Ms. Shaheen Mistri
Shaheen Mistri is founder, Akanksha Foundation and founding CEO, of Teach for India. India .Shaheen was born in Mumbai and lived in 13 different countries during her childhood as her father was working for a multinational company. Studying in a small college for previleged children in the U.S, Shaheen decided to stay in Mumbai, while being there on holiday. She felt that she had to learn more about her home country. Working for a newspaper in parallel to her studies, she was able to get to know about all parts of Mumbai, even the ones she would have never imagined to go before. Shaheen Mistri started Akanksha Foundation in 1990 at the age of eighteen to educate less priveleged children from Slum areas. Today Akansha creates opportunities for over 2000 children who study in 43 Akanksha Centres and another 2000 children through the Municipal School Project. The Akanksha Foundation’s Vision is to provide each Akanksha child with a strong educational foundation , with a deep sense of self esteem ,with a good time in a space where they can be children. Teach for India was established in 2007 to engage outstanding college graduates and young professionals who will commit two-years to teach full-time in under resourced schools. She is an Ashoka Fellow (2001), a Global Leader for Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum (2002), an Asia Society 21 Leader (2006) and serves on the boards of Ummeed, The Thermax Social Initiatives Foundation and is an advisor to the Latika Roy Foundation.Ms. Shaheen was one of the six privileged Indian delegates to the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, held in Washington DC on April 26 and 27 this year.
