Need your support for The National Youth Integration Camp organised at historical Fort of Ahmednagar

Dear friends,

        Mahatma Gandhi still lives through the lives of many dedicated soldiers of peace, such as, one of the most popular and dynamic youth leaders, Dr. S. N. Subbarao, a fellow of Gandhi Peace Foundation and founder of National Youth Project. He inspires and
lifts up the spirit of youth for building a new society based on Love, Peace, Harmony and Social Justice. You must be aware of his constructive work at the grassroots level. At the age of 83 Dr. Subbarao works with zeal that could be enviable to youths.
               National Youth Project & Snehalaya are jointly organizing a National Youth Integration Camp to be held at historical place Fort of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra from 25^th  Feb. to 2^nd  Mar. 2012 in the great leadership of Dr. S. N. Subbarao . Around 500 youths from all over the country will participate in the camp. To extend the message of National Integration, To inculcate the importance of bread labour and collective discipline in the youths are key objectives of this camp.
              This camp has been organized at historical Fort of Ahmednager which was built by Malik Shah Ahmed (after whom the city of Ahmednagar is named) in 1427 CE. After Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803, The Fort was used by the British Raj as a prison and this was where Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, Sardar Patel and other National leaders were jailed for almost three years after they passed the Quit India Resolution.
            India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had written world famous book 'Discovery Of India' in this fort. This fort is almost in ruins now. It needs to be renovated not only for attracting the tourists but also for inspiring the youths of India. Youth from
all corners of India  wish to contribute to the renovation by doing Shramadan in the fort.
          The organized camp doesn't get any grant from the government. Like-minded friends, organizations, social workers have to come together to bear the expenses of the camp. May we request you to extend your generous help for this cause of great national importance? You can support us by following ways….
1. Kindly send your cheque or DD in favor of  NATIONAL YOUTH PROJECT, Ahmednagar Unit on following address:
C/O Snehalay Bhavan, Opp. Chitra Theater, Near Gandhi Maidan, Ahmednagar-414001 (M.S.) India.
2. You can give us your valuable time, skill by working as a volunteer also.  

For more details call on 9011026474 / 9850128678 .

JODO BHARAT!

Snehalaya organised lectures on vaious issues

Snehalaya's Vidyarthi Sahayak Samiti. (VSS) received grand responce to it's series of lecture at Shrigonde, a town about 60  kms away from Ahmednagar.  More than 800 youths have attended these lectures. Many of them have shown interest in the work of VSS and joined hands.


Snehalay  runs a Vidyarthi Sahayak Samiti in association of Mahamanav Baba Amte Sansthat Shrigonde town  for 20 students from poor families. Anant Zende, our volunteer stays there and looks after the activities.


Mumbai based Mr.Girish Nilkanth and Mrs.Sarika Girish Kulkarni have donated their old styled big house ( Kulkarni Wada) in Shrigonde to Snehalaya for the cause.
Shrigonde is a tehsil place and growing day by day with 3 senior, 6 junior colleges, technical-vocational trade activities.  But lacking behind in cultural and social activities.  Hence VSS orgnised the event and decided to continue it for reaching to masses to get human and other resources.


Anil Gawade spoke on Child Rights and role of Civil Society, Adv. Shyam Asawa delivered a lecture on Need of Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna's Movement, Prof.Kadam spoke on simple methods of Meditation and Yoga with experiments while Dr.Girish Kulkarni spoke on' Experiments of Social Change 'Quoting the details of the work of Parivar Kendra, SHM (Kolkata), BNGVN, Hivare Bazar, MAHAN, Helpers of handicapped etc.

The series will be conclude on 5th Jan with a lecture by Hon. Krishna Prakash, District Police Chief on 'Role of Police, Civil society and Media in curbing Crime'
Such activities gives us new volunteers, experience of orgnising the small events, inspiring our own inmate-students ,encouraging our future donors and boosting  volunteers - supporters at local level.VSS found sponcer for everything and orgnised the programme in Zero budget.Credit goes to Anant Zende and his 'TEAM VSS' runs with NO EMPLOYEE.


Anant Zende is working as a peon in a private school .He spent his past earnings in renovation of the Kulkarni Wada for VSS.  presently he looks after VSS  voluntarily. Students are preparing their food in rotation.The committment of giving 1 day of the week for society is the only condition Anant has kept for students in VSS.Mr.Ramakant Tamboli,senior trustee (76 yrs.)of Snehalaya gives daily guidence to Anant and VSS at Shrigonde. Mr.Tamboli worked with Late Achutrao Apte,founder of V.S.S.,Pune  more than 29 yrs.

“Snehalaya honors the dedicated social workers with various awards”

Ahmednagar, 18^th December, 2011 

The several selfless grass-root social workers were honored with various  awards today. Each award was including Rs. 11 thousand and  scroll of honor.  This was the 11^th year of the award ceremony, which began with a fund donated by veteran Social worker Mr. Madhusudan alias Mama Kaundinya 10 years before. Hon. Mama Kaundinya has given his life earning as a donation to Snehalaya. We deposited this contribution and started motivating the people who are doing extra ordinary work for betterment of society through these awards.

