Dr. Sangeeta Patil, the founder of the HEY Foundation, is doing everything in her power through her NGO to empower young girls & women to be self-reliant and earn their bread. She is a strong woman herself, having a less happy childhood due to economical disbalance had made her realize the significance of money & independence in life. Earlier in her life, she hardly got any opportunity what-so-ever, but after being married, her husband’s continuous support made her the person she is today.
After marriage, she completed her education and obtained a Ph. D. and was looking at the system of our society, where girls, especially underprivileged girls facing the issue of poverty and lack of education on a daily basis, decided to jump in this environment to help them. The USP of her HEY Foundation (Human Empowerment With You) is to help these girls get the right education & job opportunities or start their home-based businesses.
This great deed is indeed appreciable at every cost; still, in the early days of the business, days we’re not comfortable. She says, “Till today people do not support the cause. It is challenging for an NGO if there is no support. I have been approaching many people/agencies who can help us in creating employment opportunities for women, but hardly few responded.” This was not only sad for her but heartbreaking. In real life, people say a lot of things that they do not mean. Without help or support, continuing an NGO is quite severe, but she never gave up. HEY Foundation as an NGO believes in;
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
As an entrepreneur, she had to face many challenges, but mostly not losing hope is what kept her going in tough times. But she does not take credit for every that her NGO has achieved over past years; she mentions everybody and uses the term “we” every time she talks about HEY. She truly believes in togetherness, and it is the only support she asks for.
For future entrepreneurs or people who want to contribute to this field, she advises, “Whoever is in position to help someone must extend their hands. This will help to shorten the gap between privileged & less privileged”. Her beliefs are as pure as her intentions. Behind this great deed, her thinking towards society is pure gold. As she became a social entrepreneur, she wanted to educate underprivileged girls so that they can contribute to society. After all, a house of educated women will only bring pride & nothing less! For her great endeavors, Mrs. Patil has received Felicitation by Karjat Municipal Corporation as Corona Warrior on 1st June 2020 & Awarded as “India Inspirational Women ” by IIWA, in August 2020.
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