain using an analytical ability, thinking creatively and critically, and developing problem-solving skills and improving decision-making abilities.
• Social skills: Social skills include interpersonal skills, communication skills, leadership skills, management skills, advocacy skills, co-operation and team building skills, etc.
• Emotional skills: Emotional skills, involves, knowing and being comfortable with oneself. Thus, self– management, including managing/coping with feelings, emotions, stress and resisting peer and family

For any girl age of 14 to 20 is a period when the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and all the capabilities are very high, but, unfortunately, most of them are unable to utilize their potential to maximum due to various reasons. They face many issues such as, social norms, poverty, illiteracy of parents as well as other issues like alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual abuse, smoking, juvenile delinquency, anti-social acts, etc. that have an adverse effect on them and others too, to a large extent. The cut-throat competition, unemployment, lack of job security, etc. are some of the major concerns for the educated and as a result, they are caught in the mad race. This new challenge requires immediate and effective responses from a socially responsible system of education. ‘Education’ is important, but education to support and live life better is more important. It has been felt that life skills education bridges the gap between basic functioning and capabilities. It strengthens the ability of an individual to meet the needs and demands of the present society and helps in dealing with the above issues in a manner to get desired behaviour practical. Imparting life skill training through inculcating life skill education will help youth to overcome such difficulties in life.

Education, now a days is hence, very important, but the kind of education, to support and live life better is more important. Thus, the cardinal focus of Education, therefore, needs an extraordinary emphasis on developing such skills in students, as they are the important building blocks for a dynamic citizen, who can cope up with future challenges, and survive.

"Project Saksham" is the Mentoring project in association with Emerson Electric Co. (India) Pvt. Ltd.
In this project total 50 deserving students were selected from financially underprivileged community areas and schools for the academic year 2022-23. All these 50 students went through the selection process of form submission, interview, home visit, aptitude test and career counselling. Scholarship amount was disbursed as per the students’ requirements. These students were then introduced with their Mentors. Mentors do hand holding with the mentee in their career journey. Skill development sessions were also conducted for these students to enhance their personality and soft skills. Sarthak not only gives financial support but makes sure that the mentee should be able to take its own responsibilities and face the situations confidently.

For any adolescent of age of 14 to 20 is a period when the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and all the capabilities are very high, but, unfortunately, most of them are unable to utilize their potential to maximum due to various reasons. They face many issues such as, social norms, poverty, illiteracy of parents as well as other issues like alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual abuse, smoking, juvenile delinquency, anti-social acts, etc. that have an adverse effect on them and others too, to a large extent. The cut-throat competition, unemployment, lack of job security, etc. are some of the major concerns for the educated and as a result, they are caught in the mad race. This new challenge requires immediate and effective responses from a socially responsible system of education. ‘Education’ is important, but education to support and live life better is more important. It has been felt that life skills education bridges the gap between basic functioning and capabilities. It strengthens the ability of an individual to meet the needs and demands of the present society and helps in dealing with the above issues in a manner to get desired behaviour practical. Imparting life skill training through inculcating life skill education will help youth to overcome such difficulties in life.

Education, now a days is hence, very important, but the kind of education, to support and live life better is more important. Thus, the cardinal focus of Education, therefore, needs an extraordinary emphasis on developing such skills in students, as they are the important building blocks for a dynamic citizen, who can cope up with future challenges, and survive. Topics that we are planning to cover in next 5 years training are:

• Understanding self & understanding others, SWOT
• What is personality & how do we develop the inner potential
• Basic healthy habits (Food, Fitness, Cleanliness & basic Hygiene)
• Addressing sexuality and “Prem-Maitree- Akarshan”
• Study Skills
• Goal Setting and pathways to success
• Communication and public speaking
• Self-confidence & motivation
• Emotional management (anger and stress management)
• Time management and exam skills
• Career counselling post 12th exam
• Problem solving & decision making
• Critical, creative & out of box thinking
• IT literacy and using technology for self-development
• Professional skills
• Financial management and personal banking (operational)
• Entrepreneurship/ business Skills and innovative ideas.

A collaborative mentoring program with Maharashtra Times - Helpline For last many years, Maharashtra Times, a leading newspaper in Maharashtra under their social welfare initiative, is creating a strong financial support to the bright, needy & deserving students across Maharashtra. These students are selected after careful scrutiny and the funds are raised by making an appeal to all the newspaper readers. These students are then mentored by Sarthak Maitra. Sarthak Maitra for last few years conducting life skill sessions and various skill enhancement programs for these students and their progress is being tracked and monitor constantly.  Ma.Ta. Online View Students Testimonial in Ma.Ta. Helpline