This programme was held at Snehalaya’s Rehab. Center at M.I.D.C. more than 950 people including well wishers, past students of Snehalaya, volunteers, donors and people from all walks of life were present for the programme. Hon. Dr. Prakash Ambedkar (Former member of Rajyasabha and grandson of Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar) was chief guest as well as  Hon. Udaydada Lad (Founder of U.R.L. Foundation, Mumbai) presided the programme, Mrs. Sheela Shinde (Mayor of Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation), Mrs. Anita Rathod (Speaker of Standing committee, Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation), Mr. Sharadji Mutha and Mr. Milind Kulkarni ( Secretary, Snehalaya) were also present for the programme.

Hon. Prakash Ambedkar, Mr. Udayji Lad and Mr. Sharad Mutha honored the selected social workers on behalf of Snehalaya. Mr. Devendra Fadanvis (MLA, Nagpur) expressed his feeling with gratitude on behalf of all the awardees. He said that, they all have received grate honor and always remember it. The people of Maharashtra state has grate expectations from him and he always strive to fulfill as member of Vidhansabha.

Dr. Prakash Ambedkar told in his speech that the current circumstance shows that India is going through serious social situation. It is not because of increase in the numbers of bad people, but it is only because of ‘silence’ (inactive and insensible) of good people. Hence, everyone should resist and raise voices against the anti-social activities and one day ‘India’ will gain  it’s old glory again.

Mr. Udayji Lad declared the contribution of Rs. 1 Lakh to Snehalaya by his URL Foundation.

          The following people were honored:

Name of awardee	Title of the award	Social contribution of the awardee
Mrs. Shubha Bennurwar (Social Development Officer, BMCC, Mumbai)	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Samaj Parivartan Award’	Overall empowerment of 60000 poor, dalit, working woman and there families through Self help Groups.
Mr. Santosh Garje (Sahara Anathalay,Shivaji Nagar, Gevrai, Dist. Beed)	Mahamanav Baba Amate manavata Award	Rehabilitation of orphans and HIV+ve children.
Adv. Shyam Asava (Trusty – Bhrashtachar Virodhi jan andolan)	Loknayak Anna Hajare Jansangharsh Award	Successful fight against sand mafia and great contribution in the fight of Loknayak Anna Hajare’s battle against corruption.
Hon. MLA. Devendra Fadanvis (Nagpur)	Prof. Madhu Dandavate kartavyashil lokpratinidhi Award	Being a voice of common man in State Assembly and fighting for the rights of the common people in the state.
Mrs. Lata Joshi (Anuj Foundation, Pune)	Karmayogini Vijayatai Lavate jivangourav Award	Rehabilitation of more than four thousand infants through her organization Bharatiy Samajseva Kendra and Anuj through adoption.
Smt. Jayashri Shinde (Balbhavan Project, Snehalay, Gandhi maidan, Ahmednagar)	Sv. Govardhandasji Gujar aadarsh karykarta Award	Changing lives of 2000 children in various slums in Ahmednagar city.
Mr. Shyam Pimpalkhare	Svatantrasenani Manohar Devachkke karyakarta Award	Creative and active Volunteer of Snehalaya shouldered various responsibilities of Snehalaya, Pune. Active in the programme being conducted for senior citizens in Pune.
Mr. Jayprakash Dashputre	Svatantrasenani Achutrao Patvardhan sevavrati Award	Participation in various social activities being conducted by various organizations in Pune.
Mrs. Jayatai Jogdand (Snehalalya Parivartan Sankul, Shevgaon, Ahmednagar.)	Late Mrs. Latabai Pawar jivangourav Award	Concrete contribution in changing lives of women in prostitution and there children in Shevgoan.

World AIDS Day

Precious Donation

Snehalaya is having few big donors who are supporting few projects of Snehalaya but we have large band of small donors building and enlarging the social support for the cause. 

Since inception, Snehalaya is regularly getting the small donations by the prostitutes.  Most of them are setting aside 1 rupee or 2 rupees behind every customer.  They used to insist us to use this amount for education of the children sheltered in Snehalaya and for the treatment of the HIV positive women in prostitution.  Even today this tradition is continued, some prostitutes have actually left the prostitution on inspiration by Snehalaya because Snehalaya all the time give them pledge that, though they are prostitute today, will not die as a prostitute and try to change their own life. 

Some of our sisters not only left the prostitution but also contributed their life earning to ‘their’ Snehalaya.  The contribution of Mrs. Abeda humbled everyone and proved intense gratitude and sensitivity towards the inmates of Snehalaya.   

Mrs. Abed Yekin Shaikh, the former prostitute has shown her faith in Snehalaya and donated two rooms of 500 sq. feet (Survey no. 67, nr. Santoshi Mata Temple, Katraj, Pune) for the new project in Pune at Katraj.  Mrs. Abeda is connected with Snehalaya since long time.  She is the witness of the selfless humanitarian work being done by Snehalaya.  She wished to donate the piece of land to Snehalaya in Katraj.  There are several colonies of migrant laborers and economically poor people etc.  It is such a place where the intervention in child rights and child protection is needed.  Mrs. Abeda recognized it and decided to donate the land to Snehalaya to start the project for the children.   

