What does Diwali mean to you? 🪔 For us, it reminds us of what we want to achieve: to bring light, goodness, and knowledge into our children's lives. Sometimes, we face challenges, but when we see the sparkle in our children's eyes, we know we're on the right track! #HappyDiwali

Thank you to all who supported our 4th Annual Toronto Gala!

Because of you, our kids in India can continue to study, play, and discover the world like they're meant to.

They may not see what you put behind the scenes. But trust us - they feel it.

#TorontoGala #InvestInChildren

Psst. We're sending lots of love from Shanti Bhavan!

As you go into this weekend, remember to be kind to others, too!

Have a great weekend. 🩵

#WeekendVibes #SpreadLove #KindnessMatters #PositiveVibes #LoveAndKindness #GoodVibesOnly

Math and art may seem worlds apart, but Dr. Raja, an astrophysicist and artist from UC, showed our students how they connect. From sketching to help us understand abstract ideas to leading with creativity in science, he reminded us that creativity belongs everywhere.

At Shanti Bhavan, we don’t need a special occasion to dress up! 🥻

Clothing is one of our favorite ways to express ourselves. And in India, the clothes are as diverse as the people.

Like this video? Give it a like if you want to see part two!

How can a child’s destiny be changed?

Daughters of Destiny explores this question by following the journey of five girls at Shanti Bhavan.

If you have seen Daughters of Destiny, help us spread the word so we can continue rewriting the destinies of even more children!

Do you want to learn a new language with us?

Learn with our students and teachers how to say “Hi, how are you?” in Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Nepali, and Malayalam.

Being able to speak several languages allows our children to stay connected to their roots as they explore the world. 🌏

Who knew cleaning could be so much fun?

This past Sunday, we kicked off community service at Shanti Bhavan 2. Our aunties and teachers told the kindergartners and first graders about the importance of keeping our surroundings clean and how this is a responsibility for all of us.

Thanks.

At Shanti Bhavan, every special occasion is an opportunity to sing and dance. 💃

All the children come together to sing, dance, or play music for the whole school at celebrations such as Graduation, Pongal, Onam, and Diwali.

#SouthAsianHeritageMonth #SAHM #RootsToRoutes #OurStoriesMatter

One year of Shanti Bhavan 2! 🎉

This month marks one incredible year since Shanti Bhavan 2 opened its doors for the inaugural classes of preschoolers and kindergarteners. It’s still a work in progress, phase by phase. We can’t wait to welcome the next group of preschoolers soon!

When the weather’s this perfect, who wouldn’t want to take their studying outside?

A peaceful campus, fresh air, and a little sunshine—sometimes the best classroom is right outside your door.

#StudyWithAView #CampusLife

Middle school boys at their best: a little teamwork, a lot of laughs, and just the right amount of chaos. 🏀🛼

#basketball #sports #teamwork

Our kids just had a full health check, and the results are in—they’re thriving! 💪 To keep them on track, our aunties got a tooth-brushing refresher, and we’re adding more protein-rich foods to the menu to support strong growth. 💛✨ #HealthySmiles #GrowingStrong

In tech, staying relevant means always learning. For women, it also means being seen. At Shanti Bhavan, Soundarya learned to adapt, solve problems, and take up space. Now, in a male-dominated industry, she’s doing just that—proving that women belong in every room, and in every field. #WomenInTech

Thanuja is fascinated by how brain activity shapes thought, emotion, and identity—and how much we still don’t know. As a #womaninscience, she’s faced self-doubt, but through research and persistence, she’s proving that she belongs. Now, she’s working to expand what we know about the mind.

For Pooja, coding is about problem-solving and exploration. It challenges her to think critically and approach problems from different angles. With support from Shanti Bhavan, she wants to become a software engineer and use her skills to make education more accessible. #WomenInScience

Too often, girls are told what they CAN’T do. At Shanti Bhavan, we focus on what they CAN do. For Yogalakshmi, that means studying science and working toward a future in cardiology. With support and encouragement, she’s shaping a future where she can make a real impact ❤️ #WomenInScience #GirlsInSTEM

For this month’s #ShantiBhavanReads, Aakash shares his thoughts on The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin.

“The book deepened my understanding of science and Earth’s resources. It made me realize how valuable our planet is and inspired me to focus more on my community and science studies.”

Midweek blues? Not here!

We’re just here to brighten your feed with some adorable photos of our kids having the best time blowing, chasing, and popping bubbles. Pure joy, lots of giggles, and maybe a little friendly competition. 😆

#MidweekMagic #BubbleFun #PureJoy #HumpDay

Next up in our holiday break series: Vijay Kumar! He spent his break biking & hiking across California, catching up with the college freshmen, and reconnecting with a former volunteer on a Mount Diablo hike. He also applied for internships—making the most of his time! #HolidayBreak

At Shanti Bhavan, Republic Day means celebrating values and history with a special tradition! 🇮🇳 Three preschoolers dress as Gandhi, Nehru, and Mother Teresa to honor their legacies:

🕊️ Peace and equality
🌸 Democracy and education
💙 Compassion and service

Happy Republic Day! 🎉

Shriya saw snow for the first time during her winter break in Himachal Pradesh! ❄️ She built a snowman, braved the cold, and warmed up with Maggi 🍜. Now back at Shanti Bhavan, she’s sharing her adventure with friends. Stay tuned for more winter break highlights!

#SnowMuchFun #HimachalPradesh

Tucking beds might seem small, but for our kindergarteners, it’s a big step! 🛏️ With help from the aunties and each other, they’re learning responsibility, independence, and teamwork—and taking pride in their spaces. We’re so proud of them!

#TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork

Cows (and a new calf!), ducks, fish, and June, our campus dog, call Shanti Bhavan home. 🐄🐕🦆 The cow’s milk helps cut costs in the kitchen, and the ducks keep our fish pond clean. Monkeys swing by too—though we’d prefer they stick to the trees! 🙈

#SustainabilityMatters #AnimalLovers

Kids at Shanti Bhavan are already bilingual (or multilingual!), and now they’re adding Japanese to the list! 🇯🇵 After a visit from friends from Japan last year, their curiosity about the culture took off. Through virtual classes, they’re excitedly learning new phrases to share!

#CulturalExchange

At Shanti Bhavan, community is everything. Connections grow in shared moments—afternoons playing games with teachers and volunteers, and evenings trading stories over dinner. It’s a beautiful experience of coming together and letting each other in. 💛

#VolunteerWork #CommunityBuilding

Why not kick off our first post with a celebration? 🌾 Happy Pongal! Pongal is a South Indian festival of gratitude, celebrating the sun, harvest, and life’s abundance. At Shanti Bhavan, we celebrate by cooking rice, letting it boil over to symbolize blessings and prosperity!

#Pongal