SCF - TV Asia Applauds Courageous Women on International Women’s Day

March 8th International Women's Day, 13 women - are set to be our Heroes as part of “Shades of Shakti” a partnership venture between T V Asia and Share and Care Foundation in USA.

“Shades of Shakti”- 13 episode series,  will focus on the achievements and  compelling life experiences of  inspiring South Asian women – Every week on  T V Asia from March 8 at 8pm (EST)/ 5pm (PST) and Repeats Sunday 7.30pm (EST)/ 4.30pm (PST).

SCF’s 2014 campaign focuses on 'Empowering Women'. In keeping with Share and care’s quest for excellence for innovative solutions to current challenges-we are showcasing achievements of 13 women who have done us proud. They are here in our own backyard, consistently Inspiring Change to other victims like them.

Many victims of physical and emotional abuse never return to normal life: they often go to great lengths to hide their disfigurement, torture, and suffering, many forgo education or employment rather than appear in public, and suicide is not uncommon. These 13 heroes did not hide but chose to become “Courageous Champions”, and fought not only for themselves but for others as well. They are the standard-bearers for the movement to end gender inequality. They made consistent appearances and took their causes to the masses.

"These achievers are the true epitome of 'Shakti'," says Nisha Mathur, producer and director of the series and concept developer... "For the millions of women out there struggling to find their place in the society, this is the time to step out of the shadows and achieve their dreams. It has been the bane of our times that so many women, even today, lack the basic support system to fulfill their dreams.

Share and Care’s goal in launching this “Signature Program” was to raise our voice on behalf of thousands of young vulnerable girls and women who are being denied the basic human rights, decency and opportunity to grow to their full potential. We hope “Inspiring Change- Empowering Women”- will inspire girls, fathers, brothers, husbands, and leaders to raise their voices and embrace the power and conscience within them. Our mission demands that we act decisively to educate girls, provide tools, ideas, networks, and skilled training that can help them find their voices and create a better tomorrow. That empowers them to change their lives, communities, and future of their family.

We hope that all of you will join this cause and that we can work together to make them safe, secured, grow to their potential , empowering them to define their own destiny – true priorities once and for all. Please join our mission and campaign. Share and Care, established 32 years ago, currently operates over 800 programs. The organization has helped more than 20 million women and children in rural India.

Find out more at www.shareandcare.org or join the conversation at Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/shareandcarefoundation

Contact Tejal Parekh:  201.262.7599 tparekh@shareandcare.org

OR Dr. Ketki Shah: sharad.ketki@gmail.com

The first 5 women interviewed

Ekata Doshi - a young woman who had it all, but is now facing one of the toughest battles of her life, leukemia.  Ekata has the added challenge of being a South Asian woman in need of a bone marrow transplant. South Asians are dramatically under-represented in existing bone marrow registries. But cancer picked on the wrong girl. Ekata is determined to fight this battle. Some see a hopeless end, while others see endless hope.

Ann Mukherjee - chief marketing officer of Frito-Lay at PepsiCo. Despite daunting obstacles like child abuse and domestic violence, Ann has never given up . . . because she believes in the strength of human potential. Through her willpower she has developed strategies that can help us maximize who we are and what we can accomplish.

Chanda Zaveri - a Calcutta girl who took a leap of faith as she fled an arranged marriage at age 17. She was determined to complete her education and follow her dreams. Find out how she makes her way from Calcutta to California and listen to Chanda narrate her unbelievable story of fate and fortune!

Shweta Katti - the first girl from Mumbai’s red-light area to be accepted to Bard College in New York on full scholarship, but needs funding for room and board. Newsweek recently named her one of “25 Under 25 Young women to watch.” She wants to study psychology and reach out to other girls like her and inspire them to work hard, dream big, and achieve their dreams. As a therapist she wants to return to Mumbai's red-light district and be a “change agent” helping innocent girls like her to overcome society’s discrimination.

Sneha Singh - a young woman who personifies what our country stands for, courage, freedom, integrity, and hope. Sneha became the first Indian cadet to get entry to the United States Military Academy at West Point, in the Academy's prestigious 211-year history.

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