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Meet our esteemed team of directors who embody a profound commitment to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. With their unwavering passion, expertise and diverse backgrounds, they form the heart and soul of our organization. Join us as we shine the spotlight on these inspiring individuals who guide us towards a brighter and more compassionate future for all.
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Dilbur Parakh
Director
Dilbur trained as a lawyer and spent her early years practicing law in the Bombay High Court. She championed the cause of women’s rights at SNDT Women’s University before moving to Thailand where she worked with the Union for Civil Liberty. For the next five years she was the Legal Officer for Asia and the Pacific at the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva. A strong advocate of Human Rights, the fact that prevalent laws, both International and Indian did not filter down to society’s most vulnerable deeply disturbed her. Determined to bridge this gap between laws and policies on the one hand and grassroot reality on the other, she, along with two like-minded friends, founded Aseema Charitable Trust in 1995. Along with a group of dedicated volunteers she began teaching a small group of children from the slums and pavement communities. Her journey to empower the future generation had begun and there was no looking back. As Chairperson, she has led from the front guiding Aseema from its humble beginnings to partnering with three Municipal Schools in Mumbai and building and running a school for tribal children at Igatpuri – a project very close to her heart. Not wanting to stop there, she later went on to contemplate ways in which Aseema could do more to support its students and the tribal women living in the community that Aseema’s schools support. This led to the conception of Aseema Foundation which exhibits the marvelous artwork of our students and the dexterity of the empowered tribal women who are a product of our schools and training center.
Neela is a development communications professional. Her media of exploration are still photography and video. Her narratives highlight the humanity of the underprivileged and the marginalized. A quiet empathy, a strong sense of justice as well as a practical approach to life and living inform all her commitments. She is partial to children and women and frames their struggles and achievements with power and positivity. For the past 35 years, Neela has partnered with local, national and international organizations that work in the areas of education, health and women’s empowerment. Neela has been a Trustee of Aseema Charitable Trust for 25 years and continues to offer her valuable guidance in setting up Aseema Foundation.
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Neela Kapadia
Director
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Zia Parakh
Director
Zia Parakh completed her B.A., B.Ed., and M.Ed. degree programs and has been working in the field of secondary education. She spent the initial eight years of her career teaching English in secondary school and for the past five years has been working as an educator at the American School of Bombay. All too aware of the vast inequalities that exist in our society, she shares Aseema’s goal of addressing these inequities and sincerely believes in the power of education to change students’ lives – at both the practical and spiritual level. We are fortunate to have Zia as part of our leadership team at Aseema Foundation.