Patrons’ Breakfast Briefing with Rukmini Banerji
Last month, we were delighted to host a special Patrons’ Breakfast Briefing in London with Rukmini Banerji, bringing together supporters and friends of Pratham for a morning of thoughtful conversation, reflection and connection.
Held at the London offices of Teneo, the gathering created space for supporters to hear directly from those leading Pratham’s work and to engage more deeply with the organisation’s mission and future direction.
The morning began with a networking breakfast, giving guests the opportunity to connect with fellow supporters, trustees and members of the Pratham community before the main discussion began.
In conversation with Nick Sankey, Rukmini reflected on more than three decades of leadership at Pratham Education Foundation. The discussion explored the evolution of Pratham’s work over the years, the lessons learned through working closely with communities across India, and the importance of continuing to adapt to changing educational needs.
Rukmini also shared her thoughts on what lies ahead for Pratham, with a particular focus on the future of the Girls and Women Programme. The conversation highlighted the transformative role education can play in rebuilding confidence, independence and opportunity for women who have previously been excluded from learning.
A particularly moving part of the event was a live conversation facilitated by Manushi Yadav with a Second Chance centre in Jaipur, India. Through the live link, guests heard directly from women who have returned to education through Pratham’s Second Chance programme and learned more about the realities many girls and women face when access to education is interrupted early in life.
Among the stories shared was that of Sarfaraj, whose journey deeply resonated with attendees. After returning to education through the programme, Sarfaraj has gone on to become a champion within her community, encouraging many other women to continue their education and pursue new opportunities for themselves and their families. Her story is a powerful reminder of how education can create ripple effects far beyond the individual learner. You can read more about her journey here.
The session concluded with an open Q&A, giving supporters the chance to ask questions, share reflections and engage directly with the team behind the work. The small and conversational nature of the gathering allowed for meaningful discussion and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping Pratham’s programmes today.
We are incredibly grateful to our board member Alok Gahrotra and Teneo for generously hosting the event, and to everyone who joined us for the morning. Events like these are an important opportunity to strengthen connections between supporters and the communities at the heart of Pratham’s work.