A room full of gratitude (and why it mattered)

Hi, I’m Indira Shakti, the Operations Manager at Shanti Bhavan. Recently, I attended my first alumni gathering, and it perfectly captured what makes Shanti Bhavan unique.

At Shanti Bhavan, our commitment extends past graduation. We support our students for years beyond the classroom, walking alongside them as they build careers, families, and brighter futures. This long-term approach is rare in the NGO space, and it’s one of the reasons our model works.

 

“There isn’t a day that goes by without me feeling quietly grateful for the life I have because of Shanti Bhavan. Life would have been very different from my earlychildhood if not for the existence of Shanti Bhavan, and I remain deeply thankful for everything it has given me.” – Boovitha (class of 2017), Senior Margins & Collateral Management Associate

 

This gathering was designed to strengthen our alumni community, reinforce lifelong connections, and guide our graduates in the next steps of their personal and professional lives. It reflects our belief that real transformation comes from intentional, long-term support.

Through the Shanti Bhavan Alumni Association, working alumni mentor younger students, support one another professionally, and give back to the community that helped shape them. This gathering was a natural extension of that ongoing, alumni-driven work.

 

“I often find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for Shanti Bhavan. I’ll be going about  my day andsuddenly think, ‘I’m living in France. I have a great job. I get to travel and meet incredible people.’ Moments like these make me deeply aware of how fortunate and privileged I am to have received this kind of education and upbringing.”  – Subash (class of 2017), Senior Finance & Market Intelligence Analyst

 

What stayed with me most was the sense of shared responsibility in the room. Alumni reflected on where they came from and focused on improving their families’ lives, strengthening their communities, and supporting the next generation of Shanti Bhavan students. Our graduates are sponsoring children, mentoring college peers one-on-one, leading workshops on career preparation for younger students, and fundraising to pay it forward to children like them. The gratitude was genuine, and it was matched by a clear sense of purpose.

As someone new to Shanti Bhavan, I left feeling deeply inspired. This was proof of what’s possible when young people are supported for the long term.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your continued support ensures that Shanti Bhavan remains not just a school, but a lifelong community.

With gratitude,

Indira Shakti

Operations Manager