A sociology graduate of the top-ranked St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai with a postgrad degree in education, Bernadette Pimenta is principal of the Garden School, Mumbai (estb.1983), an informal child enrichment school. After providing children and youth supplementary curriculum enrichment programmes in the Garden School for over two decades, Ms. Pimenta scaled down the school and took to social work.

In 1991 she promoted Sevadham, an NGO which has since been working for the poor and marginalised, especially women and children, in prisons across Maharashtra, the Observation Home for Juveniles, Bhiwandi and the Mental Hospital, Thane. As founder-trustee of Sevadham she provides aid, advice and counseling services to build the self-respect and confidence of demoralised prison inmates and emotionally disturbed and mentally challenged citizens.
Over the past 29 years, Sevadham volunteers have counseled and comforted “thousands – we haven’t kept count” – disturbed and challenged youth and people across Maharashtra state.

A social activist committed to the upliftment of the poor, marginalised and disabled, Ms. Pimenta is also the chairperson of Snehalaya, Thane (estb.2007), an NGO which conducts vocational education and training programmes. Moreover Ms. Pimenta is an advisor to the Rugna Kalyan Samiti of Thane Mental Hospital, and also serves as national coordinator of the World Community for Christian Meditation, London, and as ambassador of the Indo-Global Social Service Society, Delhi.

For her contribution to education, counseling, comforting poor, challenged and socio-economically disadvantaged people of Maharashtra, the Editors and Board of directors of EducationWorld are proud to present Ms. Bernadette Pimenta the EW Extraordinary Public Service Award 2020.