Born and brought up in Mumbai, Farida Lambay completed her Master’s in Social Work from College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan (Mumbai University). Following her education, she initiated the Municipal School Project for College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, which led to social workers becoming a part of the Municipal Corporation structure, a change that then seemed to be impossible. This was the first glimpse of the ideology that she strongly propagates of converting best practices into policy and working in collaboration with the government. Her professional career started being the Vice Principal of College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, where she is endeared by both staff and students and Co-founder and Trustee Pratham.
Pratham, an NGO established in 1994 from the slums of Mumbai has grown to great heights receiving the CNN IBN Indian of the Year Award, 2010 because of visionaries like her in leadership. Through Pratham she swore to ensure “Every child in School and Learning Well” becoming a crusader for education and has led the battle against child labor first in Maharashtra and then expanded to the country by heading Pratham Council for Vulnerable Children. She has initiated the projects Prerana (working for the rights of Prostitutes inKamatipura), YUVA (an organization working on various social issues taking strength from the youth) and others. With her vast experience of working on ground with communities in disaster situations, she with Pratham team, an innovative learning organization which she cofounded in 1995, responded in this crisis situation as well. Pratham with her able guided leadership, was also able to help through about 13 lakhs precooked meals, 26,000 rations and safety kits reaching out to more than 1.7 million people. She is on the committee on Education in the MCGM as well. Her work with UNICEF and the State government throughout her career has made several policies impacts as well.
Mrs. Lambay is more than just an Educationist and a Social Work professional, she is a treasure, a human being with dignity and values unimaginable. She represents honor, compassion, dedication, and above all humility that make her the institute that she is today!
