Each first-year PGDM participant is assigned a Sitara whom they mentor for the entire year. Abhyudaya, meaning “growing together”, provides a space for mentors and mentees to thrive. This is a transformative, experiential learning course whose objective is to develop an understanding of urban poverty and build social sensitivity in our future business leaders.
Each PGDM participant learns how to be a mentor and role model, building a strong bond with their mentee through home visits, creating and implementing mentoring plans, group reflection, and writing individual reflection diaries. A “community impact project” sensitises participants to larger systemic issues that impact low-income urban communities.
3688 PGDM participants have experienced this transformative journey since 2008.
We had a meaningful time, and I hope he performs well in his maths exam tomorrow. As I descended the ladder outside his house, I could not help but reflect on my privilege. While coming back I looked at people and realised that no matter what challenges come on them, this bustling city never stops.
Mohit Shukla PGDM Participant, 2023-2025
#AbhyudayaKatha
Explore the heartfelt stories of mentor-mentee bonding as SPJIMR PGDM participant share tales of their mutual growth, learning, and connections.
Prigyansha Choubey
Read More
Pranjal Maheshwari
Read More
Abhyudaya Initiatives
Physical and Emotional Well-Being
Providing space for sports and yoga exposes the Sitaras the options they would otherwise not experience. Girls and boys get equal opportunities to play sports such as football, cricket, handball, throwball, track and field and skipping. Alongside this, Abhyudaya provides support services for the emotional well-being of Sitaras and their families.
Nutrition
Many of our Sitaras do not consistently get good nutrition at home and school. To address this gap, we strive to provide nutritious meals to our Sitaras when they visit the SPJIMR campus.
Innovation
Abhyudaya collaborated with SPJIMR’s PGPM participants to use their design thinking skills and foster creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork with the Sitaras. In the pilot program conducted in November-December 2023, 12 PGPM participants worked with 50 Sitaras for 2 weeks to teach Design Thinking and identify a community problem and build a prototype for the solution.
As a PGPM student, the Abhyudaya programme has not only broadened my perspectives but has also ignited a passion for social impact. It has underscored the importance of bridging the gap between privilege and deprivation, using education and innovation as catalysts for positive change.
Nidhi Lodha PGPM Participant, 2023
Community Engagement
Abhyudaya organises quarterly events, informative meetings, and discussions with Sitara’s families. These sessions are conducted by experts so that the community becomes more aware of health and gender issues, career choices, etc.
Abhyudaya also engages with the teachers and administration of the 60 partner schools in the K-West Ward by providing opportunities to learn new educational techniques that can be incorporated into their own schools and classrooms. In 2023, Abhyudaya conducted a 10-session Design Thinking workshop for 30 students from A.H. Wadia High School. This will be expanded to more schools in the community in the upcoming year.