Yesterday was one of the most memorable days of my life. We were planting seeds literally. For over a year, I have been feeling helpless with this urge to do something every time I visited the Matunga Children’s Home.  Why? because: 1. the children there have a hunger to do something and learn something but lack opportunities and 2. the children are mostly addicted to churan (bhang goli), are just waiting to pass their time, sitting idle and have nothi... read full story

 In June, we started holding sharing circles with 20 children being tried for sexual offenses at the Observation Home. In a session on gratitude, the children expressed the desire to do something for their teachers on Teacher’s Day. We started brainstorming and without realising it, all eighty children had been included, groups been formed and anchors appointed. Since we were introducing the children to team work from our side, we used this opportunity to discuss effective leader... read full story

The idea of the Maitri Dinner was rooted in a successful Daan Utsav last October, after which volunteers had unanimously agreed that they should cook for the children at least once every 3 months. 19th June was that Sunday. We were late! We asked the children what'd they like to eat. The reply was deafening! It rang in our brains and settled into our consciousness. "Paav Bhaaji!!" 420 children. 90+ volunteers. 120kgs of vegetables. 3,500 pieces of paav. Paav bhaaji for all!!! ... read full story

One more day well spent with children; 21 children and 12 adults that included volunteers and staff, visiting Kidzania a beautiful indoor theme park in Ghatkopar – R city Mall where children can experience adult jobs. There was only one goal – let’s make this day memorable for all the children. After months of co-ordinating with Pradnya we finalised the date, followed by running around for a week for permissions, finalising the list of children, organising the bus, and the... read full story

Last few weeks, we have been trying to re-design Ashiyana, an initiative we started in the children’s home/ remand home three years ago. I am thinking of my first day in the home when I was so shaken by what I had just experienced and realising that we have truly come a long way. When I was sharing the different ideas with a mentor and a friend, She posed a very simple question “why do people who work with children don’t ask the children what they want ?” - The thoug... read full story

Nivedita is a founder member of Samaj Pragati Sahayog, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. SPS is committed to evolving an alternate path of development under the principles of empowerment, equity and sustainability. She was instrumental in starting women SHGs in Dewas. She also started Kumbaya- a garment fabrication unit. It offers an alternative to agricultural labour by empowering women and differently abled people from one of the most deprived areas of the country. When asked what is her dream for the or... read full story

Tejal Rajyagor spends most of her time in the Umerkhadi Children's Observation Home in Mumbai. A home for vulnerable children and children in conflict with law, it is often referred to as the "chiller room" or "Bachchon ka Jail". Here she started the Aashiyana project, a volunteer run initiative which has been instrumental in starting art projects, health initiatives and a children's library. Combining resources from private, public and voluntary sources, she has managed to ... read full story