Leadership at the Grassroots: Azim Premji Foundation CEO Visits Swabhiman Samiti
Introduction
A significant field visit was conducted on 24 July 2024, during which Mr. Anurag Behar, CEO of Azim Premji Foundation, visited Swabhiman Samiti to observe the on-ground implementation of the Kishori Sashaktikaran Program (KSP). The visit provided an opportunity to closely understand the program’s impact on adolescent girls and to engage directly with beneficiaries and field teams.
The visit included interaction with adolescent girls, participation in a group session, and discussions with the organization’s team, highlighting the importance of grassroots engagement in driving meaningful change.
Participation
Adolescent girls from program villages actively participated in the interaction, along with field staff and team members of Swabhiman Samiti. The visit also included engagement with community-level stakeholders.
Key Highlights
Objective:
To provide first-hand exposure to the program’s field implementation, understand its impact on adolescent girls, and strengthen strategic support through leadership engagement.
Key Activities:
• Field visit to Kishori group sessions in the community
• Interactive discussion with adolescent girls on health, hygiene, education, and rights
• Observation of group dynamics and participatory learning processes
• Shared meal with adolescent girls to build trust and informal engagement
• Office visit including felicitation and strategic discussion with the team
Key Attendees:
• Mr. Anurag Behar, CEO, Azim Premji Foundation
• Vinod Kumar Prajapati, Secretary, Swabhiman Samiti
• Mamta Verma, Chairperson
• Swabhiman Samiti Field Team and Staff
• Adolescent girls (Kishori groups)
Impact
The visit highlighted the positive transformation among adolescent girls, who demonstrated increased confidence, awareness, and active participation in discussions. Girls were able to openly share their experiences and learning, reflecting the effectiveness of the program in creating safe spaces for expression.
The interaction also strengthened the relationship between leadership and beneficiaries, reinforcing trust and motivation among participants. Additionally, the visit provided valuable insights for program improvement and future scaling.
Conclusion
The field visit by the CEO of Azim Premji Foundation served as a strong validation of the program’s impact at the grassroots level. It emphasized the importance of direct engagement with communities and beneficiaries in understanding real change.
Such visits not only strengthen partnerships but also inspire continued efforts toward empowering adolescent girls and building resilient communities.
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