Dharavi Shelter (Mumbai)

The Dharavi Shelter is a space dedicated to children and elderly residents living in New Transit Camp Nagar in Dharavi, Mumbai, India.

URBZ members have been working in Dharavi for a few years, notably organizing participatory workshops and urban design studios, researching and writing about its organic development and its architectural organization, and advocating against the Dharavi Redevelopment Project initiated by the Government of Maharashtra



URBZ / Urbanology
Block No. 4/6/12
New Transit Camp, Dharavi
Mumbai - 400017, India

http://urbz.net/art/dharavi-shelter/
http://urbz.net/urbz-office-in-dharavi-mumbai/
http://www.urbanology.org/2009/10/18/dharavi-school-of-urbanology/
http://www.hellointern.com/viewprofile.php?sel=profile&id_vac=8745
http://www.scribd.com/URBZ
http://urbz.net/research/dharavi-main-rd/



View URBZ / Urbanology in a larger map



Kevin McCloud discovers a world of curious juxtapositions in one of the most extreme urban environments on earth: Dharavi, Mumbai. (not available for viewing in india :( )
Capoeira for a cause! That was Capoeira India at Dharavi Shelter for Kids.
http://www.dharavi.org/
http://www.konermann.net/dharavi_en.html

Dharavi, Slum for Sale
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dharavi-Slum-for-Sale/459169530577

http://www.airoots.org/category/mumbai/
squattercity

Dharavi;: An economic and social survey of a village in the suburbs of Bombay
A review of "PROUD": A people's organization in Dharavi
Journey to Dharavi / c By Earl W. Green
An ethnolinguistic survey of Dharavi, a slum in Bombay (Sociolinguistics series / Central Institute of Indian Languages)

Bol chintu helping street children in Mulund

Bol chintu is an organisation build up by Sam Thomas Philip basically to motivate the skills and to provide knowledge to children in streets of Mulund.

Email
sam_wolfin@hotmail.com
http://www.wix.com/kidsoftom/bolchintu/

Touching Lives bringing hope and love in the lives of those less privileged

Touching Lives began in 2003 and aims at bringing peace and harmony to the world through positive action. TL does not believe in protesting against something but focusses its actions towards bringing hope and love in the lives of those less privileged. Touching Lives also messages that each and every person has the possibility towards contributing towards the betterment of the society. The projects undertaken by Touching Lives are designed very carefully and focuses on many aspects - be it education, mentoring, building moral and emotional foundation of the children. They also aim at providing a support system for the under privileged families.

Projects undertaken by Touching Lives

1) Education
Sanskruti Open School - Touching Lives run an education centre in the suburbs of Mumbai which focuses on children from the slums. They run different programs according to the needs of the children.

a) School subject support program
This program works towards strengthening the basics of the School subjects. The subjects are taught in a fun, non-conventional way so that the children develop interest in the subjects.

b) Foundations of the English Language
Keeping in mind the importance of English language, Touching Lives has created modules for teaching the language according to age groups. They are also in a process of developing a complete curriculum for English which will also carry lessons on moral values and vocational learning. No doubt these modules will help not only in education but will also evolve the thoughts and emotions of the young minds.

c) Curriculum and conversation
Touching Lives has undertaken a very interesting activity called C&C. In this activity children are encouraged to speak about themselves or share their experiences and views. These not only help in teaching them to express themselves meaningfully but also help formulate their thoughts. These also help release their emotions and double up as counselling sessions.

d) Vocational education
Touching Lives also conduct activities where the children are taught skills in dancing, music, documentary film making, mehendi etc.

e) Learning through Play Program
This is a non-formal, short-term therapeutic learning program developed for children to learn moral values and implement them. Volunteers are first trained in these modules and then they implement it on the children.

2) Health

Touching Lives conducts the following programs

-Blood donation drives
-Health/relief programs
-Therapy programs
-Drama therapy
-Nothing program
-Psycho-social-spiritual therapy(for mental illness)

Drama therapy is the systematic and intentional use of drama to promote emotional growth. For training contact dt@touchonelife.org

Nothing therapy is a standardized therapy based on the concept of existential principles to bring about radical transformation in both the therapist and the client.For training contact nt@touchonelife.org

Psycho-social-spiritual therapies is a training program for professionals, students and caretakers associated with mental health care.

Touching Lives is also affiliated with a mental rehab centre in Gujrat, Valsad.

3) Entertainment

Music album
Touching Lives has undertaken a very interesting initiative. TL has brought together talented people who play on the streets, trains etc to form a music album. TL invites professionals in music and volunteers for this purpose.

Video unit
Touching Lives also teaches documentary film making to interested volunteers and children. The unit also takes care of internal educational videos that TL develops. TL is also open to correspondence from others who want to make documentary videos.

Microfinance
Touching Lives has formulated a professional team who is currently working in developing a model plan for micro-finance and enterprises. They are going to launch it soon.

4) Community - Development Program
Touching Lives has a community centre within the slums near railway tracks between Dahisar and Borivili stations in Mumbai. This centre interacts with not only the children but their parents too and intends to develop a complete support system program for the community. They also identify women who wish to increase their income who will then be directed to the microfinance project.

What makes Touching Lives special?

Touching Lives has an extremely focussed team and is special in many ways.

- Before starting Touching Lives, the team had spent time in understanding about the lives and problems of the children living on the streets in Mumbai.

- Touching Lives works at the grassroots, the team has direct access to the group (under privileged children/people) it focuses upon.

- Touching Lives employs many innovative ways like curriculum and conversation, drama therapy, music albums to involve the less privileged.

- True to its name, Touching Lives touches the lives of people in many aspects, be it education or microfinancing, TL views lives in totality.

