UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION PUNE
- ABOUT US
UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION PUNE
The University Women’s Association (UWA),Pune, was established in 1949 when a group of prominent women from Pune including Ms. ShantabaiBhandarkar, our Founder Member, Ms Sane and Ms Khan started an association called ‘Women Graduates’ Union’, a voluntary organization that strove to educate and empower women from the disadvantaged classes. The commitment of these pioneers was matched by their competence and determination. They were sensitive and responsive to a woman’s need to be educated and also understood a working woman’s urgent requirement for a safe and secure place to stay in.
Marking World Mental Health Day | 10 October 2026
A Conversation on Climate Change, Emotional Wellbeing & Community Resilience
The Climate Collective Pune Environmental Foundation (CCPEF), in collaboration with UWA Pune, invites you to be part of Climate Emotions, an open conversation exploring how climate change and environmental uncertainty shape our inner world, emotions, and collective wellbeing.
The initiative brings together thoughtful voices from diverse fields to share experiences and perspectives on how changing environmental conditions affect our emotional and mental wellbeing. Through conversations, community engagement, and documentation, we aim to explore emotions such as fear, grief, anger, hope, and resilience as an integral part of the climate dialogue.
This gathering marks the beginning of a three-year initiative by CCPEF to understand how different sections of society experience climate change emotionally. The insights gathered will contribute to a larger body of work aimed at encouraging policymakers to integrate emotional and mental wellbeing into climate action and urban policy.
🎶 Soulful Musical Evening: Exploring the Nine Emotions, Navarasa
The conversation will conclude with a soulful musical evening exploring the nine emotions of Navarasa, an intimate journey through feelings, reflection, and human connection.
Join us for an evening of meaningful dialogue, shared experiences, music, and collective reflection as we begin this important journey towards long-term community wellbeing.
(Saturday)
7:30 PM
Organised by: Climate Collective Pune Environmental Foundation (CCPEF)
In collaboration with: UWA Pune
- ACTIVITIES
Activities
Sucharita
This activity is aimed at providing support to adolescent girls from low income groups, studying in standards 7th to 10th.
Chhand Rang
We run this activity for imparting income generating skills, in the area of arts and crafts, to girls and women.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to Under-Graduate, Post-Graduate and also to the students who are doing Doctoral Research.
R & D Cell
The Cell extends an opportunity for interdisciplinary research to members in topics related to environmental sciences, natural and social sciences social work and education.
Progress Eves
Progress Eves is the publication of UWA, Pune which keeps all its members informed about the activities of the Association.
Open House and Membership
A variety of programmes on topics of current relevance and of interest to members are organised in the form of lectures, discussions, round tables, games etc.
Youth Wing
This is a group of about 68 girls pursuing their studies in their chosen disciplines from different colleges and universities in Pune.
Environment Cell
The activities planned, broadly, under the cell included waste management, campus plants, nature trips to various places, lectures and workshops, etc.
INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The UWA, Pune, is an affiliate of Indian Federation of University Women’s Associations-IFUWA, founded in 1920. IFUWA co-ordinates the activities of fourteen University Women’s Associations (UWAs) located in different Indian cities.
IFUWA in turn is affiliated to the Graduate Women International (GWI) founded in 1919 as International Federation of University Women (IFUW). Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland and has national affiliates in about 60 countries and individual members in more than 40 others.
It is one of the few women’s NGOs withconsultative status in UNESCO and UN Committees, promoting lifelong education for women and girls, international cooperation, friendship, peace and respect for human rights, irrespective of their age, race, nationality, religion, gender and political opinion. It advocates the advancement of status of women and girls and enables them to apply their knowledge and skills in leadership and decision making in all forms of public and private life.
Members of University Women’s Association who are elected on the board of Graduate Women’s International
Dr. Ujwala Shinde
Vice President Legal & Governance Candidate
Dr. Meera Bondre
Vice President Membership Candidate
Ms. Neeta Patwardhan
Finance Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Meera Bondre
Membership Committee Candidates-Convenor
Ms. Medha Ranade
Projects Development Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Rekha Monani
Hegg Hoffet Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Neelam Jagdale
Resolutions Committee Candidates-Member
- OUR TESTIMONIALS
What our satisfied clients
are saying
Welcome
The University Women’s Association (UWA),Pune, was established in 1949 when a group of prominent women from Pune including Ms. ShantabaiBhandarkar, our Founder Member, Ms Sane and Ms Khan started an association called ‘Women Graduates’ Union’, a voluntary organization that strove to educate and empower women from the disadvantaged classes. The commitment of these pioneers was matched by their competence and determination. They were sensitive and responsive to a woman’s need to be educated and also understood a working woman’s urgent requirement for a safe and secure place to stay in.
FACILITIES
Working Women's Hostel
The UWA, Pune Working Women’s Hostel provides a home away from home to these resident working women.
Dipika BalMandir
Dipika BalMandir is our Kinder Garten school which caters to the children of 3 to 5 years of age..
ACTIVITIES
Sucharita
This activity is aimed at providing support to adolescent girls from low income groups, studying in standards 7th to 10th.
Chhand Rang
We run this activity for imparting income generating skills, in the area of arts and crafts, to girls and women.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to Under-Graduate, Post-Graduate and also to the students who are doing Doctoral Research.
Research and Development Cell
The Cell extends an opportunity for interdisciplinary research to members in topics related to environmental sciences, natural and social sciences social work and education.
Progress Eves
Progress Eves is the publication of UWA, Pune which keeps all its members informed about the activities of the Association.
Open House and Membership Development
A variety of programmes on topics of current relevance and of interest to members are organised in the form of lectures, discussions, round tables, games etc.
Youth Wing
This is a group of about 68 girls pursuing their studies in their chosen disciplines from different colleges and universities in Pune.
Environment Cell
The activities planned, broadly, under the cell included waste management, campus plants, nature trips to various places, lectures and workshops, etc.
TESTIMONIAL
INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The UWA, Pune, is an affiliate of Indian Federation of University Women’s Associations-IFUWA, founded in 1920. IFUWA co-ordinates the activities of fourteen University Women’s Associations (UWAs) located in different Indian cities.
IFUWA in turn is affiliated to the Graduate Women International (GWI) founded in 1919 as International Federation of University Women (IFUW). Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland and has national affiliates in about 60 countries and individual members in more than 40 others.
Members of University Women’s Association who are elected on the board of Graduate Women’s International
Dr. Ujwala Shinde – Vice President Legal & Governance Candidate
Dr. Meera Bondre – Vice President Membership Candidate
Ms. Neeta Patwardhan – Finance Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Meera Bondre – Membership Committee Candidates-Convenor
Ms. Medha Ranade – Projects Development Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Rekha Monani – Hegg Hoffet Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Neelam Jagdale – Resolutions Committee Candidates-Member
Ms. Veena Bathe – GWI Vice President Legal & Governance for the triennium 2019-22.
Dr. Nita Mawar – Former Convenor GWI-PDC. 2016 till 2022.
Ms. Abeda Inamdar