Sarojini Vittachi

Sarojini Vittachi was born in India, studied at the London School of Economics, and undertook research in the 1960s on poverty groups in the East End of London and in Oldham, an old industrial revolution town in the Midlands. On her return o India she worked on rural development and travelled widely to rural and tribal areas. She worked for UNICEF for over two decades, was posted to many countries, working on development programmes, and retired as the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa covering 22 countries. She then did an assignment in Gaza as a part of the peace initiative between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Her experience has suggested that education, particularly of girls, is a critical key to improvements in the health and wellbeing of the family. She now lives in Bangalore and is part of an advocacy group on girls’ education.