The work carried out by Touching Lives is inspiring in many ways and we wish Touching Lives the best, may it continue to touch many many lives.

Contact Touching Lives
Founder Dr. Sonia Mackwani, MA Clinical Psychology, Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Alternative Therapy, Founder-Director of 'Touching Lives Welfare Trust,' Trustee of 'Atmaviswas Vidyalaya,' a rehab centre for mental illness, Author of Children's book which was selected for the Frankfurt Book Fair, Researcher in Metaphysics.

e-mail volunteer@touchonelife.org or sonia.touchinglives@gmail.com
Phone (+91) 9221 339 756
Website of Touching Lives : http://www.touchonelife.org/
http://touchinglivesmicroworld.blogspot.com/
Touching lives Facebook Page


[1] http://www.dnaindia.com/speakup/report_touching-lives-via-social-networking_1299050
[2] http://www.yourstory.in/news/1063-frontpage/1766-sonia-h-mackwani-founder-director-of-touching-lives-welfare-trust
[3] http://www.naarisakhi.com/viewarticles.php?aid=NDI=&cidx=MQ==
[4] http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/jan2009/msg00370.html

AARAMBH takes the initiative to take GOONJ's VASTRA-SAMMAN to the masses.

VASTRA-SAMMAN is a nationwide campaign being organized in over 25 cities all over the country, aiming over 75 colleges. The idea is to tap the unexplored treasure of resourceful waste lying within the boundaries of the hostel rooms. The campaign calls for the integration of the youth to bring a change in the lives of the needy. GOONJ is an internationally appreciated NGO working in the deepest roots in India to address the social issue of clothing and resource mobilization. AARAMBH, an IIT Kharagpur student body has taken the initiative of taking GOONJ's VASTRA-SAMMAN campaign to the masses by the hands of the youth.

Kartavya, a student body frm NIT Jamshedpur joins the cause... the yuva is uniting for a definite change... Vastra-samman grows beyond bounds :)

We encourage your curiosity to know more on this campaign. To know more about it, or for any query, or just to share your mind, Reach us at vastrasamman@aarambhiitkgp.com

http://vastrasamman.aarambhiitkgp.com

15th March to 15th April
VASTRA-SAMMAN
yuva unites for a cause...
Integrating the youth to realize the much needed change...
Let your resourceful WASTE be someone’s ASSET..
When nature starts the kill: “Death toll in cold wave
goes up to 262 – The Hindu ” ( Jan 12,2010)
When natural biology make someone helplessly shameful :
“ poor women are forced to use rags during menstrual
cycle. – The Hindu ” ( Feb 21,2010)
“Many Indian women make do with little more than scraps
of old cloth when menstruating, often risking their health.
- South Asian Women’s Forum ”
And the story never ends..
People mostly give their old cloth at the time of disasters but the fact
is that more than half of this country doesn’t need a disaster to be
helped.
15th March to 15th April
VASTRA-SAMMAN , a national
campaign to motivate individuals to Impact of Resource Mobilization by
contribute their bit to make the GOONJ :
change happen.
The idea is to tap the unexplored
treasure of resourceful waste lying
within the boundaries of the hostel
rooms.
Restoring the self respect and dignity
of village communities by empowering
them to work on their own issues and
receive the material as
Why Should You Join ?
Just look in your room, how many t-shirts, jeans, shirts, footwear and
more stuff are lying unused ?
If you even get even one, pity that situation ! Just imagine :
The number of lives you could have saved from cold.
Realize the fact that a t-shirt when turned into 6 sanitary pads, could help 6
women during their menses.
“Your discard could be someone’s asset.”
We don’t need a disaster to happen, half of this country doesn’t need a disaster
to be helped.
A YUVA Movement
The YUVA of the nation is joining hands for a massive
collection drive.
Aiming 75 Colleges spreading in more than 25 cities
across the country.
AARAMBH invites you to be a patron of change and join
the campaign.
Visit and Register at:
http://vastrasamman.aarambhiitkgp.com
www.goonj.info
Contact : vastrasamman@aarambhiitkgp.com
The entire nation is coming
together for this change, will you
For regular Updates, follow us on facebook :
GOONJ : http://tinyurl.com/ya6rbxm
???
Aarambh : http://tinyurl.com/ygjweo3

Aarambh IIT Kharagpur the alliance has grown big and has grown strong. Thanks all for making Vastra-Samman a success, a second collage of participating colleges here.. thank you all. :)

The thought started from an individual , got accepted by a few.. today the idea has been replicated by innumerous colleges across the country, Aarambh thanks its regional partners for making Vastra-Samman a huge success...
Find below a collage of few of the colleges who have successfully completed the collections, more to come soon.

iDiscoveri, Nidan, Naandi, Smile now joins the INsight 2010. This in addition to Goonj, Villgro,Sattva, Janarth,Chirag,Drishtee,VKC IITB,EDA Capital Connect and E Moksha who had joined earlier ....

after pondichery college of engineering, pondichery university pitches in the campaign.

Amrita college represents Coiambatore in the campaign.
over 2500 clothes collected.

NIT Jamshedpur and XLRI complete collections successfully... About 1300 clothes collected from the passing out students. congratulations... and yo NIT JAM and yo XLRI..
For any queries/suggestions about INsight , do feel free to contact us at : insight@aarambhiitkgp.com

Now follow INsight even in Twitter ... for all the latest happenings and project listings ...

Follow : http://twitter.com/insight_2010

scores of applications ... multitude of projects ... the most reputed social orgs ...n IIT Kgp's premier social organization .... INsight 2010 ...the perfect opportunity to have that unique experience... brought to you by Aarambh IIT Kharagpur. For more details visit : http://insight.aarambhiitkgp.com/

EDA Capital Connect, Janarth, VKC-IITB,SMILE,Drishtee,Villgro,Chirag,Sattva n many more organization's project details now up in : http://insight.aarambhiitkgp.com/projectopportunities.php

Madras Medical College.. going ahead brave with the campaign... they would begin the collections from monday.. atb guys.. :) god bless.. !!!

