Bangalore

Two ladies from the US, living in India, connect on a social networking website and start a not-for-profit organization aimed at improving lives of children with special needs through yoga. Read about the journey of Sowmya Ayyar and Madeleine Sears, the instrumental forces behind Prafull Oorja.

How often have we looked outside a train and seen scores of poor and homeless children loitering around the platform? How many times have we wondered what happens to them, where are their families, who takes care of them, do they study, etc? Read about an organization that does more than just wonder!

From a long walk in Cubbon Park to hundreds of cafes, from trails of trees everywhere to the amazing weather, you can't help falling in love with the city.

Read how Christel House India, a non-profit organization, is paving the way for a better India. The concept that took birth in Mexico is aiding several under-privileged and under-nourished children in their journey towards self-sustainability, helping them rise from the slums of Bangalore.

Read about a one-of-a-kind residential program in Bangalore that aims at equipping individuals from the for-profit as well as non-profit sector with essential tools in dealing with conflict in a constructive and creative manner.

Ananya was a belief that was born out of inclusiveness; it was the seed that didn’t lay its foundation on conventional teaching but on life skills, on humane interaction and on true meaningful learning. Read about their unique approach to teaching those whom nobody else does!

Many a times, the physically and intellectually challenged get some help and guidance when they are children, but once they reach a certain age and are asked to leave the schools, they find themselves on their own with no life skills and no direction. This is where DIYA comes in - to lend a helping hand to differently-abled adults and ensure that they live a life of dignity.

Meet Mrs. Lily Samuel who took up the cause of leprosy eradication in a small town on the outskirts of Bangalore 25 years ago, and has changed the entire outlook of the area by providing immense support to lepers, women, underprivileged children and all other rural folk. Let us now provide support to her and her organization by participating in a carnival they are having for the children this Sunday!

An advertising professional with more than 20 years of experience in the field, Rehana Mohammed Shakir gave up a lucrative career to indulge in her passion - cats! Now, with an ensemble of 14 beautiful Persian cats, she runs a 'Cat Pet Therapy Centre' in Bangalore, helping children develop and discover their emotional side. Read here as the 'Cat Lady' lets the cat out of the bag on the secret to her happiness!

Literacy rate in India might be cited at around 74% (in 2011), but the ground reality is that even among the so-called educated youth, 'employability' remains a key challenge. The main reasons behind this are a lack of communications and other finer skills. This is an important gap that needs to be bridged, and we bring to you an organization in Bangalore committed to doing this from the past several years, with great success.