About Us
Discover the people, purpose, and passion driving our mission to empower girls.
Our Story
It started with a simple observation that we couldn't ignore. In our local community, we noticed a profound gap in the resources available to underprivileged girls—specifically when it came to foundational education, health literacy, and personal safety. We saw bright young women eager to learn and grow, yet held back by systemic barriers and a lack of supportive spaces where they could build essential life skills.
Rather than waiting for someone else to fix it, we decided to act. What began as a small idea to host a single community reading session quickly blossomed into a dedicated movement. We brought together peers and mentors, shaping programs that not only teach practical self-defense and health awareness, but also foster a deeply supportive sisterhood.
Since those early days, we have designed and delivered 20 educational and self-defense workshops, directly impacting over 1,500 girls and women. To make this possible, we've mobilized 40 dedicated student volunteers and established strong partnerships with 20 nonprofit organizations. Today, that small spark is The S.H.E Initiative, a platform dedicated to empowering every girl to claim her strength and her future.
Our Mission
To provide underserved girls with the educational resources, health knowledge, and self-defense skills necessary to navigate the world safely and confidently.
Our Vision
A future where every girl has equitable access to the tools she needs to lead a healthy, independent, and empowered life.
Core Values
Confidence
We believe that self-belief is the foundation of every strong community leader and advocate.
Access
We are committed to removing barriers so that vital knowledge and training reach those who need it most.
Community
We cultivate supportive networks where women and girls uplift one another to achieve collective growth.
Meet the Team
Both our Co-founders, Shreya and Delisha, have presented a TEDx Talk highlighting the initiative's measurable community impact.
Shreya Nair
Co-Founder
Shreya Nair is a passionate student leader, changemaker, and the co-founder of The S.H.E Initiative. She serves as the President of the Student Council and has delivered a TED Talk on the vision and impact of The S.H.E Initiative, sharing her mission of empowering underprivileged girls through education, self-defense, and health awareness. With a deep interest in biology and women's health, she hopes to work toward a future where every girl has access to education, healthcare, and protection—especially ensuring that every girl is vaccinated against cervical cancer. Her dedication to leadership, service, and creating meaningful change continues to inspire young girls to rise with confidence and purpose.
Delisha Soni
Co-Founder
Delisha Soni, student of the Shriram Millenium School and the IT head. A firm believer that every problem comes with at least three possible solutions and a colour-coded to-do list. Powered by equal parts determination and notifications, Delisha can usually be found assigning tasks, following up on tasks, and somehow creating entirely new tasks along the way. Whether it's untangling a last-minute crisis, keeping projects on track, or gently (and then less gently) reminding people about pending work, Delisha always seems to have a plan loading in the background. Her brain operates like a browser with 73 tabs open at once—chaotic in theory, surprisingly effective in practice. Known for turning 'we should probably do this' into a fully functioning action plan, Delisha treats every challenge like a troubleshooting prompt: identify the issue, find the fix, and move on before the error message has time to settle in. From managing workflows to keeping everyone's tasks properly synced, she ensures that nothing gets left on read—not even deadlines. At this point, we're convinced that if life came with a 'Remind Me Later' button, Delisha would somehow find a way to disable it.