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Lucy’s Perspective

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We also visited Childline during our time at Snehayala.

Much like its British equivalent, Childline offers children someone to talk to and someone to help them in a time of need, as well as offering a point of contact for people who know of a child at risk. It also does night and day runs which search bus stops, train stations and other public areas for children who may be looking for somewhere to shelter or to find protection.

The Ahmednagar office has established contacts at food stalls and stores that agree to call Childline if they suspect a child is at risk. They even speak regularly to sex-workers who agree to contact Snehalaya if someone underage is operating in the area.

They can receive over 300 calls a day and have gained the title of best managed office of the 499 child line offices in the country. In 2003 they exposed a pedophile ring which exposed 20 high profile figures and brought them to justice, serving them with double life sentences.

With volunteers taking on many of these roles and the service being available 24/7 this project offers one way children can make their way to Snehalaya.

During our time with Snehalaya we experienced a night search where we followed the normal route around Ahmednagar looking for victims that needed their help. A supportive and welcoming group of workers guided us, proudly introducing us to the many committed volunteers they have. The risks involved in such searches are apparent with the locations often being unlit. Upon visiting the police station we were to witness a family reporting the kidnapping and trafficking of their children, distressing evidence of the issues Snehelaya deals with.

The enthusiasm and knowledge of those we met was clear. One worker has dropped a potential life of crime to join the incredible team at Childline. Similarly one of the lovely women at the office, in typical Indian generosity helped us enjoy an incredible afternoon Sari shopping.  

Thank you Childline!

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I could say this about all of Snehalaya's work, but Anamprem was a truly wonderful place to visit. Defining themselves as a 'guiding light for the blind, handicapped, deaf and people with special needs,’ they really do provide so much support and positive encouragement in these people's lives in various ways. Their activities range right from the basics like free meals, medicine and legal aid, to matchmaking matrimonial services, an orchestra and a Braille magazine. 

In a place where people with special needs have historically been marginalised, abandoned, and poorly treated, Anamprem is making the world of difference, not only to individual lives but also to social outlook. When we visited the project, we were sat down and offered drinks (if it's not obvious by now, Indian people are extremely hospitable and you can guarantee an offer of chai wherever you go, whatever time of day or night!). It was wonderful to learn some Marathi sign language, and to speak with the beneficiaries and see first-hand how much this project has changed their lives for the better.

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On one particular day we were invited to attend the inauguration of Radio Nagar, a ceremony that was also to celebrate the adoption of two babies from Snehankur. It took places just 15 minutes away from Snehalaya in a road just off the main strip of the highway. Outside there was tethered two enormous cows, a rather alien view from our western perspectives but one that we still enjoyed two weeks in. The courtyard had been beautifully cleaned in the last 24 hours when it had accommodated the bustle of building activity as numerous Indian men rushed to complete the project.

Radio Nagar has undergone a transformation that gives it three brand new studios and room for growth. Radio has historically been crucial in communication and community identity and this station is no different. It is the first community radio station in Ahmednagar and now has 450,000 listeners within a 25km radius. It focuses on education, community information and celebrating local talent, vital aspects of Snehalaya’s work. The next project in the works is funding a bus that can work on outreach projects to teach children about radio, getting them enthusiastic about Ahmednagar.

The ceremony also played host to a national celeb, a Marathi singer. In typical Indian fashion we were delivered beautifully sweet coffee (our first taste of caffeine in a few days) and some delicious and piping hot samosas, which are imprinted on my mind and which I tried to source in the coming days.

All the while above us two babies were being prepped for their new homes. Snehankur is a small room just across the courtyard. It houses around 16 babies who were either handed in, orphaned or abandoned by victims of rape, unmarried mothers and also sometimes because the family cannot afford to host another girl.  The children lie in hanging bunkbeds, nestled among blankets and nursed by a number of incredible committed Indian women. Two toddlers totter around, so smily and friendly for their young age, fascinated by our sunglasses. Since 2004 this project has helped save the lives of over 500 babies. As we cooed at the babies in their new mothers’ arms a gentleman next to me told me the child’s name meant ‘the first rays of sunrise.’

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Snehalaya is this cauldron of utilitarian projects all organically created to serve the needs of the individuals involved.

