By Sweta Mehta
NHSF Sewa Team
Each year NHSF chapters raise money through a variety of different methods for a Local Charity and a National Charity. The money raised is split 50:50 for the two charities enabling an impact to be made at a community level and a national level. Since all NHSF chapters donate 50% of the money raised towards one National Charity this allows a large sum of money to be donated to the National Charity which can make a substantial change to this organisation.
About Manav Sadhna
Manav Sadhna is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) based at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, India. The literal translation of Manav Sadhna is “service to mankind”. It has been inspired by the Gandhian principles of truth, ahimsa (non violence) and education forless privileged members of society predominantly children.
Above, this art piece was made by children at Manav Sadhna and is sold in the Manav Sadhna shop.
Below, this photograph shows students making rakhi’s for Raksha Bandhan in Manav Sadhna in their break between tuition classes.
OUR aims
1. Selling Manav Sadhna products such as greetings cards, the money made from these products is distributed directly back to the children
2. Advise children in the slums about the importance of good hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of disease
3. Educate the less privileged children from the slums for free who otherwise lack the opportunity and resources
MY experience with Manav Sadhna
Taking part in Learning Journey 2010 introduced me to Manav Sadhna. Spending time at Manav Sadhna, I learnt that their main focus is to help and serve the children. The trustees of Manav Sadhna are Jayeshbhai Patel, Anarben Patel and Virenbhai Joshi. Having listened to their talks, I realised that their collective aim is to provide love, security and good quality education to thousands of children and hundreds of mothers every day.
The majority of the employees at Manav Sadhna are adults that came to Manav Sadhna as street children many years ago. Some of them study at college part-time and work at Manav Sadhna part-time earning a reasonable salary. In my time at Manav Sadhna, I noticed that the children are not only educated but disciplined as they wash their own clothes and dishes. Also, they partake in a daily universal prayer.
I was also briefly involved in one of their projects called “Earn N Learn” whereby children make greetings cards using basic materials which are sold via Manav Sadhna and the children earn approximately 30 rupees a day. “Earn N Learn” allows the children to make more money than they would rag picking or polishing shoes and in a safer environment.
Hundreds of young people volunteer at Manav Sadhna every year and the organisation is co-ordinated with immense amounts of love and inspiration. Manav Sadhna is involved in many projects and is continually expanding. I recommend volunteering at Manav Sadhna as it was an invaluable experience for me and can be for you too. Time is more precious than money so wherever possible, volunteer your time!
How can YOU get involved?
· General volunteering at Manav Sadhna
· Buying Manav Sadhna products such as greetings cards
· Buying Gramshree (sister NGO of Manav Sadhna) products
· Getting involved in Indicorps – a yearlong fellowship programme
For more information, feel free to visit:
OR do not hesitate to contact:
· Neil.kundu@nhsf.org.uk (Sewa Co-ordinator)
· Sweta.mehta@nhsf.org.uk (National Charity Liaison Officer)
“I do not want a kingdom, salvation, or heaven, what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor and the needy” – Mahatma Gandhi