True change begins where courage meets compassion. In the narrow lanes of Old Mustafabad, Delhi, one man’s determination has ignited the dreams of thousands of underprivileged women and girls. That man is Mr. Suhail Saifi, and the heart behind the mission is Sofia Educational and Welfare Society.

Since 2004, Sofia has been a guiding light in the lives of over 22,500 beneficiaries — offering education, skill development, and the hope of a dignified life.

📖 Foundation & Background

What started as a college student’s initiative to teach children in 1999 has today become a full-fledged movement of empowerment. Suhail Saifi’s early realization — that education is the first step toward liberation — led to the founding of Sofia Educational and Welfare Society in 2004.

From calligraphy to computers, tailoring to beauty training — Sofia opened doors of opportunity for girls and women often denied a voice in their own homes.

💔 Challenges & Struggles

Convincing parents to educate their daughters in conservative, economically backward neighborhoods was no easy feat. Many doors were shut, and many hearts were hard. But with patience, persistence, and community outreach, Sofia broke barriers — not just societal, but mental.

Even today, Sofia’s volunteers walk from door to door, not just to enroll students — but to restore faith in what a girl can become.

📈 Growth & Milestones

In its early days, Sofia welcomed 150 girls. Today, over 550 students walk through its doors daily. With vocational training, formal education, and legal aid — Sofia doesn’t just teach, it transforms.

It has also expanded its mission to include persons with disabilities and has become an active participant in state-level welfare programs for marginalized communities.

💪 Current Work & Impact

From tackling domestic violence to preventing child marriage, Sofia is a silent warrior in the lanes of North East Delhi. A team of 156 local women now works to resolve cases of abuse, provide legal aid, and counsel distressed families.

Sofia also promotes traditional arts like Urdu calligraphy and helps madarsa students join mainstream education systems through government-supported seminars.

Most heartwarmingly, hundreds of women once trapped in poverty are now financially independent — some as entrepreneurs, others as professionals.

🌟 Vision for the Future

“We want to see a day,” says Suhail Saifi, “when no girl in Delhi is denied education because of poverty.”

Sofia plans to set up more training centers, include men in gender sensitization drives, expand outreach for persons with disabilities, and open a digital help desk to guide families about government schemes.

From one room in Mustafabad to a movement of minds — Sofia’s journey is just getting started.

📞 Contact Us to Support or Donate

🧕 Support the mission: Empower a girl with education, dignity, and skills.

📍 Visit Us: Project Mauqa & Shakeela Begum Charitable Dispensary, Gali No. 6, in front of Umar Masjid, Old Mustafabad, Delhi

📞 Call: +91-9212166166

📧 Email: ngosofiaindia@gmail.com

You can also donate in kind — sewing machines, computers, books, sanitary kits, and more.

🙏 A Note of Gratitude & Responsibility

Disclaimer: This content has been respectfully extracted from Sofia Educational and Welfare Society’s official website (ngosofia.org). It is crafted not for profit but for sewa — to honor their tireless work and inspire support from kind hearts like yours.

We believe good work deserves good visibility. If this blog helps one more girl learn, earn, or dream — our mission is fulfilled.

“You educate a man, you educate an individual. You educate a woman, you educate a family.” — And Sofia proves it every single day.

💛 How You Can Help

1. Sponsor a girl's vocational course for ₹1,200/month

2. Donate learning supplies or computers

3. Organize an awareness workshop in your locality

4. Volunteer your time — teach, train, or counsel

5. Share this blog — let others discover Sofia's story