Blog
Our blog is the pulse of our responses to the experiences that the Snehadhara family shares together. From joy and laughter, tears and distress, adventures and magical moments, celebrations and reflection, introspection and humour – you will find much of our lives recorded here!
Beyond the Celebration: Disability Day as a Call to Action
Every year, December 3rd marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day dedicated to highlighting the rights, dignity, and well-being of individuals with disabilities. While this day is crucial for raising awareness and driving conversations, it’s...
Building Bridges to Independence: A Dialogue on Inclusion, Diversity, and Assisted Living
Every family with a neurodiverse member faces an inevitable and often unspoken question: “What happens when we are no longer here?” This concern transcends personal boundaries, highlighting a universal truth—building independence for neurodiverse individuals is not...
Enhancing Airport Accessibility for Autism: The Power of Small Steps
Corfu Island’s airport has recently gained attention for its autism awareness initiative, highlighting the growing need for airports to become more inclusive for individuals with autism. Airports can be overwhelming due to sensory overload—bright lights, noise, and large crowds. Simple visual aids, such as autism awareness posters, can help educate staff and passengers, fostering understanding, patience, and support.
Building Truly Resilient Systems: Integrating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) into Disaster Resilience
In today’s world, where natural and human-made disasters are increasingly frequent and severe, the concept of resilience is more critical than ever. But what does it truly mean to be resilient? This question has guided our recent work with the CDRI Secretariat, where we’ve been examining the penetration points for GEDSI in the project and program lifecycle. Two key insights have emerged: what we consider “truly resilient,” and that “markers are where the misery lies.”
The Radicalisation of Indifference
I’m back in Manipur after a year, and it feels as though time has stood still. What was a year ago remains unchanged. People still live in relief camps, displaced from their homes, with children and women carrying unanswered questions on their faces. Homophobia, patriarchy, ongoing armed conflict, poverty, lack of education, and rampant unemployment are deeply entrenched here, leading to widespread violence, discrimination, and mental health crises—PTSD, suicidal tendencies, and isolation.
Empowering Change: How Collective Social Responsibility Transforms Corporate and Community Engagement
Welcome to our blog! Today, we delve into the heart of Snehadhara Foundation's approach to employee engagements and training. Join us as we explore how our Collective Social Responsibility model is redefining traditional CSR by fostering deep, empathetic connections between corporate teams and the children across our Direct Care programmes. Through immersive employee engagements and arts-based activities, we create inclusive spaces that not only enrich the lives of our beneficiaries but also inspire a profound sense of understanding and collaboration among all participants. Read on to discover how these unique interactions are shaping a more empathetic and inclusive world.
Humans of SF | Elwin
"It was completely different from what I was used to. I took it up as a challenge. And I enjoyed the learning journey" says Elwin. "I am one of the newest in the team at Snehadhara. I got to know about Snehadhara and I applied and gave the interview. The next day,...
Arts Enriching Education: Snehadhara Foundation’s Direct Care Government School Programmes
Welcome to our blog! We invite you to join us on a journey of discovery and celebration as we prepare for an enriching month ahead, delving into the captivating world of rhythms. Recognizing the profound impact of rhythms through our work and experiences, our program, Collective Rhythm Experiences, has reached diverse populations, making the joy of playing djembes and percussion instruments accessible to all. With the invaluable support of our collaborators and partners, SF is thrilled to unveil a series of innovative workshops, empowering our community with synergistic experiences. Read on as this blog reveals what's in store for the exciting month ahead!
Humans of SF | Varahalakshmi
I look back at the journey in Snehadhara and it is amazing. It is at the core of my heart, of what I’m doing. It is also my safety net” says Varahalakshmi, fondly known as Vidya. Snehadhara is something that happened to me after a long time of waiting. I was...
Humans of SF | Cristelle
“Trust your intuition. Allow yourself the freedom of expression. I’d say that for people to let themselves be themselves a little bit more and stop worrying about what other people think, just go for it.” - says Cristelle as part of the message for youth in the...
Humans of SF | Rathna
"I'm happy to be a part of Snehadhara now. I'm happy that I will be a part of Snehadhara for as long as I am able." says Rathna. "I began with working for Dr Gitanjali before Snehadhara had been set up. I started with looking after the baby and helping around the...
Humans of SF | Ruthika
“I would say that there’s something you can learn from everyone. Being yourself and being a learner is the everyday change to a better version of ourselves.” says Ruthika. “I think the right word for my journey with Snehadhara is serendipitous. The way I got...
Embracing Harmony with Melodies of Diversity: Indo-Afro Rhythms Resonate
Welcome to our blog! We invite you to join us on a journey of discovery and celebration as we prepare for an enriching month ahead, delving into the captivating world of rhythms. Recognizing the profound impact of rhythms through our work and experiences, our program, Collective Rhythm Experiences, has reached diverse populations, making the joy of playing djembes and percussion instruments accessible to all. With the invaluable support of our collaborators and partners, SF is thrilled to unveil a series of innovative workshops, empowering our community with synergistic experiences. Read on as this blog reveals what's in store for the exciting month ahead!
