8/3/2019 LEAD.e Brochure

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Opening our hearts ... to open their minds!

Love, Education & Aspiration to change Destinies

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Always wanted to be a LEADer?

What is LEAD all about?

How LEAD Began

Armed with thisdesire,

LEAD started off. TheThen join us inone ofthemost fulfilling and excitingfirst class of LEAD wasjourneys in LEADing the lesser privileged children

in the biggest hut in thetowardsa brighter futurecommunity. The fi rst

class- art and craft session!

This inspired his friends and

L E A D they, in turn, passed the wordove, ducation and spirationto change estinies

LEAD around.Soon 28childrenwere admittedto a nearby- that is what stands for! LEAD is also an

municipal school. However this sense of attempt to create leaders; individuals who step up

achievementwas short lived as a few days later, theand take the responsibility to initiate change,

school called to tell us about a drop in attendancevoluntarily.

amongst those children. That is when we realizedLEAD Foundation is a completely volunteer driven

our jobwas far fromdone.NGO (Registered Public Charitable Trust) wherein a

We started weekend classes for the children togroup of like-minded people viz. young workinginfuse them with an enthusiasm for schooling andprofessionals, house-wives, students and senior

discovered that weekends were not enough tocitizens have united by the desire to educate and

change their lives. Since we couldn't leave our thereby, change destinies of the lesser fortunate

regular jobs, we turned to colleges to seek the helpones.

of studentvolunteers.

Overcoming various issues like finding places to

teach, getting funds and other resources, findingJuly2008, Airolidedicated volunteers, regularfield visits tomeet theRupesh was on his way to work when he sawparents, planning/implementing/re-working onsome kids; children of local rag-pickers andvarious teaching methodologies, today LEAD hasdaily-wage laborers, near the Sector 19bus-stop atmore than 60 children enrolled and, mostAiroli. On a whim, he started talking to the kids.importantly, retained in theschools.Random conversation about their schoolingand life

developed into a determined pursuit and soon he Also, a strong team has shaped up & we have, now,was speaking to kids and their parents about rented a premise for conducting our sessions. Weschooling in general. That is when he came upon never imagined that a desire to help a few childrenAshok, aged 25, preparing for his Class X English would become a tiny yet immensely satisfying paper. A school dropout Ashok had decided to movement for change. Each day with LEAD is acomplete his education. This was probably the struggle with fresh challenges but we are notspark that lit the flamewhichwould become LEAD. daunted, because each day, one of our childrenIf a road-digger could choose to go back to books, givesus a reason tosmile!so could others.

Why you too can make a difference?

This brochure is not just meant to tell you about

the journey of LEAD; it is to spread the message

that each one of us any common man - can

make a difference.

When we started out, we were just individuals

who taught some kids in our area, there

was no professional social worker, no

NGO & not even a thought about funds.

We just focused on educating our kids

and everything else followed. Similarly,

each one ofus canmake a difference ifwe

put our minds and more importantly ourhearts into it. So take the plunge &

start doing something; because just

intentionsdon'tmatter!

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Various Projects of LEAD

Education

Health and Nutrition

Women Empowerment

Other projects

We primarily work with the children living in the shanties/

street shelters of Airoli and Ghansoli, in Navi-Mumbai,

Maharashtra,who hail from the families of construction workers and

other daily wagers. We first admit these children into the nearby municipal

schools and then strive to provide a cheerful environment for their holistic

development so as to prevent their early drop out due to their problems at

home.

Oursessions compriseof variousactivities like:

Supplementing the kids' school lessons, with main focus on

Mathematics, Science, English, Marathi, General Knowledge and

Computers

Value education through charts, moral stories, motivational movies &

drama

Indoor games, Out-of-the-wall activities in the garden, sports and

Prayer, Yoga before the sessionsWorkshops like Clay Modeling, Fabric Painting, Paper-Bag making,

Collage,Rakhi-making,Origami,Drawing/Paintingetc

Educational/Fun trips like Nehru Science Center, Planetarium, Nature

park, Circus,Mall, Post-office,Fire Brigade,Railway station, etc

Celebration of all major Festivals, 15th Aug, 26th Jan and even their

birthdays. Our volunteers further seize this opportunity and involve

even their ownkids during these celebrations,thus sowing theseeds of

humanity, equalityand compassion in their ownkids'minds at the right

time. Also this serves to weed away any kind of fear/inhibition/guilt

breeding in the minds of our kids from humbler backgrounds towards

thechildrenfromupperstrata helping themtruly 'connect'

Alongwith regularly inculcating the importance of hygieneand nutritiousmeals,

we conduct health/dental/eye check-ups for these kids, through Navi Mumbai

Municipal Corporation dispensary / hospital visits andmedical camps, and even

get them and their younger siblings vaccinated. We also give them

calcium/vitamin tonic andhot cooked breakfast/snacks daily during thesessions

besidesproviding nutritional powderpacketsand tins to their families.

