Keep No child Hungry

Yashika is 11 years old and studying 6th standard at the Bharathi Primary School of Reddypatti. Her family resides in the Adi Dravidar colony. Her father after becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and has been undergoing the Anti Retro Viral Therapy for the last six years. She too is under ART regimen for the last one year. Yashika belongs to the community of Schedule caste which is considered the lowest and untouchables in the Hindu caste hierarchy.The exclusion of the community and individuals belonging the considered to be low is not very rigid in the urban centres. But in the rural belts like the region where Yashika's family reside, the rigidity on caste system is still very much prevalent. And that is the reason why families of Scheduled castes like that of Yashika's can only live in the secluded settlements located faraway from the village proper. When already being forced to be in a socially excluded life deprived of many rights, living with HIV/AIDS is terribly added burden.Under the circumstances, the Nutrition Support for a month provided to Yashika will be considered as a Panacea by her parents.

Mission: Keep No Child Hungry

Swadhar's Founder Meenakshi Apte was a professor and HOD of Family & Child Welfare in TISS. She witnessed many cases of domestic violence against women. She feels that ignorance amongst women is the main cause of their suffering so in order to have someplace where they can be guided, counseled and made aware of their rights, she and other like-minded women came together and Swadhar was started. Swadhar's mission is to provide services like education, training, guidance, and counseling to underprivileged women and children in order to ensure the protection of their rights, self-reliance, and empowerment.They work towards empowering women and girls through counseling, awareness & education. The organization also conducts reading and overall development classes for children from underprivileged families. Their ray of hope programs works with children who are HIV infected or children whose parents are infected. Groceries, medicines, and nutrition are provided to them. In 2015, Sanjivani Hingne was awarded the VatsalyaPuraskar by the Akhil Brahmin MadhyavartiSanstha Rehabilitation of children of sex workers. In 2016, Nayana Deshmukh was awarded the Excellence in work by the Lokmanyanagar senior citizens club and the Teachers day award by the Lions Club Care & protection of Children.