Among the biggest universities in Eastern India is the Jadavpur University.. There presence in the campaign makes it more successful... :)

BESU Shibpur joins the campaign and begins the collection

Shastra College of Engineering doing their best for Vastra-Samman.

ANNA University begins the campaign

ADP Private Limited - Pune Starts Cloth Donation Drive at their Campus

Kartavya, a student body frm NIT Jamshedpur joins the cause... the yuva is uniting for a definite change... Vastra-samman grows beyond bounds

English Teaching Volunteer Atma Mumbai

Atma English Teaching Volunteer
Atma Volunteer– www.atmamumbai.org- volunteer@atmamumbai.org

Atma
Atma Mumbai is an NGO who helps other NGOs to excel. NGOs face many day-to-day problems and often have no one to support and understand their efforts. They find themselves struggling for daily survival and they can only react instead of operate pro actively within their external and internal environment.

Atma Mumbai partners with NGO's, who are working in the field of education and children, in order to break this cycle and help organizations to act rather than react. We strive to help our partners find a balance in their operations and programming; effecting positive change in the lives of thousands underprivileged children in Mumbai.

Period of volunteering:
Minimum time of three months; starting dates flexible.

Job role:
Current Atma partners are looking to increase their teaching capacity and are looking for experienced educationists to assist in teacher training. You would be working closely with programme and education managers in one or two of the following areas: teaching, assisting in teacher training, designing
curriculum, institutionalizing school systems.

Atma is currently in the process of increasing its marketing efforts. To help convey our message more effectively we wish to make a promotional film about our work. You would work on this project closely with the Director of Operations and the Resource Manager.


Responsibilities
Working closely with the Atma team to write a script, facilitate contacts, schedule and shoot short films.

This will include creative use of resources and contacts to ensure the lowest possible budget and highest
possible quality.
Skill Requirements:
- Teaching degree
- Several years of classroom experience
- Experience in teaching ESL
- Special Education experience/certificate
- Excellent communication skills
- Flexibility
- Creative thinker

Souvenir -
Housing and working conditions:
Atma Mumbai will assist in find housing. The volunteer will work at the Atma Mumbai office in Khar. A laptop will be provided by Atma Mumbai during the working period. A stipend will not be provided, the cost of travel, housing and living expenses will be the responsibility of the volunteer.

Expectations
To work full time during the volunteer-ship for the organization based on the above mentioned areas,creating focus while remaining flexible within the working environment.

Expectation of Atma Mumbai:
Provide support and guidance throughout the volunteership period and give preparation information prior to the volunteership. Assist in adapting to Mumbai city and Indian culture and in the working relation with the NGO.

Application Process
Candidates interested in applying for this volunteer position should send an English motivation letter and
their CV to volunteer@atmamumbai.org

India
Atma Education Trust
794/2,2nd Floor, Satguru Center,
Flat no-5, 3rd Road,
Khar West (near Khar Station),
Mumbai - 400052
Email : contact@atmamumbai.org
Tel : +91 022 26059810

Volunteer Guidelines

Please note the following Atma volunteer guidelines before applying:

Atma - Volunteer Guidelines:
# Volunteers are engaged to work with a specific project, based on their skills, experience and field of interest.
# Volunteers commit to work full-time for a minimum of 3 months (when coming from abroad).
# Volunteers agree to sign a contract that clearly states the responsibilities of the volunteer and Atma.
There is no financial reimbursement for volunteers; the cost of ALL travel, housing and living expenses will be the responsibility of the volunteer.

Atma - Volunteer Service:

* All volunteers are given a thorough preparation by Atma before beginning their volunteer embarkation.
* Airport Pick-up and orientation to Mumbai.
* Assistance in finding accommodation.
* Mentoring and support throughout working period by experienced Atma staff.
* Phone (and laptop in some cases) provided.
* Community of other Atma volunteers.


'Check guidelines before you apply'
If you are interested in applying to one of these job vacancies, or other possible roles, please send your resume and motivation letter to volunteer@atmamumbai.org

thanks to malavikat http://twitter.com/ma_th who directed us to this ngo

CNNIBN Real Heroes an inspiration

Real Heroes: A man who ensures cries for help don't go waste

Ramesh Kushwah runs emergency response service in Gwalior.

Handicapped Ladakh man seeks new challenges

Iqbal is handicapped but sees creativity and opportunity in any disability.

Sister Mariola: working tirelessly for women undertrials

Her work with prisoners started when she joined Sophia College in Ajmer.

Illiterate tribal man works for children's education

Vechan Dubhil, belongs to the backward Bhil community in Gujarat.

CNN: The Inside Story: How a Band of Mavericks Changed the Face of Television News

Real Heroes: Meet the rural woman entrepreneur Hirbai

Hirbai Ibrahim Lobi is also a champion of education for the tribal children.

CNN-IBN and Reliance honour Real Heroes | Pics

The extraordinary efforts of ordinary men and women were rewarded at the show.

Hockey's real hero: Meet the coach Merzban Patel

He has dedicated 35 years of his life to the game and mentored Olympians.

Real Heroes: Ordinary people of South India with extraordinary feats

Meet the people for whom the world itself is a stage.

Asha Jeevan, a home for the old by the young

Sujata Bhat, Kalpana Mallaya have helped the old for the past 10 years.


2010

Real Heroes: IT professionals train sports to rural kids

The trio got hold of coaches, who train for free and sourced sports scholarships.

