iSaahasi Academy India Foundation celebrated its 3rd Graduation day on 14th June 2019. 

It was a proud moment for the 19 participants who have been in the academy. When the academy was started in 2016, there were 18 students who had enrolled for the program, as academy was optional in the first and the second year, some participants opted out. 

In October 2018 the academy was made mandatory for all the participants and, thus, part of the program in the Mumbai Sanctuary. There were, hence, 14 students who graduated based on their learning tracks. 

As a participant begins her journey in the academy, she is assessed in English Comprehension, Reading & Math, based on which she is enrolled in various learning tracks.

Throughout the last academic year, sessions were conducted where participants could learn English, Math, Social Science, Hindi & Fusion. Fusion, Speaking & Listening Sessions were mandatory for all the participants. Topics like Communication, Self Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, Character Strengths, Fixed & Growth Mindsets, Nutrition & Health, Our Body, SMART goals, Social Support system & Forgiveness were covered in the third year of the academy. 

Partner organizations, well-wishers of iSaahasi, some friends & caregivers of the participants attended the graduation ceremony. A hall was rented for the celebration, which is a couple of minutes away from our office. 

The Academy instructor lead the programme. The programme began with a short video taking us down memory lane!  Followed this up by data on the growth of participants in English Comprehension, English Reading & other topics. At present the Average level of participants in  English Comprehension & English reading is at 5.3, it was well appreciated as when the academy began in 2016, the average level of English Comprehension was 1.3 and the average level of English Writing was at 1.4. 

There was a panel interview of our 4 best performing students after the data presentation. Questions were asked to the panel to understand their perception of education pre and post academy – things that have helped them to grow, learning that will sustain them the most, their education plans ahead etc. The panel also shared about having growth mindsets, believing in selves, & how facts & opinions matter in their growth.   

After the presentation two participants shared their journeys in the academy, in which they highlighted things they learnt- growing in understanding english, growing in planning at workplace and using planning in personal lives as well. One of the participant’s shared – before academy, she struggled in reading English, hence she would take a long time to read an email and then respond, which has changed now as now she can understand emails and respond quickly. 

The Program Development Specialist who was instrumental in setting up the academy was down in Mumbai for the celebration, hence the honor to give away the certificates to the participants was given to her.

The celebration was concluded with cake cutting by one of the Directors of iSaahasi and the Program Development Specialist followed by lunch at the office.