It's been over 3 years now and we are proud to say that we have been able

to make a significant impact in the lives of over 60-70 children and even, to

an appreciable extent, in the thinking and behavioral patterns of the major

stakeholders - their parents.

Here, we try to impart vocational skills like candlemaking, tailoring, embroidery

etc tothemothers of these childrenand evenother localhouseholdmaids, thus

attempting to provide them some additional income. We try to market these

productsby puttingup stallsin variouscompanies, schools andcolleges.

SponsoringEducational expensesofneedy anddeserving students

Rehabilitation of extremely poor/ streetchildren into shelterhomes

Encouragingkids in someof theshelterhomes

Special inclusive programs in association with reputed schools aimed

to sensitize the privileged children about the other world and

inculcate, in their young minds, some of the most important

humanitarian traits like gratitude, compassion, empathy, equality and

acceptance

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Rural Projects

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can

change the world. It indeed, is the only thing that ever has!"

- Margaret Mead

InMarch 2011, LEAD ventured upon one of the most

exciting and challenging projects in one of the tribal

villages near Badlapur Lavhali - a small habitat that

falls under Ambernath taluka,Thanedistrict.

We started off taking sessions on English,Mathematics and

Computer Skills for the students of class-8, 9 and 10 of this village on every

weekend. Due to our regular and deeper involvement with this adolescent

group we got exposed to the quality of education received by the children in a

rural primary school.

We are now dreaming and gearing up for elevating the learning levels of the

youngerchildrenwith the help ofthese elderstudents ofthisvillage. Thiswill in

turn build the personality and raise the self-esteem of this adolescent group

thuspropagating thenext setof change-makerswithin thecommunity.

Ourother activities tillnow:

Distribution of Nutrition powder to the adolescent girls as well as

Anganwadi children (1-6yrs)

Distributing educational toys/games and computer for the primary

school

Aptitudetesting andcareer counseling forthe studentsof class9 and10

Trip to Juhu Beach andISKCON

Session on Menstrual Health and Hygiene for adolescent girls by

Gynecologist

We have also started the powerful life-skills based 'Leaders of Tomorrow'th

project in the secondary school of another tribal village Boradpada for the 9 th

and10 standard studentscoming from various surroundingvillages.

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How LEAD works?

What makes LEAD different?

LEAD is a volunteer driven NGO. Our volunteers are the force

behind our incredible journey. They see firsthand the realities of

the underprivileged, our effort/ challenges and hence the potential

to make a difference. Our volunteers realize that LEAD does not have any

separate fund raising team or program or sources and hence they too start

working, voluntarily, for the same. Thus most of our funds actually come from

someof ourvolunteers and then their friends,families andwell wishers.

As we are moving ahead in our journey to make a difference, we are growing.

Today we operate at three centers two in Navi Mumbai while one in a rural

setting&we havevariousprojects. This change has been a learningexperience

and we realize we cannot just rely on personal donations but need to have

consistent flow of funds to sustain these programs.

We are sure there are many who care and our work will inspire them to

contribute forthis cause. All details relating todonationsare mentioned on our

website: www.lead-foundation.org

LEAD also stands for leadership. We tell our volunteers what to do and not

really about how to do; and they surprise us with their results. We may assign

them a task in the beginning but after a shortwhile they realize for themselves

the various ground realities and the challenges at hand and develop their own

waysofworking.

Volunteering with LEAD involves a lot of multitasking but it also gives us the

opportunity to work with the diverse team, freedom to use our skills, execute

our ideas and stretch our capacities in a manner of our liking. And hence, we

succeed in transforming ourvolunteers into leaders.

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Snehal

JyotiMadam

Avishkar

Sunita

Ashish Pawaskar

Vinita Shah

Swagata Yadavar

, 20, Bio-technology Student says

As a teaching volunteer, instead of teaching I am myself learning so many

things from kids. I hope this beautiful journey with LEAD would continue for

long time. Thank You So Much LEAD for all these wonderful moments!

, 49,House-wifesays

Being part of LEAD is amazing. These kids have become my family. I enjoy

teaching them. I want every single child to get proper equal education and be

successful in the future.

, 25, Telecommunications Engineersays

LEADgave new dimensions tomy life,my thinking towards society, people has

completely changed. LEAD has helped me to grow as an individual; it feels

satisfying toworkformycountryand itspeople.

