Vandana Shah
This author believes in the philosophy "Care, Stand up, Do something and make a difference”. After participating in the Lead India campaign, she feels she has emerged a stronger and more empowered person. She has initiated the first ever support group in India named ‘360 degrees back to life’ for those going through a breakdown of relationships. She has also actively participated with an NGO that promoted a waste management technique endorsed by the United Nations.
Humanitarian: An intrinsic interest in helping people, rather than being an armchair intellectual, led me to form the first ever support group in India named “360degreesbacktolife”*for those going through a breakdown of relationships.
360 degrees back to life is a support group that provides non-judgmental support to those going through divorce. It is the first group in India that provides a positive perspective to and focuses on rebuilding your life even while going through a divorce.
This has met its fair share of success, but I feel we have a long way to go. In an interaction with Gloria Steinem I realized that this is the case even in America. A basic interest in human behavior led me to study Human Psychology.
Writing and Reading: I have been inclined towards being a voracious reader since childhood coupled with a habit of keeping a diary. These two interests have led me to write a book called 360degreesbacktolife- a litigant’s humorous perspective on divorce*.The book is described as a guide to anyone going through a divorce. It is different as it lends a positive spin to a negative topic.
It does not advocate divorce but helps you to cope with it in case it happens. It has received wide acclaim both in India and overseas*.The book has further helped my cause of “helping people rebuild their lives while going through a divorce”.
Environment: I was working with a NGO* that promoted a waste management technique endorsed by the United Nations. This was an uphill task in India where the focus on environment is minimal. This became a huge success and was featured in all the local media like-Times of India, International Media like-CNN*. I also studied waste management informally for 6 years.