Thaiza Dias, Senior Manager of Programs at Gabriel Project Mumbai, has spent a decade as a development professional in the social sector. She trained as an educational social worker with a focus on out-of-school academics for children on the margins. She also spent a year training as a medical social worker, during which she had the opportunity to counsel patients while working on creating awareness and eradicating the stigma surrounding HIV-AIDS.
Thaiza began her career in a Fair-Trade Organization with a focus on women’s empowerment initiatives through income generation activities. She worked for three years as Project Officer with James Percy Foundation, UK, which involved channeling funds to deserving projects across India. With a desire to work more closely with local indigenous communities, she joined Gabriel Project Mumbai (India Office) as Senior Manager of Programs for its Education and Healthcare initiatives.