Namaste sabhi ko🙏
I am Deepak Sharma, Trustee, Udayan Care and I want to reach out to the readers across the world telling my story of the first two days of Celebrating Change 2025 held at Flame University, Pune. I want to thank the founder of Udayan Care, Kiran Modi ji, CEO Anjali Hegde, the Shalinis and everyone at Udayan Care and those who support Udayan Care in making a definitive change in the lives of girls.
Day 1 - June 13, 2025
The day ignited with Darshana, Founder of Vigyanshala and Udayan Shalini Fellowship (USF) alumna (2004 batch), delivering a powerful keynote. She narrated her extraordinary journey, a testament to resilience and purpose. Her story illuminated the profound impact of the Udayan Care USF program – not just providing education, but igniting belief, fostering leadership, and nurturing the courage to dream big. From USF scholar to pioneering VIGYANSHALA which transforms STEM education for underprivileged children, Darshana embodies the USF mission: empowering girls to become changemakers. Her journey, fueled by the support and values instilled by USF, stands as living proof that investing in girls' education creates powerful waves of positive change. Her address was a deeply motivational tribute to personal triumph and the ripple effect of programs like USF.
Day 2 - June 14, 2025
What an absolutely transformational second day for the 280 Shalinis and 300+ audiences at Celebrating Change 2025 at Pune! The energy in the room was electric from the very first moment. We began with a powerful Advocacy and Leadership session, skillfully moderated by our own USF alumna Dr Darshana Joshi, Ph.D. The learning continued as we dove deep into interactive sessions: Entrepreneurship session which was beautifully curated by Rajnish Virmani with very active participation of Shalinis. Creative Expressions through Storytelling by Vaishali gave us powerful frameworks to guide Shalinis find their authentic voices and craft narratives that move audiences. Special thanks to all our brilliant panelists who generously shared their expertise, personal journeys, and actionable advice. The Q&A sessions were particularly vibrant, with thoughtful questions sparking meaningful dialogue. A day well spent with full of learnings for all.
Day 3 - June 15, 2025
The day started with Technology & Digital Awareness session which sparked curiosity with interactive discussions on digital trends. After a short tea break, Sheetal Agarwal’s session on Mental Well-being was a highlight—her relatable anecdotes, practical tips, and engaging activities kept everyone attentive and reflective. The Social Influence & Media session inspired lively debates on media’s role in shaping opinions, while the Personal Growth & Upskilling session motivated the Shalinis to embrace lifelong learning.
Later, an inspiring fireside chat with Dr. Kiran Modi - Founder & Managing Trustee of Udayan Care deepened the day’s learnings. The evening ended on a creative high as all 15 groups of Shalinis performed 5-minute skits on given topics—each presentation was unique and impactful. I feel truly blessed to have been part of Celebrating Change 2025 in Pune.
Grateful for the love, laughter, and endless learnings.