BY CORRINE LIU ’23
Shakti, a program started in 2016 following the interim President Sonya Stephens’ trip to India in 2014, is a two-day conference which occurs every summer. Created through a collaboration between the Office of Admission and the individual alumnae, Shoba Narayan ’87, Vijaya Pastala ’89 and Gayatri Rangachari Shah ’94, the program aims to inspire confidence and leadership skills of 11th and 12th grade girls in India.
The program was “one of the most valuable things I’ve been a part of on campus,” Associate Professor of Psychology and Education KC Haydon said about her experience with the Mount Holyoke Shakti Program.
Since the program was launched, the College has included different faculty and staff members to foster program effectiveness. Ultimately, what makes Shakti different from other summer enrichment programs is its dedication to making every aspect of the program interactive.
“I was chosen to take part in Shakti because [Mount Holyoke] wanted to shift direction and instead develop the girls’ psychological strengths” Haydon said. Mount Holyoke is currently focusing on making the program, “much more personal and less formulaic,” she said.
Shakti is based on the premise that Indian women are what “truly drive change in modern India ... [they] cater to this idea through identity development and [creating] relationships between the current and next generation of change-makers not only in India but in the world,” according to Haydon.
Looking back on her experience attending Shakti, Samyukta Jadeja ’21 said it helped her “feel closer to achieving real, important things.”
Specifically, being able to interact with the panelists in a collaborative way “made me think about the greater impact I could have ... [it was] immensely moving,” she said.
Shakti was “definitely the biggest reason I chose Mount Holyoke,” Jadeja said.
The program gives students the chance to “connect with other Shakti alums once on campus,” Haydon said.
“[The Shakti] alums and I are still in touch,” Jadeja added.
Despite previous years’ success with the program, Mount Holyoke Shakti’s influence and journey have only just begun.
“Mumbai students are amazing and it’s rewarding to see this network of amazing people who want to give back what they’ve gotten,” Haydon said.
The program currently “only advertises in [Mumbai] I think a lot of good all girls schools all over India should be targeted,” Jadeja said.
The program also offers a fee waiver. Jadeja believes that Mount Holyoke should advertise this fee waiver more, claiming that it helps “women see other women in these higher positions and to understand what it takes to make a change and difference.”
“We have found our groove with balancing the relationship between speakers, interactive workshops and information, and from here we can only do more” Haydon said.