Updated on July 27, 2024
Have you heard about the remarkable Mansi Mehta, a 15-year-old student, poetess, and columnist from Surat? If not, let me introduce you to her inspiring journey.
Who Is Mansi Mehta?
Mansi Mehta founded the Kishori Foundation, an NGO dedicated to empowering girls through life skills, education, and gender equality. Her vision is to contribute to a more literate and equitable society.
In addition to her activism, Mansi has published a poetry collection titled “I AM ME,” which is a tribute to Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai.
She draws inspiration from Malala Yousafzai, Sudha Murthy, and Dr Swaroop Raval, admiring their impactful contributions to society.
Mansi’s efforts have been recognized with the Garima Award from Gajera Trust.
Embodying the wisdom of Mother Teresa and Napoleon Hill, Mansi exemplifies the idea that while she may be small, her small actions are done with great love and excellence.
Great change comes in small steps – Mansi Mehta
Mansi Mehta is among the select few who have joined the prestigious league of teenage TEDx speakers in India. Drawing inspiration from influential figures like Sudha Murthy and Malala Yousafzai, she advocates for addressing gender disparities to foster societal progress.
As the youngest speaker to present on TEDxDumas, Mansi passionately shares her experiences and insights. Her story is truly inspiring—don’t miss the opportunity to hear it.
How Mansi Mehta Started Her Success Journey?
My journey begins with a very unlikely meeting. A few years back I read in my history book about Poornima Ben Pakvasa. She was a freedom fighter at the age of 18 who taught Kasturba Gandhi how to read and write when they were inmates in prison.
Well, family trip to Saputara I recalled that the institution was named Ritambhara Vishva Vidyapeeth.Being a sixth standard old kid has not even knowing what I’m going to talk to her about but I had the strong desire to meet her.
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The story That Inspired Mansi Mehta
During a visit to the Art Institute in Saputara, where an elderly woman had been making a difference in the lives of countless girls since 1956, Mansi and her parents encountered an obstacle. The watchman wouldn’t let them in, but Mansi, driven by a strong desire to meet the woman, sat down across the street and stared at him until he relented.
After 30 minutes of persistence, she was finally allowed inside. There, she met the woman, who, despite being around 100 years old, had a captivating aura that transcended her frail appearance. Engaging with her, Mansi discovered the woman’s generous and humble nature.
On October 7, 2013, the woman wrote a message in Mansi’s diary: “Dear Mansi, get well-educated and educate your sisters.” Overwhelmed with happiness, Mansi took this as a blessing. Before she left, the woman passed on a legacy to Mansi: “I’m passing it to you this legacy of getting educated and to educate.”
Though Mansi was too young to fully grasp the depth of this legacy at the time, the woman’s words would later profoundly shape her life, symbolizing a guiding force that would return to her in the form of inspiration and purpose.
The Story Of Lakshmi
Lakshmi was a figure who intrigued Mansi. She sat by the garden gate, observing everything with curious eyes. They even shared a similar haircut, which made her presence feel particularly familiar. Every day, as Mansi’s van passed by that garden road, she would catch glimpses of Lakshmi. There was something distinctly unique and yet strikingly similar about her.
Initially, Mansi’s attempts to get her attention were met with indifference. She waved at Lakshmi repeatedly, week after week, until one day Lakshmi finally waved back. That simple gesture filled Mansi with joy, and their wordless friendship began.
But then, Lakshmi vanished. For an entire month, Mansi passed by the garden road without seeing her, and her concern grew. Driven by worry, Mansi asked the watchman for her whereabouts. His response was disheartening: he told Mansi that Lakshmi was considered “insane” and suggested it was pointless to waste her time on her. He also revealed that Lakshmi had been married off at a young age to someone who abused her.
Learning about Lakshmi’s plight—a young girl enduring an abusive marriage—left Mansi stunned and angry. She felt helpless and unsure of what to do, but Lakshmi’s suffering ignited a determination in Mansi. She decided to take some time to reflect and find a way to address this injustice.
As Mansi grappled with her thoughts, a realization struck her: countless girls were suffering not just in her city, but across the world and within her own country. The challenges they faced went beyond abuse; many were also deprived of education, much like Malala Yousafzai had been.
Mansi asked a poignant question: Does a girl have to be shot three times in the head to make the world recognize the importance of girls’ education? It seemed to her that society often fails to care or even inquire about the plight of these girls.
The girl Mansi had named Lakshmi, whose real name she never learned, became a profound source of inspiration for her poetry. This inspiration led to the publication of her poetry collection. However, despite this achievement, Mansi felt a deep sense of sorrow and inadequacy, believing her poems alone were not enough to address the broader issue.
Determined to find a meaningful solution, Mansi continued to seek answers. Then something happened—something so ordinary yet significant that it might have happened to anyone before her.
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How Mansi Mehta Started The Kishori Foundation?
One day, Mansi’s maid auntie brought her eight-year-old daughter to Mansi’s home. As the little girl sat on the kitchen table, observing everything with curiosity, Mansi casually asked her, “What do you want to do in your life, Vaishali?” Without hesitation, Vaishali replied, “Oh, I want to work as a maid in a big bungalow.”
This response deeply saddened Mansi. She thought to herself, “No more Lakshmis.” Determined to make a difference, Mansi decided she needed to act. She asked her maid auntie to help her find girls who required educational support.
With her auntie’s assistance, Mansi discovered four girls from a nearby slum area. She began teaching them whatever she could, starting her Kishori Foundation in her parking lot.
Seeing the impact and enthusiasm of the girls, Mansi’s parents helped her create a proper classroom. There, she teaches life skills, health and hygiene, personal creativity, dance, music, and more.
Today, Mansi is proud to have 15 girls in her program and is even happier that her two younger sisters have joined her in this mission.
View photos of Kishori Foundation
Final Thoughts
Mansi Mehta’s journey from a concerned observer to an activist demonstrates the profound impact one individual can have. Her personal experiences with Lakshmi and Vaishali fueled her determination to make a difference in the lives of girls who face significant challenges. By founding the Kishori Foundation and dedicating herself to teaching and empowering young girls, Mansi has turned her inspiration into tangible change. Her story highlights the power of education and the importance of nurturing dreams and potential in every child. Through her efforts, Mansi not only honors the legacy of those who inspired her but also paves the way for a brighter, more equitable future for many.
Read the news about her in the Times of India Teenager dedicates her book of poetry to Malala
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Mathukutty P. V. is the founder of Simply Life Tips. He is a Blogger, Content Writer, Influencer, and YouTuber. He is passionate about learning new skills. He is the Director of PokketCFO.
He lives with the notion of “SIMPLE LIVING, CREATIVE THINKING”. He Believes – “Sharing is caring.” and “Learning never ends.”