Since my return from Ahmednagar last week the incredibility of this NGO has only grown in my mind. It helps so many good natured, innocent and friendly people, changing the lives of the beneficiaries and dare I say the volunteers too. From the child who now aspire to be doctors rather than having his future predestined for him. The woman, unable to have children herself, who was able to adopt a vulnerable child abandoned at birth. The HIV+ gentleman who now has somewhere safe and inclusive to live thanks to Himmatgram. And the ex-sex worker who now helps to educate her former colleagues on staying safe.

This can all sound pretty utopian when read all together. In the two weeks we spent there we barely scratched the surface of what this charity does but in the next few posts we aim to explain some of experiences.

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Interview with Nick Cox.

Armed only with a lot of good will and an iphone (that he didn’t know how to turn on) Nick travelled to rural India to share stories from an award-winning non-profit fighting AIDS and supporting women and children affected by the sex industry with rescue, rights and rehabilitation services. 

He only meant to stay a year and it's looking more like two now. Posting video stories for the charity on social media, Nick wants to let people know the huge power of small actions they can make for charities everywhere, and here, he gives his message on why giving back is so rewarding. 

If you are wondering what you do in 2017 you will be inspired to action by this everyday hero.

For more information visit www.snehalaya.org or visit us on fb | t @snehalaya

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Beckett volunteering team leader Grace shares her thoughts after their first week at Snehalaya...

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Beckett volunteers share their first impressions of our Rehab Center...

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Leeds Beckett voluteers ride the rails with Childline...

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Our 2016 Leeds Beckett volunteer, Lewis talks us though taking a class in one of our slum schools...

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To coincide with pride celebrations in their home town, our 2016 Leeds Beckett University volunteers brought a taste of the celebrations to Ahmednagar...

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"Didi, please don't go" - her words still linger in my ears and heart! My mobile is full of her selfies! That's the memory I packed when I left Snehalaya. The children are lovely, cared for and they feel it's their home. That is an indelible memory.  Since I spent more time at the Head Office - this memory is crystal clear, and it does not mean that the other projects have taken a back seat. Be it the Pride celebration, the adoption centre, Radio Nagar, SMIILE, Short and Long-term Rehab. Centres - all make a difference in the lives of many! Here she is!

Ranjini Victor, Communications & Fundraising professional

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Ilesha and some of the children she helped teach.

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Ilesha Garg, IT student from Mumbai

My brother had spent time volunteering at Snehalaya and I wanted to visit too, so I came to Ahmednagar in June where for two weeks I was enraptured by the philanthropic work that the organisation has been doing since 1989. Right from supporting women in distress, children from less fortunate backgrounds, forsaken HIV affected children and the LGBT community to the women in the red light areas, the doors of Snehalaya are open for all. Along with providing basic amenities like food, shelter, clothing, medical aid and education, Snehalaya also provides vocational training to individuals in an attempt to help rehabilitate them after the grueling and testing times that they have seen.

Situated on the outskirts of Ahmednagar, the campus and Head Office is beautiful and full of life. It encompasses a girls’ hostel, boys’ hostel, separate dorms for HIV positive children, a hospital (where anyone suffering from HIV and opportunistic infections such as TB can avail treatment free of cost), a prayer hall, a kitchen and mess, staff quarters, rooms for guests and volunteers and a Rehab Centre. Besides these it also boasts an Earth Studio where children and women craft beautiful ornamental articles. Earth Studio’s elaborate and arresting Ganesha idols, made by children, are sold to the last piece as soon as a batch is completed.

Besides these on campus facilities and projects, Snehalaya also has a plethora of projects situated inside the city and in nearby villages. Childline, an ISO certified body, helps rescue children and women who are in need of help, the IT Centre of Hope, which teaches individuals basic computing skills and AutoCAD; Snehankur Adoption Centre, which helps rehabilitate unwed mothers, forsaken children and victims of rape, Bhalbhavan which aims to develop women and children in eight of Ahmednagar’s slums, are some of the projects, to name a few.

During the fortnight that I stayed here, I worked in Snehalaya English Medium School (SEMS) in the mornings and helped with office work in the afternoons. SEMS is a special kind of school in itself. Catering to students coming from underprivileged backgrounds from surrounding slum areas, HIV positive children and pupils primarily from Snehalaya’s Rehabilitation Centre, the education system is different from the conventional. I mainly taught maths and was able to join in with other classes. Being there over two weeks I was able to make several observations which I was able to write up into a report with recommendations for improvement which was submitted to Snehalaya before I left. Being able to share my feedback in a practical way made my experience even more valuable.

