For a month, Shoolini University wore pink. Buildings glowed in the evenings, music filled the campus, students cheered through sporting events, and colourful stalls added to the festive atmosphere. The activities carried a common message: Early Detection Saves Lives.
Organised by Shoolinians For You (SFY) in collaboration with cricketer Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan Foundation, Pink Spirit Month 2026 reached around 2,000 people across Solan, Shimla and nearby villages. The campaign combined campus activities with breast cancer awareness sessions and screening camps in nearby communities. At the heart of the initiative was Poonam Nanda, Dean of Student Welfare and Director of Sustainability and Community Engagement, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer for the third time. She wanted young people to feel comfortable discussing women's health, even when the subject seemed difficult.
During The Pink Quest, teams dashed across campus, following clues and competing in a treasure hunt. Pink Sports featured three-legged races, lemon-and-spoon challenges and 50-metre sprints, with students cheering on the participants. At the CRC, pink lights and a jamming session brought students together for an evening of music. ManchTantra's Pink Walk, poster-making, slogan-writing and other creative activities also formed part of the campaign. Team Raabta's Bemisal Guru Dutt: Zindagi, Cinema Aur Khwaab carried a touch of pink during its tribute to the filmmaker's centenary year.
The Pink Stalls linked the festivities to screening efforts, with 30 per cent of their profits earmarked for screening equipment used during SFY and YouWeCan camps. Beyond campus, SFY volunteers visited Sanhol Panchayat in Solan and Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya (RKMV) in Shimla, speaking about breast cancer symptoms, early detection and timely medical advice. At RKMV alone, awareness sessions reached approximately 700 students, faculty and staff. The outreach included breast self-examination demonstrations and screening camps using NIRAMAI technology.
On campus, 85 women, including faculty, housekeeping personnel, non-teaching staff and students' mothers, underwent screening. For Poonam Nanda, one of the campaign's proudest achievements has been watching male students become confident advocates for women's health. "If there is one thing I'm really and truly proud of, it's the mindset that I've been able to change in the boys," she said. According to Nanda, students who once hesitated to discuss breast cancer or menstrual hygiene now lead awareness sessions in classrooms and villages. Some have started asking their mothers about regular check-ups, taking forward Shoolini's "My Mother Matters" campaign.
Yuvraj Singh, former Indian cricketer and founder of YouWeCan, also praised the students’ participation. "It's wonderful to see Shoolini students spreading awareness, especially with so many boys joining the cause. Shoolini has always done great work with YouWeCan, and I'm sure this year will be even bigger and better," he said. The volunteers' community service initiatives were also showcased during Shoolini's 18th Foundation Day, where Chief Guest and Kasauli MLA Vinod Sultanpuri visited the student exhibits.
Nanda said she also found encouragement in the response from the communities themselves, including organisations working with tribal and underprivileged women in Solan. Students came together once more on November 2, closing the month of pink with a movie screening, a bonfire and a jamming session. "It may be a drop in the ocean, but I think every drop counts," she said.
4 November 2026