01-03-2010

Real Heroes: Autodriver rescues the homeless

Raja has dedicated his life to rescuing destitutes and giving them a life of dignity.

24-02-2010

Bihar sex worker's daughter fights for dignity

Daughters of sex workers have formed an organisation called Parcham.

23-02-2010

Rural Bihar girls take to football for better life

Mrityunjay Tiwari uses football to get girls in Mastichak village into schools.

09-04-2009

Rock the vote: Meet India's youngest MP

At 27, Agatha Sangma is already a political force to reckon with in Meghalaya.

22-03-2009

Real Heroes: Honouring the extraordinary Indian

Twenty-four men and women who kept aside self to serve honoured.

15-03-2009

Watch: The real heroes from the North

Prasoon Joshi presents the real heroes from the North of India.

14-03-2009

Aamir says CNN-IBN's Real Heroes inspires him

It\'s Aamir Khan\'s birthday on Saturday.

13-03-2009

Hero gives away award money to rescued sexworker

Anson Thomas gave his prize money of Rs 5 lakh to a former sex worker.

12-03-2009

Real heroes: Doctor helps widows re-live their lives

Dr Rauf Mohideen is helping widows find a new life and a new life partner.

11-03-2009

Real heroes: Davender preparing athelets for India

He has set up an academy at a small village in Punjab.

10-03-2009

This real hero provides limbs to landmine blast victims

Many lose their limbs during cross-border firing.

08-03-2009

Karan Johar presents Real Heroes from West

Inspirational stories of people with extraordinary accomplishments.

07-03-2009

Nisheet and his wife see capability in their disability

Real hero Nisheet has been disabled yet earns a decent living.

06-03-2009

This real hero is training kids to be India's Phelps

Karsanbhai has been producing national champs.

CNN-IBN awards the real unsung heroes of India

24 ordinary people were honoured for their extraordinary achievements.

05-03-2009

Rainmaker of Gujarat solved farmers' water woes

Shamjibhai Antala has been fighting to save water in drought-prone Saurashtra.

04-03-2009

No funding but this real hero feeds the poor daily

Hemant Patel uses his own meagre earnings to feed others.

03-03-2009

Real Heroes: Anson, rescuer of minors from prostitution

Anson has been working to save young girls from prostitution.

02-03-2009

This real hero teaches football with a rider

Ashok Rathod has given a new purpose to slum children.

01-03-2009

Reel hero Mohanlal presents real heroes from South

Ordinary people who have done some extraordinary work for the society.

27-02-2009

Real Heroes: Meet the saviour of Nagarhole forest

K M Chinappa, from Karnataka has continued to serve nature even after his retirement.

26-02-2009

Real Heroes: Sujatha keeps her dying son's promise

Sujatha set up the Venkatesh Muscular Dystrophy Foundation in 2005.

25-02-2009

Real hero: Savithri becomes a mother to grandmothers

Savithri Vaithi runs an old age home for women in Chennai.

24-02-2009

Real Heroes: An IITian's pursuit of a stronger India

Rangaswamy Elango is fight caste discrimination with education.

Baichung Bhutia presents Real Heroes from the East

Watch Baichung Bhutia present stories of real heroism from East India.

21-02-2009

This real hero gave up IAS to develop villages

The Bihar-Jharkhand border was a virgin experiment bowl for Deepak Saha

20-02-2009

This real hero is bent on cleaning the Ganga

Caring for the Ganga is not just a prayer for Guddu Baba.

19-02-2009

Real heroes: Meet India's youngest school principal

At 16, Babar Ali has just one passion in life, education for all.

18-02-2009

Mothering orphans despite troubles, she is a real hero

Zaputou Angami has been a mother to abandoned children from Nagaland.

17-02-2009

20-yr-old girl coaches two women sports team

Jalpana Paul comes from a Nazal-infected area of Orissa.

14-02-2009

From vendor to hospital owner, she is a real hero

Subhasini Mistry now runs a multi-specialty hospital for the poor.

20-04-2008

Real Heroes Special: Big awards night with real stars

Join Rajdeep Sardesai and Anubha Bhonsle as they take you through an evening to honour India\'s Real Heroes.

16-04-2008

Reel heroes praise the Real Heroes in Mumbai

It was an event marking the culmination of a special series on CNN-IBN.

Real Heroes honoured: A night of hope, promises

Each Real Hero - awarded Rs 5 lakh - had a story of grit and inspiration.

15-04-2008

Saluting Real Heroes: A spirit of whatever it takes

These real heroes swam against the tide to make a difference.

A real hero: Teaching kids how to win the race of life

Meet coach Bhagwan Nagarkoche. He trains kids in Nanded, Maharashtra to win the race of their lives.

14-04-2008

Three-time world champ this woman packs a punch

Boxer M C Marykom has 3 gold medals from three world championships.

speed networking event between NGOs (social organizations) and professionals working around Pune March 20, 2010

Net Impact Pune (www.nipune.org) hosts the premier event for speed networking event between NGOs (social organizations) and professionals working in around Pune area this spring “Get Started and Make an Impact”. We want you to be a part of it!

http://sisn.eventbrite.com/

If you have participated in past Net Impact Pune events, you know that our talented and diverse members are active leaders in the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) community ‐ creating new businesses, making connections, inspiring change, and working together to make a difference.

This upcoming event is designed to support these initiatives and we invite a select 10 social enterprises to present their impact creating work to the professionals. Apart from this there would be couple of deep dive talks from experienced professionals on Technology and Opportunities for Cleaner Environment and Empowering Rural Women. Professionals would gain an opportunity to learn about various social enterprises and network with them.

Join us on March 20, 2010 as we strive to connect and grow Pune’s CSR community!

