Meet the woman bringing education and career guidance to rural India
Geeta Shah founded Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal with the vision “Empowered Students, Empowered Nation,” bringing mentorship, career guidance, and brighter futures to underserved rural students.
Snapshot
Geeta Shah’s life changed course when she volunteered at a daycare in Thane for children of construction workers in Maharashtra. Spending her Sundays teaching basic hygiene, reading, and social skills, Geeta witnessed firsthand the immense potential of these young minds despite their difficult circumstances. The experience sparked a profound realization: education could be the key to breaking the cycle of poverty for rural children, who often had no access to mentors or educational guidance.
A pivotal moment arrived when Geeta met Prashant, a bright but disadvantaged student who had scored over 90% on his 10th-grade exams. Prashant’s perseverance, despite having no electricity or stable support at home, was a humbling experience for Geeta, inspiring her to found Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal (VSM) in 2008. Through VSM, Geeta began connecting rural students with education, mentorship, and career guidance—helping over 800 students across Maharashtra access new paths in life and equipping them to realize dreams once deemed impossible.
For the detailed account of Geeta’s journey, please check out the Deep Dive Full Story section.
Impact at a glance
800+ rural students mentored and supported across Maharashtra
550 dedicated mentors providing guidance in education and career development
900 alumni giving back to communities and mentoring future students
17 Specialized Career Guidance teams
6 regional centers across Maharashtra, covering all 36 districts
97% employment rate among VSM-supported students post-graduation
150+ students in MBBS, 30 in veterinary, and dozens in other medical fields
5-7% Operational/admin cost
Dive Deeper: Full Story (7 mins read)
An unexpected start to a lifelong mission
Geeta Shah’s journey toward founding Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal (VSM) began not with an intention to establish an organization but with a deeply felt desire to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children. Twenty years ago, while Geeta was working in the corporate sector, she volunteered with SOSVA Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies, teaching daycare children of construction workers on weekends. Over three years, she taught these young children basic hygiene, literacy, and social skills. Seeing how these children spent more time with her than with their parents, she realized the profound impact that mentorship and consistent guidance could have on their lives.
“This daycare experience made me realize the transformative power of mentorship,” Geeta reflects. “It showed me that for many children, teachers are their primary mentors, shaping their view of the world.” The experience sparked her vision to provide more children with such formative guidance, an early seed for what would eventually become VSM.
Meeting Prashant: The turning point
Geeta’s path to creating VSM became clear when she met Prashant. One Saturday, she came across a newspaper article about Prashant, a bright but underprivileged student from Shahapur who had scored 92.3% on his 10th-grade exams, ranking first in his entire area. His family lived below the poverty line, and, remarkably, he wasn’t even aware of his achievement until someone suggested he check his scores. This story highlighted for Geeta the deep level of educational disconnect in rural areas—a promising student like Prashant had neither resources nor guidance to support his future.
Compelled by his story, Geeta visited Prashant and his family, witnessing firsthand their difficult living conditions. “When I asked him what kind of support he needed, he didn’t ask for money. He simply asked if I could stay by his side until he became an engineer,” she recounts.
“I went there thinking I would be the one helping, but I came back richer for having known him,” she reflects. His determination and modesty left a lasting impact on her, igniting her commitment to create a system of mentorship and support for rural students.
With Geeta’s mentorship, Prashant went on to excel in his studies, securing admission in one of the top government engineering colleges. He completed his degree with impressive scores and earned a place at a leading multinational company in Pune. Sadly, Prashant’s life was cut short in a tragic accident. While riding his bicycle home from work, he was struck by a vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Having registered as an organ donor, Prashant’s organs were donated, giving new life to others. For Geeta, his spirit remains alive, inspiring her work to this day.
Laying the foundation
In the early days, Geeta worked closely with three students—Prashant, Anil, and Arati —who stayed at her home for a year. “I wanted to understand their daily challenges on a personal level before venturing out to help more underprivileged children,” she explains. Observing the unique obstacles each of them faced provided Geeta with a solid foundation for VSM, shaping the organization’s approach to mentorship, guidance, and support.
These initial experiences with Prashant, Anil, and Arati taught Geeta how impactful personalized mentorship could be. They solidified her resolve to expand her support to many more students across Maharashtra, giving rise to Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal.
