About Us OG
OUR VISION
The Divine Shakti Foundation (DSF) is dedicated to providing for the holistic well-being of women, their children, orphaned and abandoned children, and all of Mother Earth.
OUR MISSION
DSF works directly in communities to identify needs and to design and implement programs that educate children and empower, uplift, and support women to be socially and financially self-sustaining, including in times of natural disasters. DSF provides education, opportunities and support for children, as well as raises awareness of the problems facing women and children through advocacy and mass communication. DSF is also engaged in programs to provide health care and especially access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, including menstrual hygiene.
Further, DSF supports and promotes cooperation and association among the people who are interested in these noble goals. We welcome all likeminded people who are interested in joining us in our work as we identify needs, design and implement programs addressing those needs, and raise awareness through education and outreach.
OUR PURPOSE
Specific programs to fulfill our mission include but are not limited to:
PROVIDING BASIC NEEDS
- Provide comprehensive needs of poor and widowed women and orphaned/disadvantaged children, including schools, orphanages, women’s centers and more.
- - Establish residential homes for orphaned and disadvantaged children.
- - Provide immediate and long term needs of women and children affected by natural disasters.
- - Collaborate with other organizations involved with similar goals and objectives as this Foundation.
SKILLS & VOCATIONAL TRAINING
- Deliver vocational training and skills empowerment focusing on the path from ‘learn’ to ‘earn’, including computer training, spoken & written English, sewing, tailoring, embroidery, handicrafts, beauty therapy, and much more.
- - Provide coaching and guidance on producing marketable goods
- - Supporting Women’s Self Help Groups to increase capacity, reach markets and get a fair price for what they produce
EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT
- Provide and promote educational advancement with children’s schools, tutoring and coaching centers, adult educational services, computer training, scholarship funds, etc.
- - Building, running and supporting schools in Uttarakhand where children receive the gift of education so they can be supported and inspired to reach their potential. Other educational and vocational training projects have been undertaken and completed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
- - Enhancing educational curricula to include personal empowerment, wellness, sustainable living and education and empowerment around clean water, sanitation and hygiene, including menstrual hygiene.
- - Sponsorship of poor children to receive quality education from primary school through university and beyond.
- - Sponsoring the renovation and the rebuilding of schools and education centers that have been devastated or destroyed by natural disasters.
HEALTH
- Provide programs for holistic healthcare for women, children and entire families including regular check ups, eye-care, dental-care, deworming, vitamin A distribution as well as education and logistic support around sanitation & hygiene including menstrual hygiene.
- - Frequent free medical camps in rural villages bringing medicines, first aid, diagnoses, treatments and also health education.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS & PROTECTION
- Raising mass awareness around the importance of protecting water and our natural environment, especially among women and children, so that they can be Green Ambassadors and Swachhta Krantikaris (Clean Revolutionaries) in their communities
- - Holding rallies and large scale events
- - Promoting green and eco-friendly mass pledges and commitments to reduce our individual and collective carbon and water footprint.
- - Empowering people to live conscious, environmentally friendly lives in all of their lifestyle choices and decisions.
ANIMAL CARE
- Protection and preservation of animal life with a commitment to prevent animal killing and cruelty wherever possible, including medical camps for cows and dogs.
ADVOCACY AND UPLIFTMENT
- DSF plans, organizes and also participates in large events to raise awareness and empowerment for girls and women, in India and across the world. Further, we develop instructional programs for the same goals, including the following:
- - Participating domestically and internationally in high level forums to advocate for positive social change around gender equality, quality education, WASH and environmental protection.
- - Developing toolkits and resource guides to help faith leaders address and impact some of the largest issues that face our society including gender equality, climate change and more.
- - Designing mass communication campaigns to change behaviors and mindsets.
LARGE SCALE EVENTS
- The Divine Shakti Foundation organizes and hosts numerous festivals, conferences, talks and other events to inspire and empower women all over the world. We also regularly participate in high level forums domestically and internationally to shape and further the agenda of gender equality and women’s empowerment and to inspire others to take positive proactive action.
PUJYA SWAMI CHIDANAND SARASWATIJI
Founder and Chairman
H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji’s motto in life is, “In the Service of God and humanity.” He left his home for the Himalayan jungles and forests at the tender age of 8 years, under the guidance of his spiritual master, in order to live a life devoted to God and in the service of humanity. Today, he is world renowned as a spiritual leader, visionary and divine guide.
SADHVI BHAGAWATI SARASWATIJI
President
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Ph.D was raised in an American family in Hollywood, California and graduated from Stanford University. She was completing her Ph.D. when she left America in 1996 to come and live permanently at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. She has been living there ever since then, engaged in spiritual practice and dedicated service.
DSF ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
Read about Divine Shakti Foundation's work over the last few years, including events and projects.
JOURNEY OF PEACE
A beautiful publication covering the numerous projects and initiatives undertaken under the vision and leadership of H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.