The Rehab Centre in the MIDC area provides peace and security to many who knew neither of them before they arrived here.  Snehlaya’s beneficiaries are all brought to this shelter for safety, medical attention, enrolment and sanctuary.  For many, this long-term care project is the first place they understand as home. The focus is laid on the individuals’ health through nutrition and HIV treatment to greatly increase their chances of survival. As many of the individuals as possible are encouraged to complete professional training and obtain higher education.  Many successfully complete their training and integrate as respected members of society.

On the fifth day of my stay, I was also fortunate to attend a plantation drive in one of the villages, Mehekari situated on the opposite end of Ahmednagar. Mehekri is beautiful, untouched by the hullabaloo of the city, peacefully situated 25 odd km away from the hustle and bustle. Snehalaya planted over 120 saplings of five different species on a previously barren landscape in the village.

The plantation was carried out by me and two other volunteers and several other workers from Snehalaya. It barely took us all two hours to arrange, settle and water the saplings. We then settled around Snehalaya founder, Dr Girish Kulkarni to listen to some enhancing advice that he had for us over some tea and poha. I fall short of words to describe the wonderful man who created Snehalaya. The entire event was immensely gratifying, one which is tough to experience in a city like Mumbai where I am from.

I am thankful to have come to stay at Snehalaya. The memories I carry back are invaluable to me and I would describe my experience as being both rewarding and enriching. I sincerely encourage more people to join the noble cause that Snehalaya has taken up and am ambitious to return here again in the future.

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Hi, I’m Nick and a trustee of Snehalaya UK, I’m spending a year at our Indian Head Office to ‘Do whatever is most needed’.

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I came to Snehalaya last September and it feels like I arrived yesterday. Time does a funny thing in India, things take a little longer to get done but it goes bloody fast when you’re having fun.

This is my third time here, my first was to deliver funds raised on behalf of my friends and family, I was shown around the various projects and many of them seemed to reflect my own life experiences in a way that I had an immediate empathy for Snehalaya’s beneficiaries. On that first visit I pondered how else I may be able to help this incredible organisation without having to keep tapping my loved ones for cash.

I had the idea to make a film they could use for their presentation and promotion purposes. I was able to execute this with a few favours from pals I used to work with and also from a film maker from the USA called Tiffany Albright.

It was an exciting time putting it all together and I’m happy to say has been of benefit to Snehalaya.

While we were filming here I began to connect with all that reside here and I had that rarest of feelings (for me), of being in the right place, at the right time and doing the right thing. I then thought hard, how else I may help? It was then that I struck upon the idea of volunteering here. At first I thought for a few months but then I decided to come here for a year as this would give me the luxury of continuity.

I began making short films on an iPhone that had been donated to me for my work here. You can check them out on Snehalaya’s YouTube channel.

From a fairly shaky start, I’ve made steady progress with them as I’ve gained more confidence making them and I’m really happy to report that these seem to be benefiting Snehalaya too.

It’s a great tool to connect people to Snehalaya by either thanking them for donations or by simply keeping them informed on the progress of certain projects.

I don’t think Speilberg has anything to worry about but I’m sure this little unexpected detour into film making has a long way to go.

I would liken living in Snehalaya to that of dwelling in a small village with all the ups and downs that go along with it. Getting to know everyone is a privilege and it’s such an upbeat place to stay that I have to keep reminding myself why the women and kids are here.

At best these are the nameless faces that you see begging on the streets and railways stations that you choose either to acknowledge or ignore. At worst they are the ones you don’t see, kept behind closed doors abused, beaten, trafficked, and prostituted.

They all have names and big voices, their large personalities often disguising their harrowing histories. I’m in such an honoured position getting to know these people whom without Snehalaya’s intervention you are left to wonder what their fate maybe?

Someone asked me the other day if there’s anything I miss?

The harsh truth is no.

If I wasn’t so busy it might be a different story but the only remote thing I think about sometimes is Marmite! Sorry Auntie, but it is.

A great opportunity to take a postgraduate course in management development has presented itself to me, which I immediately said yes to. It’s for 18 months so it looks like I’m going to be here a little longer. Lucky me!

I’m very excited it’s at the prestigious S.P Jain Institute of Management & Research in Mumbai. I’ll be in the company of other like-minded people who are wanting to develop and share ideas for the advancement of their particular NGO.

Life has taken me down some unexpected and surprising paths since the beginning of my association with Snehalaya, it looks like I’m about to go down another one.