SIFE We School for the first time won the Regionals and competed in the National round of the competition. The SIFE We School team was among the top eight colleges which participated in final round of national Competition from 65 colleges across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

SIFE brings together a diverse network of university students, academic professionals and industry leaders around the shared mission of creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. It works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders..

Welingkar students had chosen the cause of Transgenders, after in-depth study of a substantial number of these spread over in various areas of Mumbai and decided to work out solutions where in they can be made a part of the mainstream and can be empowered socially, economically and environmentally. Out of this study emerged their project ‘Empowering the third gender ‘a business plan for rehabilitation of the third gender.

Hindvi Aware ,Ilma Israr,Aditya Pandya,Sagar Rathi,Jashmili Dhula, Sagar Rathi (PGDM –Retail),Nikhil Gala(MMS 1) And Ronak Gandhi(PGDM 1) were the students from  the WE team who faced the challenge of standing in front of an eminent jury consisting of  Akhilesh Ayer – Senior Vice President & head – Global Marketing – WNS Global Services Pvt. Ltd. ,A.V. Anatharaman  – General Manager – HR – Bayer group of companies ,Archanna Das – Vice President – Corporate Sustainability – HSBC,Jayesh Modi – Head Inclusive Banking Unit, Commercial Banking – HSBC,Avishek Banerjee –  Associate Director Governance, Risk & Compliance Services – KPMG, Anand Maliwal – Chief Technology Officer – Destimoney securities Pvt. Ltd.,Aditi Namdeo – Principal consultant – Price, WaterHouse, Coopers Pvt. Ltd.,Madhavi Trivedi – Category Manager – Nutrition, PR Affairs And Communication, Kellogg India Pvt. Ltd.

The purpose of the project was to understand the social, economical and emotional aspect of the transgender community and help them explore new employment opportunities and thus enabling them to lead a satisfying life. The study penetrated deep into their set up over generations and inclusion of the new young boys who have been rejected by their families.There are 70,000 TG’S in Mumbai who live in 7 gharanas.

The study points out that most of the transgender are involved in sex-work, mangti and badhai-basti and that social acceptance and lack of employment opportunities are one of the important reasons that limit their employment freedom. Along with all the relevant data in shape of its findings and figures it goes to recommend that education cannot be the only saviour when it comes to bring them into mainstream as grooming and their public behaviour skills are equally important.

The study takes within its ambit the corporate world, and media in different forms for their role in creating  awareness through social networking websites, street plays, short films, etc. on the life of TGs and the ordeals faced by them, thus creating a more amicable and conducive atmosphere for them to live in.

Blessing from the mentor, Dr Ketna Mehta, Associate Dean Research

“This year the students selected ‘Empowering transgender’ as social subject & our students Sagar Rathi’s idea & Project Leader Hindavi’s commitment to lead a team of 5 students. It is completely the students’ idea, initiative & involvement. We as faculty advisor provide support & guidance to ensure that they learn how to manage & execute a social project / issue.  We are extremely proud that by our team winning regional round this year & earning the accolades of jury members.  We have been successful in nurturing future management leaders to possess both head for business & heart for social issues. More than the winning it is the learning through SIFE project which matters.”