Rolling in the New Year at Snehadhara’s Direct Care
Welcome to our blog, where we invite you to join us on a journey of exploration, discovery, and celebration as we roll into the new year at Snehadhara's Direct Care. Our Nelamangala campus has been abuzz with the vibrant energy of learning and growth, fueled by our commitment to nurturing minds and cultivating hearts. Join us as we reflect on the past and look forward to the adventures that lie ahead with a shared spirit of inclusivity and compassion.
Collective Rhythm Experiences with Vulnerable Groups!
We rumbled on and we rumbled on and the echoes of a swarm of children playing the djembes, frame drums and soundscapes reverberated around three Government Schools in Nelamangala and the children with disabilities at Snehadhara. Curious eyes peered on and looked over- trying to identify the source of the chaos and the melodies amongst them.
The Journey Across the Outdoors: Curious Adventure Awaits!
‘The children always surprise us.’
In the past three years of working with Snehadhara, there have been numerous instances where I have felt the power of these few simple words. Be it field trips, overnighters, visits of people to our campus, or the conceptualization of the semi-residential programme, the children we have worked with have always adapted to change, negotiated with themselves and the world and risen up to the challenges we have given them. Few spaces provide children with such opportunities, and Snehadhara Foundation has always taken pride in bridging that gap.
Humans of SF | Vinayaga
“If you are doing something right, do more of it! And Snehadhara is doing just that.” says Vinayaga “I have known Gitanjali for a long time and when she started to talk about Snehadhara over a decade ago, my first thought was that I wanted to contribute in some...
Humans of SF | Sindhu
"I'm here. I'm enjoying every moment. This is a really special place. While looking on can give a glimpse, one has to experience it to know how special it is." says Sindhu. "I actually found SF when I was looking for something else. It just happened that as soon as...
Humans of SF | Rajeev
"Diversity is an important element of life around us, which more often than not gets lost in trying to conform to societal mores. Diverse thinking is very important to organisations and society at large. Creating an inclusive society is important to foster...
Humans of SF | Harish
"The motto I live by is that you cannot break down at the first instance of failure. There's no meaning if you stop at first try. Somebody can smile because of you. So keep trying and try to live like that." says Harish. "I've known Gitanjali for nearly 20+ years,...
Humans of SF | Shaji
"People talk - I want to act. Whatever I can do for you, I will." says Shaji. "I started working for Snehadhara in 2018. One of my friends introduced me to this place. I had worked with others but this organisation is totally different. In the first few days, I...
Humans of SF | Abhilasha
"I want to see children be treated with kindness even when they go away from the norm. I see that here and that has given me a sense of hope." says Abhilasha, an intern. "A mentor recommended some organisations for an internship while I was taking a break from...
Humans of SF | Lakshmi
"I have seen Snehadhara move from an idea to an ideology. Today, Snehadhara is so much more than a direct care facility for children with special needs. Today, there is a Snehadhara way of doing things." says Lakshmi. "I have been around since the time that...
Humans of SF | Srishti
"Snehadhara Foundation creates a society that embraces and celebrates the uniqueness and strength of every child regardless of their differences." says Srishti, an intern. "I chose Snehadhara from a list of organisations that our university had sent out as part of...
Humans of SF | Suhail
"If you want to learn about inclusion, you need to experience it. To understand it realistically, come here, live with them and know - I was recently saying this to my professors." says Suhail. "I found out about SF through university. University was telling us to...
Humans of SF | Jahnavi
"Snehadhara will give you an experience for a lifetime which you will never get anywhere else. It would teach you to grow personally and professionally. - this is what I would tell others about Snehadhara." says Jahnavi, an intern. "I was looking for internships in...
Humans of SF | Mohan
"The 5 years into the disability sector had far more meaning than the 30 years in the corporate sector. It was a realisation of my calling." says Mohan. "Back in 2014, I happened to meet Gitanjali at Enable India. She said that we should speak. We met again when...
Humans of SF | Priya
"I want to be a constant in Snehadhara, just as Snehadhara is a constant in my life." says Priya. "My association with SF is almost a decade long. I met Dr Gitanjali when she was working with another organisation. Volunteers were called up to buddy children for a...
Humans of SF | Vineth
"I love the environment here. Without being there in person even once, the way people are, the joyous feeling in the team, the way everyone interact is something I love. It's really amazing." says Vineth. "I got to know one of the facilitators from SF through CFL...
Humans of SF | Sarangan
"It has been a wonderful journey, and I'm much in awe of how everyone here is filled with energy and compassion." says Sarangan. "Back in 2012, I was deeply in corporate world. The questions arose from Gitanjali - "How can there be no learning spaces for these...
