Sayoni Shaoo & Natasha Albuquerque

Team

About Me

We are Natasha Albuquerque, Senior Manager in the Investor Relations team, and Sayoni Shaoo, part of the Community Relations department at United Way Mumbai. Together, we work to implement impactful initiatives that build healthier communities, support children and youth with opportunities, create stronger financial futures, and ensure safer, climate-resilient communities across urban and rural India.

Our connection to Project Saksham runs deep. Through this initiative, we have seen firsthand how empowering women with financial support and resources can transform lives. One experience that stands out is a proposal we worked on for an older woman in Vijayawada. She used the support to purchase a traditional grinding machine, enabling her to start her idli batter business and secure a sustainable livelihood. Her resilience and determination inspired us and strengthened our commitment to empowering more women through Saksham.

This initiative is about giving women the tools they need to overcome challenges, build independence, and create identities they can be proud of. Together, we are raising funds to support more women like her—because when women thrive, families and communities thrive. Join us in making this vision a reality and transforming lives for a stronger, more inclusive future.

Appeal

Growing up, I witnessed the incredible strength of my mother, the sole breadwinner of our family. She worked tirelessly, selling fish at the local market to ensure we had food and education. Her sacrifices shaped who I am today, but I often wished she had someone to guide her, ease her struggles, and help her turn her hard work into something bigger. She deserved an opportunity to build her own identity beyond her hardships.

This is why Project Saksham is so close to my heart. Through this initiative, we aim to empower women entrepreneurs with the capital support they need to start or grow their own business and generate a source of income for their families. By helping them, we are not just fostering entrepreneurship; we are uplifting entire families and communities.

I see my mother’s story in every woman we seek to support. Project Saksham is my way of honoring her resilience and helping others become stronger, independent, and proud of their own identities. Together, let’s make this vision a reality—because when women thrive, everyone benefits.

With gratitude,
Natasha Albuquerque

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