Building a foundation in the social sector
From 2004 to 2008, Geeta dedicated herself to understanding the social sector and learning from established organizations. She visited several well-regarded NGOs to study their approaches, operations, and impacts. Among these were Maharogi Seva Samittee, Warora, working towards the betterment of stigmatized and marginalized people and Snehalaya, a respected NGO with effective administration, and notable figures in social work, including Anna Hazare, whose activism had transformed communities at the grassroots level. She also spent time in villages to observe transformative local efforts and visited old age homes to gain insights into managing community-focused initiatives.
“These experiences taught me what a strong NGO foundation requires—transparent procedures, disciplined operations, and above all, accountability to both donors and beneficiaries,” Geeta reflects. Through her visits, she learned the importance of maintaining transparent financial practices, ensuring that every donation was accounted for so that donors could trust in the organization’s integrity.
In this journey, Geeta was guided throughout by co-founder Bhau Nanivadekar, an experienced social worker from a family of freedom fighters. Bhau brought with him knowledge of process-oriented social work and instilled in the team a vision & disciplined approach. “Bhau helped us understand how to remain committed to the mission while adhering to best practices,” Geeta explains. His background in social initiatives provided invaluable guidance as they established the framework for Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal.
Founding Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal
Starting with just eight students and a 25,000 INR budget, VSM was born out of Geeta’s drive to support students through mentorship as well as financial assistance. The organization’s initial operations were supported by few like minded people who believed in her mission to support rural students across Maharashtra.
Today, VSM has scaled to cover all 36 districts of Maharashtra through six regional centers, supporting over 800 students and maintaining a strong alumni network of 900+. A team of 550 mentors, primarily volunteers, serves as the backbone of VSM’s work. Mentorship at VSM, Geeta emphasizes, is structured and goal-oriented, with students setting objectives in Academics, Learning, Personality development, and Social engagement through VSM’s ALPS model.
Guided by the belief “Education is not preparation for life; Education is life itself”, Geeta has instilled this principle deeply within VSM’s culture, underscoring the organization’s commitment to lifelong growth, character-building, and community engagement. “Our mentorship program is about more than academic success. We’re also guiding them to become responsible, socially aware citizens,” Geeta explains.
“Our mentorship program is about more than academic success. We’re also guiding them to become responsible, socially aware citizens.” - Geeta Shah, Founder of VSM.
Mentorship beyond academics
Through VSM, Geeta established a comprehensive mentorship model that emphasizes personal growth as much as academic achievement. “Mentorship isn’t limited to 18 months or two years here,” she says. “We mentor students until they complete their education, sometimes even when they are alumni.”
Each student in VSM begins with a detailed goal-setting exercise, focusing on their ALPS model objectives for academics, learning, personality, and social growth. Career teams and Mentors work closely with the students to meet these goals. As a result, VSM’s success rate is exceptional, with 97% of students finding employment after graduation.
In addition to one-on-one mentorship, VSM organizes group mentoring sessions, including monthly meetings where students learn critical skills like time management, public speaking, and teamwork. “During these sessions, we encourage students to share their journeys and challenges,” Geeta says. “They draw strength from one another and build a network of support that’s invaluable.”
Career-specific mentoring teams
One of VSM’s unique features is its specialized career teams, where career teams guide students based on their chosen paths. “We have 17 career-specific teams covering fields like engineering, medicine, science, nursing, visual arts,law,etc.” Geeta says. This setup allows students to receive targeted advice from career teams with industry experience, who also support them in building resumes, preparing for aptitude, entrance exams, and refining interview skills.
The career teams often provide insights into niche fields, guiding students who may be the first in their family or village to pursue such careers. Geeta recounts the example of nursing students in VSM who stayed at the frontlines during COVID, inspired by VSM’s commitment to social responsibility. “Despite their families calling them home, our nursing students stayed on duty,” she shares. “That dedication is the real impact of our mentorship.”
Geeta also highlights VSM’s alumni base, who, having experienced the benefits of mentorship, often return to volunteer as mentors themselves. Alumni assist with activities like verifying new students’ backgrounds through home visits, conducting college outreach, and facilitating workshops.
