JAMMU: In a world brimming with remarkable individuals, there are those rare few who dedicate their lives to shaping a brighter future for others. Sumita Dass, an exceptional educationist and social entrepreneur, stands as a shining example of such a remarkable individual. With an unwavering commitment to empowering youth and creating a more democratic and just world, Sumita has touched countless lives through her visionary leadership and tireless efforts.
For over 25 years, Sumita has served as an educator and mentor in multicultural professional settings in both the United Kingdom and India. Her journey in the realm of education began after completing her postgraduate studies in Education and Zoology, followed by earning a distinguished M.Sc. in Leadership and Management in Education from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. These academic achievements not only equipped her with profound knowledge but also fostered a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics of educational leadership.
Throughout her illustrious career, Sumita has witnessed the transformative power of education firsthand. Her experience working closely with diverse learners has instilled within her a profound belief in the potential of young minds. It is this unwavering faith that inspired her to choose education as her vocation—a calling through which she could make a tangible difference in the lives of young people.
During her time working in the United Kingdom for UN programs, Sumita's eyes were opened to the immense need for upliftment in her own country. Driven by a burning desire to contribute to her homeland, she took a momentous step and established the non-profit organization Life of Vision Foundation in 2015. Through this noble initiative, Sumita and her team endeavor to support the weaker sections of society by providing education, skill development, and women empowerment opportunities.
Life of Vision Foundation has become a beacon of hope, bringing forth transformative change through education. By focusing on economically disadvantaged families, Sumita's NGO aims to break the cycle of poverty and empower individuals to lead independent and fulfilling lives. By providing education and work opportunities, the foundation paves a path towards brighter futures for those who need it the most.
In addition to her work with Life of Vision Foundation, Sumita Dass also serves as the President of Inner Wheel, a renowned organization dedicated to education and health awareness for minority girls in local communities. Through partnerships with various inter-colleges, Inner Wheel cultivates aptitude and interest in girls, ensuring their access to secondary education and skill development. By training them to be financially independent, Inner Wheel strives to equip these young girls with the tools they need to overcome societal barriers and embrace a future of limitless possibilities.
Through an exclusive online interview conducted by Ajmer Alam Wani, Editor-in-Chief of JK Monitor, (www.jkmonitor.org) , we have been given a glimpse into the extraordinary journey that has shaped her into the remarkable individual she is today. Sumita Dass's unwavering dedication and tireless efforts serve as an inspiration to us all, urging us to join her in the collective mission for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow. Let us celebrate her achievements and carry her torch of compassion and empowerment forward, forging a path towards a world where everyone's voice is heard and valued.
Q.1. Can you share with us your journey as an educationist and how you became passionate about making a difference in the field of education?
Ans: As an educator it motivated me to work with youth to empower them to create a more democratic and just world for themselves in future. Being an educationist and mentor in a multicultural professional setting in the UK and India for the past 25 years. An alumni of Convent of Jesus and Mary and Post Graduate in Education & Zoology along with M.Sc. Leadership and Management in Education from Sheffield Hallam University UK on the Professional Development Program for Education Leaders have helped me to understand and build confidence in learners. Apart from learning skills, my students made me feel that I was actually helping them to take better decisions. I chose this profession because I felt I could make a difference in young people’s lives.
Q.2. What inspired you to establish the Life of Vision Foundation, and what are the main goals and objectives of the organization?
Ans: Working in the United Kingdom for UN programs I realized there is a lot of need for the upliftment in my own country. Formed the NGO Life of Vision Foundation is non-profit organization, established in 2015 to support the weaker section of the society through Educating the youth, skill development and women empowerment.
Q.3. Could you tell us about the various initiatives and programs undertaken by the Life of Vision Foundation to promote education and empower underprivileged children?
Ans: I am committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth by focusing on issues relating to the environment, healthy living and social advancement so that it can contribute to a strong and resolute India enabling the common man to better his or her life. I gain joy and satisfaction in knowing that my efforts have made the lives of these small kids, adolescent children and women a better place.