Agenda:

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Net Impact Pune Introduction followed by talk on Technology and Opportunities for Cleaner Environment – Dr A D Karve, ARTI and Empowering Rural Women - Chetna Sinha, Manndeshi

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Social Enterprise Presentations Max 10 [5 minute each]

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Networking with social enterprises and peers attending the event.

Venue: Venture Center at NCL, Pune

Social Organization Presenting at the event:

www.deepgriha.org Empowerment of marginalized through capacity building

www.apalaghar.com very loving and caring home for homeless childrens

www.cydaindia.org youth development and activities

www.arti-india.org sustainable rural development through application of scientific and technological knowledge

www.rachanapune.org Integrated development for rural childrens

www.suryodaymf.com Empowering lives with micro-loans

www.manndeshi.org Empowering Rural Womens

www.solarcinema.org derives long lasting social impact by training via films

www.nirmalyatrust.org A helping hand for physically challenged

www.parisar.org Focusing on sustainable development

About Net Impact Pune:

Net Impact (www.netimpact.org), an international non‐profit organization dedicated to socially and environmentally responsible business. Net Impact Pune (www.nipune.org), a local professional chapter of Net Impact is a dynamic group of professionals working with various for-profit and non-profit organizations who use their business skills and network to create a positive impact on the Society.

About Venture Center:

Entrepreneurship Development Center (Venture Center) – a CSIR initiative – is a Section 25 company hosted by the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. Venture Center strives to nucleate and nurture technology and knowledge-based enterprises by leveraging the scientific and engineering competencies of the institutions in the Pune region in India. The Venture Center is a technology business incubator supported by the Department of Science & Technology’s National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (DST-NSTEDB). Venture Center’s focuses on technology enterprises offering products and services exploiting scientific expertise in the areas of materials, chemicals and biological sciences & engineering. For more information, visit http://www.venturecenter.co.in

The Cisco Foundation

The Cisco Foundation was established in 1997 by a gift from Cisco. We make strategic grants to programs with long-lasting impact on a local, national, and global scale. We also empower employees to give more through our matching gifts program.


During an Ashwini Charitable Trust community service day, the India Civic Council donated and installed a library system and computer network. It also held a Kids Teach Kids day in April 2008, during which children of Cisco employees taught first-generation learners at Ashwini how to use the Internet. In addition, a video essay contest invited these children to learn digital technology and create videos that were posted on YouTube.

Last September, as part of a pilot program to encourage employees in emerging countries to contribute, Cisco lowered the level at which Cisco matches employee donations in India from $50 to $12.
This helped the Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide midday meals every day for one year to 10,700 children within a 10-kilometer radius of Cisco’s Bangalore campus.
http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac227/csr2008/cisco-and-society/human-needs/cisco-civic-councils.html

Serving lunch at a local school, chief globalization officer and executive vice president of Cisco Services, Wim Elfrink, along with Cisco volunteers in Bangalore, India raise awareness about the Hunger Relief campaign which is expected to provide midday. Read More

Corporate Social Responsibility

http://www.cisco.com/web/about/citizenship/index.html

Most questions we receive are answered within our web pages. We encourage you to explore our site, both to look for an answer and to get a broader sense of our activity in the community. If you still have a question or would like to make a comment about the Cisco Foundation, please give us a call at (408) 527-3040 or complete our online contact form, below.

Email the Cisco Foundation

To send an email to the Cisco Foundation, please use our online form.

sustainable living work Sadhana Forest Auroville

Sadhana Forest started its ecological revival and sustainable living work on December 2003. The dream is to ecologically transform 70 acres of severely eroded land in Auroville, into a vibrant Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF). This forest type is found only in Southern India and Sri Lanka and provides a rare biological richness due to its very high species abundance. The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest is now close to total extinction; only 0.01% survives. This is a last moment effort to keep this very rich and beautiful Forest on earth. The main action areas are planting the TDEF, water conservation, soil erosion control, and sustainable living education.

In the last four years, or so, Sadhana Forest has created a natural living environment with a solar power generation and water pumping unit, composting toilets, plant based gray water treatment system, natural buildings for living quarters for volunteers and residents, and community cooking and eating facilities.

Sadhana Forest makes a conscious effort to involve as many young people and children in the process of ecological revival of the land, and in sustainable living. Children from the surrounding villages and from Auroville regularly take part in this mutual effort. These children do not have any memory of the ancient forest which was destroyed hundreds of years before they were born. Our aim is to allow them the opportunity to experience the original forest of their land. For many of them it is their first hands on experience in sustainable living. Interns, students and volunteers from India and around the world are working and staying free of charge in Sadhana Forest.

KEY MILESTONES (since the beginning of Sadhana Forest, nearly five years ago).

INDIGENOUS TREE PLANTING:

We planted more than 18,200 Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest plants of 150 different indigenous species, and are constantly mulching and caring for them.

Survival rate in average is between 80% - 90%. Survival rate does not fall below 70% even on the most degraded soil

Water table recharge and conservation:

More than 7 kilometers of trenches have been dug and eight earth dams have been built, altogether storing more than 30,000 cubic meters of rain water.

As a result of this work underground water level has risen by 6 meters from an average of 26 feet deep during 2003 (before Sadhana Forest was started) to an average of 6 feet during 2007 after four years of intensive water conservation work.

Outreach and Education:

A very warm friendship has developed between us and the villagers around. We work together to regenerate and protect our area. The project is very frequently visited by local people, especially kids. Every visitor is welcome and gets an explanation of the project and its value to the environment.

More than 1,500 volunteers, interns, and students from India and around the world have lived and worked in Sadhana Forest for periods of 2 weeks to 24 months. Accommodation in Sadhana Forest is always free.

