60 years ago, a group of prominent women, to name the few, like, Ms. Shantabai Bhandarkar, Ms. Sane, Ms. Khan and others launched an association called "Women Graduates Union" a voluntary organization to educate and empower women. Their aim was to use their talent and expertise to enhance the status of the less privileged women and their commitment was matched by competence and determination.

we began by being responsive to the woman's need to be educated and then the need for the working woman to have a safe and secure place to stay. It was about 30 years ago that the then members started working actively towards building a working women's hostel. The building is now a living testimony of what a group of determined women can do.

As the organization grew it became more responsive to the needs of society. So was born Dipika Bal Mandir, a model Montessori school in the Marathi medium, for children from the low income group. Sucharita, coaching classes for girls from the underprivileged section of society is aimed towards empowerment through education.

Scholarships are given for girls finishing High School who want to study further. One or two scholarships have been instituted for Doctoral Studies in the Humanities on the occasion of our Golden Jubilee in 2000. Funding for our the vocation and Professional courses, we have recently decided to send girls passing though our portals for higher education which is profession like: Computer training, nursing aids course and regular degree course in nursing. All this requires a lot of funding donations for this are raised from private donors. The latter activity is to encourage young girls to become economically independent and motivate their siblings and other from their community to attend our coaching classes and prevent school drop outs. Here are a lot of other activities like workshops and seminars for members on topic of relevance to enhancing the status of women and other public interest work in the field of environment, social well, being etc.

UWA - Pune has done commendable work and has been supported by eminent educationalist, scholars and social workers. The recognition & reputation it has received from the society is evident from the people who have been associated with the UWA - Pune.

Click here for membership details