- Project Sahara: Developing school infrastructure in Rural Areas
- Making Strides against Cancer: Living Well Beyond Cancer
- Installing Sanitary Napkins Vending Machines in Educational Institutions
- Showcase the myriad shades of the rich cultural heritage and Art Camps for school kids
Q.4. As the President of Inner Wheel Club Noida, how do you contribute to the betterment of society and the empowerment of women?
Ans: Bringing hope through education and providing workwe focus on economically backward families. Inner Wheel has become partners with various Inter Colleges for education and health awareness for Minority Girls from local communities between the ages of 3-16 years. The project also aims at developing aptitude and interest in girls for secondary education and skill development by training them to earn and be financially independent.
Q.5. Can you highlight any notable projects or initiatives implemented by the Inner Wheel Club Noida under your leadership?
Ans: The following were undertaken during my leadership years from 2020 to 2022 and we still continue to do them.
- Comprehensive Health Camps in schools for Underprivileged children
- Project Pragati: Computer Literacy Learning Today for a Sustainable Future in schools
- Celebrate Menstruation with Pride not Shame …Menstrual Hygiene Camps in schools
Q.6. In your opinion, what are the key challenges in the education sector today, and how can they be effectively addressed?
Ans: An educationist and mentor for the past 25 yearsin the past, I feel teachers, parents, students, and community members can come together to ensure a strong public education that would work for all students. We still have a long way to go to fulfil that dream, but if we understand that ordinary people can have just as much power as the powerful, then we can ensure that education remains a public good.
Q.7. What role do you believe technology plays in enhancing educational opportunities, particularly for marginalized communities?
Ans: Technology has helped teachers to prepare their students to face the real world. It has enabled students to access up-to-date information in a quicker and easier way. Classroom technology has transformed teachers into encouragers, advisers and coaches.
Q.8. How do you ensure that the Life of Vision Foundation's programs are sustainable and have a long-term impact on the lives of the beneficiaries?
Ans: Life of Vision Foundation role involves bringing together communities, survivors and those who have been touched by cancer along with Cancer Awareness on Social & Preventive aspects of Cancer across Delhi NCR & other states.
Q.9. Can you share any success stories or achievements of the Life of Vision Foundation that have had a significant positive impact on the community?
Ans: Life of Vision Foundation has become partners with various Inter Colleges of Delhi NCR for Menstrual Hygiene programs and health awareness of 25,000 Minority Girls from local communities between the ages of 3-16 years. We install sanitary vending Machines in schools for these girls.
Q.10. What strategies do you employ to promote inclusivity and diversity within the educational institutions and programs supported by the foundation?
Ans:
1. Be aware of unconscious bias.
2. Communicate the importance of managing bias.
3. Acknowledge holidays of all cultures.
We encourage schools to have students from diverse cultures help develop tolerance and a greater sense of security. It also helps students learn about other languages and cultures, encouraging them to be inter culturally sensitive.
Q.11. How do you collaborate with other organizations, educational institutions, and government bodies to maximize the impact of your initiatives?
Ans: It’s the most challenging area to work together with various organizations and collaborate for school awareness initiatives, health awareness programs hence its impact is challenging to generate funds for these initiatives.
Q.12. As an educationist and social entrepreneur, what role do you believe leadership and mentorship play in nurturing the next generation of change-makers?
Ans: As an educationist and Social Entrepreneur, I aim to solve social problems and focus more on giving social impact on society. Aiming to teach students to develop skills and competencies to try something new and adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, stress, peer pressure, or unemployment in future.
Q.13. How do you engage and involve parents and the local community in the education-related programs and initiatives of the Life of Vision Foundation?
Ans: We are involved in organizing visits by psychologists at PTM Meetings and support afterschool activities to Keep the communication channels open between home and school and encouraging exchanges of children’s activities. This two-way communication is essential for children’s overall development as it helps to know the children better.
Q.14. What measures do you take to ensure the overall well-being and holistic development of the students benefiting from the foundation's programs?