Hundreds of children from the surrounding villages and from Auroville have planted TDEF trees.

Over 50 kids are regularly caring for the trees they planted on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Twenty Ecological Living workshops were given as part of the Auroville Winter Integral Studies Program. Totally more than 600 people attended these workshops:
http://www.auroville.info/WISP/17_aviram.htm

The second Van Utsav (Indian Forest Festival) was hosted in March 2006, with attendance of over 100 people from all over India:
http://www.auroville.org/journals&media/avtoday/April_2006/sadhana_forest.htm During the festival lots of relevant update environmental information and skills were exchanged between the participants.

A group of students from Plymouth State University, New Hampshire stayed in Sadhana Forest with their professor in January 2008 and their experiences are described at: http://www.plymouth.edu/magazine/2008/spring/sustainability.html

More than 4 thousand people have visited Sadhana Forest for a few hours and received a basic introduction to our work.

In June 2008, we started the Eco-Film Club. Every Friday we host 20-80 guests for a free environment film screen, tour of the project, and free vegan dinner.


Sustainable Infrastructure:

Sustainable infrastructure was installed that can host local and international volunteers.

All structures are built from local natural materials. A solar system, dry composting toilets, and a grey water system have been installed. Water infrastructure has been built that enables to water trees on 30% of the land.


Contact details:
Yorit and Aviram Rozin
Sadhana Forest
Auroville
605101
India

Email: sadhanaforest@auroville.org.in
Tel: 0091 413 267 7682/3

Email:
sadhanaforest@auroville.org.in
Website:
http://www.sadhanaforest.org/

On leaving us, one of our volunteers wrote, 'May there be many more forests to grow people."
_______________________________________________

ONLINE DONATIONS:
Please make your donation via
https://secure.aviusa.org/donations_donatenow_sadhana.php, making sure you scroll down to the Sadhana Forest project in the "Donate to" box before you complete the process.
Please, send an email to Aviram and Yorit at sadhanaforest@auroville.org.in (important, to ensure Sadhana Forest receives your donation).

Contact Aviram at sadhanaforest@auroville.org for info on courses at Sadhana Forest.

Sadhana Forest (добровольное объединение/ассоциация)
Общая информация

Краткое описание:

Ассоциация Sadhana Forest экологически возрадилась и занялась проектом Устойчивая жизнь в декабре 2003-го года. Ассоциация мечтает трансформировать 35 гектаров весьма эродированной земли, находящейся в Аровиль, в живой тропический сухой вечнозелёный лес. Такой тип леса можно найти только в южной Индии и в Шри Ланка. Он весьма биологически богат благодаря множеству различных видов проживающих в нём. Сегодня, тропический сухой вечнозелёный лес находиться под угрозой полного вымирания; от него остался лишь 0,01%. Это последняя возможность сохранить такой богатый и красивый лес на земле. Наша основная работа состоит в возрождении леса, в сохранении воды, в надзоре над выветриванием почвы, а также в просвещении населения о целях и задачах проекта Устойчивая жизнь.

За последние четыре года, Sadhana Forest создавала естественные условия окружающей среды благодаря производству солнечной энергии и устройству водоразбора, благодаря устройству для компостирования нечистот, системе водоподготовки сточных вод, строительству жилых помещений из природных материалов для добровольцев и резидентов и строительству коммунально-бытовых сооружений.

Sadhana Forest прилагает усилия по вовлечению как можно большего числа молодых людей и детей в процесс экологического возрождения земли и в проект устойчивой жизни.

Дети с соседних деревень и с Аровиль регулярно принимают участвие в этих совместных усилиях. У этих детей нет воспоминаний о старом лесе который был уничтожен сотни лет тому назад. Наша цель - это дать им возможность увидеть первоначальный лес их земли. Многие из них слышат об устойчивой жизни в первый раз. Резиденты, студенты и добровольцы из Индии и со всего мира работают и живут в Sadhana Forest бесплатно.

Ключевые события (с создания Sadhana Forest, пять лет назад).

Посадка местных деревьев:

Мы посадили 150 видов растений тропического сухого вечнозелёного леса, что представляет собой более 18 200 растений. Мы их мульчируем и ухаживаем за ними.

Коэффициент выживаемости находиться между 80% и 90%; он не падает ниже 70% даже на самой деградированной почве.

Пополнение и сохранение уровня грунтовых вод:

Были выкопаны более семи километров канав и построены восемь земляных платин, которые вместе дают возможность накапливать более 30 000 кубических метров дождевой воды.

В результате большого усилия, уровень подземных вод повысился на шесть метров и достиг глубины шести футов (1 фут = 30,48 см).

Программа поддержки и обучение:

Между нами и соседними сельскими жителями установились тёплые дружеские отношения. Мы работаем вместе с целью восстановления и предохранения нашего региона. Местные жители, в особенности дети, посещают нашу программу очень часто. Мы радушно принимаем каждого посетителя и объясняем ему важность этого проекта для окружающей среды.

Более 1 500 добровольцев, резидентов и студентов со всей индии и со всего мира проживали и работали в Sadhana Forest в течение двух недель или двух лет. Убежище в Sadhana Forest всегда бесплатно.

Раз или два раза в неделю, более 50 детей заботяться о посаженных ими деревьяx.

Двадцать семинаров на тему экологической жизни были проведены в рамках зимней студенческой программы города Аровиль. В общем, более 600 человек приняли участие в этих семинарах: http://www.auroville.info/WISP/17_aviram.htm

В марте 2006 года прошел второй фестиваль индийского леса Van Utsav которого посетили более 100 человек: http://www.auroville.org/journals&media/avtoday/Avril_2006/sadhana_forest.htm
Участники обменивались важными и актуальными сведениями и опытом.