The challenge of sustaining impact
Despite its reach, VSM faces ongoing challenges, particularly in securing funds. The organization’s annual budget is funded through a combination of CSR funds (40-50%), individual donors (30%), crowd funding and the dedicated donor program, which allows donors to sponsor a student’s education from start to finish.
“Funding is a constant challenge,” Geeta acknowledges. “We rely heavily on the goodwill of individual donors, and while we’re grateful for our CSR partnerships, resources are often stretched thin.”
Another significant challenge is finding skilled mentors who can commit their time and expertise. “We’re constantly on the lookout for people with the right skills,” Geeta explains. “VSM is a volunteer-driven organization, and finding individuals who are willing to mentor or lead projects is critical for us.”
Expanding VSM’s reach and focus on vocational skills
With a vision of “Empowered Student, Empowered Nation” Geeta Shah is committed to extending VSM’s impact to every corner of Maharashtra and to other states across India. “Our mission is for every aspiring student who dreams of education and is willing to work hard to know that VSM is here to support them,” she shares.
In addition to geographic expansion, VSM is prioritizing vocational training to address diverse career paths. “Not all students may want to pursue academics, and we want to support those who are practically skilled,” Geeta explains. “Vocational training programs will help them become self-sufficient and contribute to their communities.”
As part of its commitment to continuous improvement, VSM has partnered with IIT Mumbai to conduct a detailed impact assessment. Geeta believes this initiative will provide valuable insights, enabling VSM to refine its model and better serve students, ultimately helping them realize their potential in building a stronger, more empowered nation.
A model built on community support
Through VSM, Geeta has built a support network for students, mentors, and alumni who collectively strive to uplift each other. “People often think they need a big network, funds, or a family legacy in social work to make a difference,” she reflects. “But I’m an ordinary person. All it took was a genuine desire to make a difference.”
She believes in the power of collective impact, emphasizing that even small contributions from individuals can create meaningful change. “If you can’t contribute financially, consider offering your skills, your time, or even just sharing our students’ stories with others,” she says. “Every effort counts.”
For Geeta, the mission of VSM is more than just supporting individual students—it’s about creating a lasting change that uplifts communities. With each successful alumnus, VSM reinforces its impact, proving that change is possible through dedication and community support.
Summary
Geeta Shah’s journey from corporate life to founding Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal is one of purpose, empathy, and dedication. Through mentorship, structured goal-setting, and a commitment to holistic development, VSM has transformed the lives of over 800 rural students, empowering them to pursue careers and improve their communities. With plans to expand into more villages & other states of India and vocational training, VSM continues to grow its impact, offering students not only scholarships but a network of support for long-term success.
For those inspired by VSM’s journey, there are many ways to get involved and support their mission. Check out our ‘Make an Impact’ section.
Make an Impact
Checkout VSM: Learn more about Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal, their mission, and ongoing work by visiting their website.
Sponsor a Student’s Fees: With a donation of 5,000, 10,000, or 15,000 INR, you can support a student’s educational journey. Donate here.
Offer Pro Bono Services: If you have specialized skills—such as fundraising, project management, or digital marketing—consider contributing to VSM as a pro bono volunteer. Part-time project volunteers are always welcome.
Become a Mentor: Join VSM’s mentorship program and guide a rural student on their academic and career journey. This opportunity is open to mentors worldwide. Connect through WhatsApp to learn more
Corporate CSR Partnerships: Partner with VSM to fulfill your company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals by sponsoring educational initiatives. For partnership opportunities, email VSM at contact@vsmthane.org
Refer Students in Need: Know a deserving rural student who could benefit from VSM’s support? Refer students from low-income backgrounds who aspire to further their education. Visit their website to learn more.
Visit in Person: Interested in witnessing VSM’s work firsthand? Visit them in Thane, Maharashtra.
Follow VSM on Social Media: Stay updated and engage with VSM’s journey:some text
Share This Article: Spread the word about Vidyadaan Sahayyak Mandal’s work and inspire others by sharing this article.
Message from the Founder
If this story resonated with you and you appreciate my efforts in bringing such inspiring stories to light, I would be truly grateful for your support. Your contribution will help me continue uncovering and sharing real stories that are driving change across India.
Sincerely,
Abhilash Shah
ImpactStories
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