Ans: We organize a lot of programs on a regular basis on meditation, yoga and aerobics for the primary schools we support and two girls senior secondary school for holistic development.
Q.15. How do you measure the impact and effectiveness of the Life of Vision Foundation's initiatives, and what steps do you take to continuously improve and adapt?
Ans: Life of Vision Foundation has been effective with the following approach in dealing with improving the effectiveness of its initiatives as follows
- Participatory approach
- Community engagement
- Community trust
- Long-term commitment by families and schools we deal with
Q.16. What advice would you give to individuals who are passionate about making a difference in education or starting their own social initiatives?
Ans: It’s a very committed field to be involved in social initiative where transparency to approach donors, develop collaborations and improve performance in your field of interest.
Q.17. How do you leverage the power of social media and digital platforms to raise awareness, garner support, and create a positive impact for the causes you champion?
Ans: Social media allows us to build relationships with our supporters and we try to create engaging content that can help to drive awareness and loyalty. Since Social media platforms also give rise to online communities, we engage staying connected with them who share similar interests or experiences and are willing to connect with our initiatives
- Sharing credible information due to the on-the-ground nature of our work.
- We use all media platforms, consistently to showcase our work and initiatives
Q.18. Can you share any upcoming projects or plans of the Life of Vision Foundation that our audience should look forward to?
Ans: Project TaanaBaana for supporting less privileged women in NCR by giving them free stitching classes and creating work for them so that they become financially independent to raise their kids and provide education. Free classes 3 days a week on stitching by our NGO by a trained teacher and later certificate on completing a 3 months course.
Q.19. What motivates and drives you to continue your work in the education sector and as a social entrepreneur?
Ans:
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.......~Henry Ford
This quote motivates me when things are not going as planned or always feel we all can in small ways contribute back to the society
Q.20. Finally, what is your vision for the future of education, and what are your aspirations for the Life of Vision Foundation in the coming years?
Ans: I want to remain committed to sustainable development and inclusive growth by focusing on issues relating to education environment, healthy living and social advance so that it can contribute to a strong and resolute India enabling the common man to better his or her life.
Few of the felicitations and awards to Sumita Dass are mentioned below
- 8th March 2022 Felicitated by Women’s Achiever Award by Lloyds Group of Institutes
- 7th February 2022 Felicitated by Mrs Vimla Batham President of Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women
- 24th September 2021 Honoured by Asian Academy of Arts and International Women’s Film Forum
- 31st June 2021 Appreciation by Inner Wheel District 301 for Impactful Projects on Education, Environment and Sanitation
- 8th March 2021 Women Empowerment Award by International Human Rights Organizationin corporation with United Nations and International Bar Association on Women’s Day Celebration.
- 10TH March 2021 felicitated by District Development Resident Welfare Association Gautam Budh District
- 17th Dec 2020 Woman Achiever Award at 23rd International Conference Ministry of MSME Govt of India for conduction programs on POSH by Shri Aswani Kr Choubey Minister of State and Family Welfare.
- 12th National Women Excellence Award honoured on25th Nov2019 by NEC Ministry of DoNER. Government of India IECSME on the occasion of International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women
- 20 Nov 2019Indira Priyadarshani Award for social Initiatives and women Entrepreneur
- 18th April2019 Felicitated by, H.E.Mohamed Maliki Ambassador of Morocco, H.E.EleonaraSimitrova Ambassador of Bulgaria and Mr. Sandeep Marwah at 3rd Global Fashion and Design week.
- 15th March 2019 felicitated by Shri Arun Kumar Sinha, MD FDDI-An Institution of National Importance” under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India for Menstrual Hygiene Camps in Noida& surrounding villages
- 9th March 2019Women Achiever of the Year Award Felicitated by Ms. Ira Singhal Assistant Commissioner Government of India And Dr.lokesh Sharma Director General Delhi Public Library for Project Pragati
- 7TH March 2019Women of Substance felicitated as women achiever for contribution towards supporting women cancer survivors …Life Beyond Cancer for setting up Sanitary Vending Machine in Noida for underprivileged girls
- 12th January 2019 Felicitated at the 12th International Festival of Cell phone Cinema at Asian Academy of Film and Television by H.E. K.L.Ganju Consul General of Comoros organized by Dr. Sandeep Marwah at Marwah Studios.