Группа студентов из университета штата Плимут, Нью-Хэмпшир, посетили Sadhana Forest вместе с их профессором в январе 2008 года и их впечатления описанны по адресу : http://www.plymouth.edu/magazine/2008/spring/sustainability.html

Более четырёх тысяч людей посетили Sadhana Forest и ознакомились с нашей работой.

В июне 2008 года мы основали клуб эко-фильм. Каждую пятницу мы принимаем от 20 до 80 гостей на показ фильма об окружающей среде и о проекте, а также чтобы разделить с ними бесплатный вегетарианный обед.

Устойчивая инфраструктура:

Установление устойчивой инфраструктуры позволяет нам принимать местных и иностранных добровольцев.

Все строения построены из местных естественных материалов. Были установленны солнечная система и система сточных вод. Водная инфраструктура позволяет поливать 30% земли.


Контакт:

Yorit and Aviram Rozin
Sadhana Forest
Auroville
605101
India

Электронная почта: sadhanaforest@auroville.org.in
Тел: 0091 413 267 7682/3

Покидая нас, один из добровольцев написал: «это было бы хорошо, если было бы намного больше лесов, которые выращивали бы людей».

Онлайное денежное пожертвование:

Пишите пожалуйста Мартину на адрес: aviuk@auroville.org.in и пошлите копию на адрес sadhanaforest@auroville.org.in (копия важна для того чтобы Sadhana Forest была уверенна в получении пожертвований)
http://www.aviuk.org/donate.htm
Свяжитесь с Авирам по адресу http://www.aviuk.org/fundraising.htm если хотите получить информацию о курсах обучения в Sadhana Forest.

Manzil Welfare Society ,Khan Market, New Delhi

We are a non-profit organization providing a community and resources for local youth from low-income backgrounds to learn, teach, be creative, and see the world in new ways. Located in Khan Market, we serve those living in the servant quarters and one-room tenements that cohabitate this affluent area of New Delhi. www.manzil.in


In operation for over a decade, Manzil (www.manzil.in) has touched the lives of over 4000 youth from local low-income backgrounds by engaging their critical thinking skills, broadening their educational exposure, and creating opportunities for the exploration of extracurricular and creative talents. Flexibility, a family atmosphere, and the internal encouragement of leadership development are all essential ingredients of the Manzil experience.

At Manzil, students are given the opportunity to learn but also to share. In its daily academic classes, the students themselves teach each other in basic subject areas such as math, spoken English, and basic computer skills, while also expanding to nurture non-academic talents in theatre, music, and the arts. Manzil strives to make learning more interesting, process-oriented, context-sensitive, and linked with experiential understanding. In addition to classes, Manzil also arranges learning trips to enable its students to interact with different communities in the city and throughout the country. The goal of Manzil’s programs is to provide a space where education goes beyond academic learning to include a child’s motivations, aspirations, dreams, unique talents, and qualities.

Manzil was started by Mrs. Indira Gulati, a mother of a child with special needs and a teacher of 30 years, and her son Ravi, an MBA from IIM-Ahmedebad. In 1996, Ravi was approached by Hemant, a neighborhood child asking for help with his math homework. Ravi witnessed how ill-equipped the government schools had prepared the boy for understanding, and he agreed to take on the task of tutoring him from the very basics. Soon Hemant’s friends began joining him, and it didn’t take long for the Gulati home to become a destination for the local ambitious and curious youth.

Manzil’s growth has been an organic process: Manzil retains a family atmosphere and maintains sensitivity to the needs and interests of its students. While the organization currently has approximately 150 students in its programs, many of its former students come back to learn more, and to volunteer with Manzil. Recently, it has acquired two apartments in neighboring Sujan Singh Park to be used as classrooms, and many classes have shifted or are in the process of shifting.


The volunteer will be expected to help inside and outside of the classroom, creating learning opportunities of all kinds and encouraging leadership-building.


If you would like to know more about Manzil or are interested in collaborating or volunteering, please feel free to contact us at:

Manzil Welfare Society
Flat No. 13,
Khan Market,
New Delhi - 110003.
Phone: (91) (11) 2461-8513, 3292-5597,
Mobile: 93122-10396
E-mail: mail@manzil.in

The Nabadisha Program dedicated to the education of street & slum children

Nabadisha - a joint project of the Kolkata Police,Vikramshila & CRY.



This orgnaisation is an example of a unique partnership between the Calcutta Police, an NGO partner and CRY. Nabadisha, started in January 1999 by the Calcutta Police in an attempt to extend a helping hand to the city's street children Its only agenda at the time was healthcare, but a few months later it collaborated with CRY and its NGO partner resulting in non-formal education being added to the programme. Today, there are over 15 centres conducting non-formal education programmes in various police stations of the city that take in children from the 5-14 age group. The older children are sent to vocational training centres run by other organisations. So far, out of 700 children enrolled, 600 have been enrolled into mainstream government-assisted schools.
http://www.cry.org/whatwedo/storiesofhopen.html#nabadisha

Short term objective of Nabadisha
To run informal education programme inside or vicinity of the police station for street and slum children, children in conflict with law, children of the criminals, substances abused children, and main stream them in to formal government school.