, 25,SoftwareProfessionalsaysSpending weekends into the tribal village, getting to know these people,

understanding their problems made me realize how much lucky we are to get

all the facilities and resources easily. I have learnt to realize the value of all

things wehave around. I amgrowing to abetter personwithour kids.

, 38, Internet andMedia Consultant says,

LEAD's volunteer driven model has made me a more take-charge person than

before. The kids are so sweet and eager to learn anything that you throw at

them, this has mademeevaluate the impact ofmy actions and words and have

become a more careful and loving person in my thoughts, actions and words.

TheLEADmodel hasbecomemyinspiration formyNGOAdarshmay.

, 37,withbackgrounds in EducationandPuppetmaking,

says,Sittingunderthe shadeof a lushgreentree, having animpromptu story

telling session (with kids in LEAD) is one of the finest memories I cherish. It has

been a wonderful come back to teaching by being with LEAD. It is wonderful a

feeling to see the million dollar smiles and gleaming eyes looting the little

pleasuresof learningwithfun!

, 22,Contentwritersays,

"Ialways had the urge todo something for the society but lacked the courage to

go ahead and do it. But when I came here, I felt l ike I belonged. I feel I am

fortunate to be associated with LEAD because it gives me a perspective onthings, surprises me with what all I can do and empowers me to make a

change.

Volunteer Speak...

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Here is what the community women have to say about us; these women

attended tailoring, cooking, sewing classes conducted by LEAD and WISE

(Women's Institute for Social Education) for a period of a year.

said, Thanks toRupesh sir, wecould comeout ofourhomes.Here we did not just learn stitching but we could see the world outside our

homes. Our lives were always about doing something for others- our kids, our

husbandandour house butherewe didsomething forourselves.

said, After coming to the class, I realized that I could

stand onmy own feet. I have learned somany things from the class. I have also

givena speech inthe classbymyself!

said, I come from a very poor family and spentmy childhood

collecting garbage.Never did I thinkI would beableto see and dothese things. I

want to thank LEAD for this.

said, I have learnt so many things in the class. I am not

educated but learning all these skills makes me feel like I have learnt

something.

ShobhaRosary

Kamal Sonawane

Vimal Chavan

Anita Shinde

Women Speak...

Children, the main beneficiaries ofour activities,our reason, our cause, tell us

whatthey feel about LEAD.

, 8, says, I used to sort junk before, but Rupesh sir brought me here in

LEAD. Now I only studyand I want togrow upto become someone great. Before

coming to LEAD I did not know how to talk well or study but the teachers here

taught me that. I study, play, paint, make new things here. All the teachers are

great here.

, studyingin class-6, says, I felt very good after coming to LEAD. Before

coming here, I always had a desire to study and after coming here, my desire

was fulfilled. EarlierI used tobehave badlybut teachersin LEAD taughtmehow

to behave well and now I am better behaved. In LEAD, we go to picnics and weget tolearna lot,whereverwego.

studying in class-4 says, I like coming to LEAD, I was silent before but

teachers say now I have started talking a lot. Teachers here love us and do not

hit us. I also take the help of the teachers here for school homework. I also like

the foodwe get hereand also like the gameswe playhere.

, studying in class-5, says "Teachers, here, are like our friends and we

share ourproblemswith them. They understand usandhelp us.

, studying in Class 6, I don't feel good on the days I don't come to

LEAD.

Rajesh

Simran

Tulsiram

Anjali

Sanjana

Children Speak...

Shobha

Kamal

Vimal

AnitaRajesh

Simran

Tulsiram

Anjali

Sanjana

"It is absolutely necessary for the mental health & development of the children that they should not have mere

schools for their lessons but a whole world whose guiding spirit is personal love."

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You are invited in our journey...

Contact us at: LEAD Foundation14, Garden View Society, Plot-66,

Near Jain Temple, Behind NHP/VPM School,

Sector 19, Airoli, Navi Mumbai 400 708

Email us at: info@lead-foundation.org

Like us at : www.facebook.com/LEAD.Foundation

Visit us at : www.lead-foundation.org

Our Blog : http://blog.lead-foundation.org

So, how can you become a LEADer now?

Volunteer your time and hobby/professional skills for our urban

and/or rural students.

DonateinCashorKind.

Sponsor oneof ourprograms like education,nutrition/ snacks, picnics,

workshopsetc.

Spread awareness about our work in your circle of influence, byword

of mouth, putting up posters in colleges/schools/ offices/societies/

high foot-fall areas, through internet, sharing information about our

work inmeetings/gatherings.

Connect us with other skilled/resource persons/like-minded

people/groups.

Start teaching anunderprivileged child in your area.We will guide you

with everything.

Share the journey of LEAD with others; this might inspire them to

initiatesomethingsimilar.

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.

But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop"

- Mother Teresa