- 12 April 2018 SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD OF THE YEAR 2018 for the contribution of Life of Vision Foundation for underprivileged school kids and supporting women breast cancer survivors.
- 6th March 2018 Inspiring Woman Achiever Award 2018 felicitated by All India Achievers Conference for the contribution towards the underprivileged society and supporting women empowerment initiatives
- 3rd Feb2018 Mother Teresa Award 2018 for our support to the underprivileged society on the birth anniversary of Martin Luther Jr. Awarded by Mr John Dayal National Integration Council of India.
- 18th Jan 2018 Women with Spirit Award ...by Heart and Soul Women Rising an Honor to receive towards my goals and overcoming the challenges for the social work in women and youth development
- 6th Jan2018 Felicitation by His Excellency The Ambassador of Bulgaria Mr.Petko Doykov by International Chambers of Media and Entertainment Industry & Peace Foundation and Association for Asian Union
- 10th National Women Excellence Award honoured on25thNov 2017 SHAKTI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for the cause of Women & their welfare in making our society a better place to live at India International Centre.
- Rising Star India Award Women Achiever of the Year Award on 9th Nov 2016 by Barclay Bank UK and We Are The City India at the JUHU Marriott in Mumbai
- 25th Mar2017 Awarded Women Achiever Award for Promoting Art and Culture by Hungarian Cultural Centre ND
- Awarded Woman Achievers Award 2016 at Jaipur on 25th September 2016 for promoting art and culture of Northeast India and supporting the youth for Education
- Woman Achievement Award 2016 NARI SHAKTI on 08th March 2016 on International Woman Day at Speaker Hall, Constitution Club of India.
- 8th National Women Excellence Award honoured on25th Nov2015 by NEC Ministry of DoNER. Government of India IECSME on the occasion of International Day Of Elimination of Violence Against Women
- 18th Rajiv Gandhi Global Excellence Award 22 Mar 2015 felicitated by Mamta Sharma NCW Ex Chairperson and Rita Bahuguna hosted by Parwaz media group at India International Center.
- 8 March 2015 “Magicka Women Achievers Awards 2015” Awarded on the occasion of International Woman Day at Taj Vivanta Gurgaon for achievement dedication towards women empowerment programs.
- 7th March 2015 Woman of Substanceby Ex. Election commissioner Mr. krishanmirti organized by Mahila Mandal Society on International Woman Day for the upliftment of the woman & children in the society
- Icon of the Year Award 18th "The Indian Icon(TII Award)” 21stJune 2014 Social Entrepreneur Educationist for contribution to the society towards Health for Life awareness campaigns women empowerment
- Awarded Universal Humanity Award 2013 on 19 August 2013 & 11th October 2014 By South African High Commission on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day at Speaker Hall, Constitution Club of India.
- March 08-15 2015, at PHD Chamber to “Celebrate Womanhood Organized a collection of artworks by artists across India Coordinated seminar on Child Abuse on 22 March 2014.
- Felicitated by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry at IWCF 5TH ANNUAL SANGEET NRITYA UTSAV 2014 Dedicated to “Preventing Child Abuse”. -March 20,
- Indian Women Power Award 29th Jan 2014: Felicitated by Mr. Harish Rawat CM Uttarakhand.
- India Achievement Award 20th Feb 2014: as social Entrepreneur by Journalist Association of India.
Professional Responsibilities of Sumita Dass are:
- Board Member &Educational Counsellor Vardhman Mahavir Medical College Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi
- Board Member and Personality Development Mentor for Heritage Institute of Media and Mass Communication, Amity University, Marwah Studio Film City
- Education Counsellor &Board Member Mahamaya Balika Inter College District Gautam Budh Nagar, Ryan International School, DAV Schools
- Associate Partner& Mentor Womennovator by Ministry of Micro, Small Medium Enterprises