Long term objective of Navadisha
Bridging the gap between Police and Community, through sensitization and orientation on J.J.Act and Child right for Police to emerge as the true ambassador of Human Right a as whole and Child Right in particular.
http://cidwestbengal.gov.in/special-units-navadisha.php

Naba Disha- Quality Education Intervention in Urban Slums


Vikramshila began work with children in the urban slums in 1999 with the Kolkata Police. This led to the creation of a project called Naba Disha which worked in alternate education centers, that aimed to mainstream the out of school children to formal schools after a period of 3-4 years and also worked with formal schools for quality improvement. The project now runs in 20 centers. It caters to about 1800 students of age groups from 3-16 and has 4-5 levels in which these children are grouped. The centers are managed by 55 trained teachers of Vikramshila who follow a child centered, holistic and innovative pedagogy weaved around the state curriculum, giving each child an enabling, nurturing environment, that allows them to learn at their own pace. Peer learning is encouraged in these centers and the pedagogy caters to 4 different sets of learners- a) pre schoolers, b) primary level for those enrolled in these centers, c) post primary level for those children who have been mainstreamed in government schools, d) secondary level to those who have moved beyond the upper primary level. The Centers follow a multilingual approach as children come from a mix of Hindu, Urdu and Bengali speaking homes. Some centers may have children speaking all three languages.

Naba Disha however, is not just an educational intervention. It seeks to touch each and every aspect of a child’s life and bring about a culture of change in urban slums and crime prone areas, by sensitizing the communities, developing their levels of understanding through education and help foster better dialogue between police and community. The centers provide much needed neutral space for the community where they can voice their needs and aspirations.

256B Prince Anwar Shah Road Kolkata 700045
West Bengal , India

Call us on
91-33-3292 6084/91-33-24229124
91-33-2422 4855/91-33-24229175

Fax: 91-33-24229176

Email: info@vikramshila.org

Blog: www.vikramshilaspeaks.blogspot.com
http://www.vikramshila.org/projects%20And%20Activities.html#Naba_Disha
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vikramshila-Kolkata/100000813930240#!/profile.php?v=info&id=100000813930240

Vikramshila Education Resource Society (VERS)
VERS is an NGO involved with Kolkata Police's street children education programme Naba Disha and runs schools for children in need of care and protection as well as for school dropouts. Of the 32 schools, VERS runs 15 centres, including the one at Kalighat police station, where the Banerjees are now volunteering.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Elderly-couple-reaches-out-to-street-kids/articleshow/5024643.cms


The Nabadisha Program is primarily dedicated to the education of street & slum children by providing them with preparatory schooling before mainstreaming them into formal schools.
Through this program, the organization attempts to bring children residing in crime prone areas into the societal mainstream by giving them the opportunity for quality education. In addition to working with children, the program is involved in awareness building and training of police officers on issues of child rights and juvenile justice.
http://vitalforchildren.org/projects/nabadisha/

Lha Charitable Trust Dharamsala

Lha offers different volunteer options, we welcome drop-in volunteers with no previous communication or planning and other options for those wanting to plan ahead and receive supported services before arrival in India, upon arrival and during their stay in Dharamsala. A wide array of meaningful volunteer opportunities is available for both skilled and unskilled individuals. Most volunteers work directly with Lha, while others are placed throughout the community. Some of the areas of ongoing need are the following:

Teachers for English, Chinese, and French

Tutors

Office Assistant

Class Administrator

Fundraising professional

Project professional

Computer professional

Web designer

Graphic designer

Photographer

Medical professional

Massage therapy instructor

Yoga instructor

Creative writers & journalists

Human rights and legal professionals
If you want to volunteer we can most often fit your skills to a need. Thanks for your interest and your time. If you are trained with other specific skills we will try to provide avenues to use your expertise to benefit others
If you are planning to just drop in then our office is located on Temple Road in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. (Just across from State bank of India). Our volunteer reception is open from 9-5 Monday – Friday
For those of you that would like to do some preliminary planning, here are a few options offered by Lha and the costs of those services. * note – all profits received for services go directly into the social service programs supported by Lha.
1) Orientation Only – This option is for those of you making your way to Dharamsala on your own. The fee is $110.US and includes, upon arrival, a tour of the town ( accommodation options, safe restaurants, laundry service, temples and other sites of interest…) cultural awareness preparedness and volunteer placement services . Our volunteer coordinator will meet you upon arrival help you find accommodation then accompany you to the Lha volunteer coordination office.


2) Reception and Orientation - This option is for those of you that would like to have your travel taken care of once you arrive in Delhi. The fee is $220. This will include airport pick up and escort service to an air-conditioned hotel, one night hotel stay and bus transport to Dharamsala. Our volunteer coordinator will be on-call for your questions while in Delhi and will be waiting to greet you for orientation once you arrive in Dharamsala.

3) Cultural Immersion - This is for those of you that want to get the very most out of your experience! This fee is $345. The same Orientation and Reception applies with these added opportunities. For your first week in Dharamsala you will be paired with a Mutual Learning Partner. This partner will be one of the young adult Tibetan Refugees that is an English language student in Lha’s language school. Each morning your Tibetan partner will meet you from 9AM to Noon. During this time together you will learn about the community, about the life of a young Tibetan Refugee and create a friendship that will last throughout your time in Dharamsala and hopefully long afterward. During this time with your partner we would hope that you would assist them with their current English lessons and Basic English conversation skills. Also included in this option is a Tibetan Massage, a Tibetan Cooking Class and 5 individual lessons in basic Tibetan Language. If you are interested in volunteering, you must fill out a volunteer application at volunteer.application@lhasocialwork.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Feel free to contact us for more information about volunteer opportunities and services at volunteercoordinator@lhasocialwork.org

If you have any enquires, or would simply like to know more about Lha , then please don't hesitate to contact our friendly staff. We are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to saturday. If you are already in McLeod Ganj, or you are planning to visit at any time, then please feel free to drop in and see us.

Address:
Lha office
Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
Dharamsala-176219
Distt. Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
INDIA

Office Phone: 0091-1892-220992

Email: office@lhasocialwork.org

For volunteer opportunities, please contact us on this email:

volunteercoordinator@lhasocialwork.org

http://www.lhasocialwork.org/
Echoes from Dharamsala