It is the grate and precious donation ever we have received because there is a passion and faith behind it.  Mrs. Abeda believes that she has tried to pay back to Snehalaya whatever she has got till today. 

Helping Hand of Daily Loksatta

Daily Loksatta had taken the initiative to mediate the potential donors, philanthropists and the dedicated social organizations in Maharashtra through publishing the innovations and dedicated work of the various organizations for the underprivileged human beings during Ganesh Festival under the title ‘Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada’. 

Daily Loksatta also included Snehalaya and given wide publicity in Maharashtra State, appealing for the donations on the occasion of Ganesh Festival.   The people from all over Maharashtra were enquiring about Snehalaya and wiling to extend the support through various ways e.g. volunteering, donating in kind or cash etc.  Many people came and visited Snehalaya after the articles appeared in the newspaper. Loksatta converted their district offices in the donation collection centers and shouldered the responsibility to the editor to collect the cheques of the donations. 

Loksatta organized a programme on 19.10.2011 at Express Tower, Nariman Point, Mumbai to distribute the collected donations to the respective organizations.  Mr. Devasthali, Chairman of Larson and Tubro (L&T) was the chief guest of the programme.  Mr. Girish Kuber, Chief Editor, Loksatta interviewed the representatives of organizations as well as the other people who were participated in the programme asked the questions to them.     

Mr. Milind Kulkarni, Secrerary and Mrs. Jaya Jogdand accepted the donation Rs. 192000 by the hands of Mr. Devasthali.  Mrs. Jaya Jogdand expressed gratitude on behalf of Snehalaya.    

Inauguration of Kalpak Balbhavan

We all are well aware about the problems in slums.  Snehalaya has started working with the slum children since last 8 years through its Balbhavan project, currently 1300 children (child beggars, child labors, rag pickers, children in conflict with law, school drop-outs etc.) are attending Balbahvan. 

Balbhavan has recently conducted survey to know the need of the similar type of work in various slums and identified two major slums.

On 24^th, October 2011, sixth branch of Balbhavan project has been started in Sarjepura slum.  The local community has shown the interest to involve in the activity.  First time, the local people organized the whole programme.  The eminent personalities like Mr. Arif Shaikh local Corporater, Dr. Vijay Patil, Dr. Mahesh and Dr. Anshu Muley, Mr. Nirmal Gandhi and Dr. Suhas Ghule were present for the programme.  They appreciated the efforts of Bahlbhavan project and assured to extend all sort of assistance to Balbhavan.    

The representative of the local community gave the vote of thanks to the guests.   The new Balbhavan has been named as ‘Kalpak Balbhavan’.       

Inauguration of Parivartan Sankul at Shevgaon

Snehalaya has started the Parivatan Kendras in all the major red light areas of Ahmednagar district.  Shivnagar in Shevgaon is one of the potential red light areas to work with.  More than 250 women in prostitution are living in Shivnagar red light area.  Snehalaya is working in Shivnagar since last 10 years.  The work began with the children in the red light area.  Then we have started STI clinic, Counseling center, DOTS Center, anti-trafficking center, pre-primary school in the rented house. 

Caring Friends, Mumbai supported Snehalaya to build our own center on 4000 sq. feet piece of land.  Now the well equipped clinic, Drop-In-Center, counseling Center, vocational training center etc. is ready to serve the beneficiaries. 

The inauguration ceremony was held on 27^th, October 2011 in the presence of Ms. Florence Koenderink from Holland, Mr. Arun Lande, President of Shevgaon Panchayat Samiti, Dr. Laddha, Dr. Meghatai Kambale, Mr. Suvalal Shingavi and Dr. Girish Kulkarni.  400 women in prostitution from all over district were present for the programme.  

Snehalaya celebrated India's 65th Indepndance Day .

Ahmednagar, 15th August 2011

Snehalaya's children celebrated Independence day at the Rehabilitation Centre. Prof. Makarand Kher began the celebrations by hoisting the national flag. He addressed the students and talked about sacrifice of several freedom fighters, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, etc.

Children also gave speeches in honor of our freedom figthers. City Yoga students performed yoga to patriotic songs. Mr. Dagdu Lomte (Volunteer) performed 'Lahu Ka Rang EkHai' song. Foreign volunteers Florence Koenderink (Holland), Bonny Astor (England), Sophia Browne (England) also participated.

Mr. and Mrs. Deshpande , Mr and Mrs. Karmarkar, Makarand Vaidya, Milind Kulkarni (Secretary), Mr. Girish Kulkarni (Director) were presented during the flag hoisting.

Mr. Suvalalji Shingvi (President) gave a vote of thanks. Mr. Vilas Zhalte hosted the ceremony.

In the evening, the common birthday of Snehalaya’s children was celebrated at Anand Mela, a Fun Fair. The program involved a dance competition, an enactment of the Independence movement, and songs performed by the children. Mr. Krusnaprakash (Supt. of Police) was present for the program and praised the children for their efforts. Everyone wished good health and long life to the children.