Snehalaya was delighted to welcome our first volunteer from Colombia, Professor Marcela Agudelo, a Psychology Professor at Externado University, Colombia. Marcela is a wonderful example of how volunteers can use their professional knowledge and experience to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our children. During her visit, Marcela spent time at our Ramvadi Balbhavan, where she conducted a special drawing workshop with the children. What began as a fun and creative

We have been working to end prostitution since 1989 and as a direct result, there are no underage girls or second generation sex workers in our district brothels. This is due to our 20+ projects addressing the root causes that exploit women and children into the trade. In 2015, we received three years support from Malala Fund to promote girls education and believed in the cause so much as part of our core purpose we have continued to advocate for girls to stay in school. On w

Freddie for a Day The summer of 2015 marked the beginning of a very special partnership for Snehalaya through our sister project, Snehalaya UK. We were delighted to learn that the Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) had chosen to support our HIV/AIDS projects, creating a relationship that continues to make a meaningful difference to vulnerable communities in India. There could hardly have been a better way to celebrate this new partnership than by joining thousands of fans from aroun

The amazing Snehalaya@OSU team We have enjoyed a partnership with students at Ohio State University, USA since 2018 when medical student Rashmi Rege got in touch to pitch the idea of a student society to support Snehalaya. Snehalaya@OSU was born. Since then we have seen a steady stream of passionate students engage with our children and projects. They have also organised spectacular Snehalaya cultural events, raising valuable funds and awareness for Snehalaya’s work. Earlier

Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) states that play is a fundamental right of every child. As one of the leaders in promoting education in our district and in celebration of International Day of Play on 11 June, we joined forces with The Opentree Foundation (TOF) to deliver Maharashtra’s first district-level consultation on Play-Based Learning. The consultation brought together key stakeholders from the education ecosystem, includin

We are pleased to tell all of our US-based supporters that our founder, Dr Girish Kulkarni will be in the States from 23 July. He will be visiting many cities and attending the USA's biggest Marathi meet, the BMM Convention in Seattle on 6-9 August. Our amazing Snehalaya USA and Snehalaya America's teams are arranging a host of events giving you the opportunity to meet this brilliant man face-to-face. For 37 years, Girish's ground-breaking work rescuing and rehabilitating vul

There have been many books and news articles published about our Founder, Dr Girish Kulkarni and his incredible journey in starting our Ahilyanagar-based organisation. The most recent, Up Against Darkness, by Medha Deshmukh Bhaskaran, (Sakal Publications, 2023), brilliantly captures the journey with intensive research and references as well as interviews with Girish, his wife Prajekta and many of the main players involved in Snehalaya’s success in empowering the most marginal

Many people who visit Snehalaya for the first time are deeply moved by the realities they witness and the work being done across our projects. Every guest and volunteer is guided through our initiatives by project managers who share honest and comprehensive insights. Our aim is never to shock, but to help people understand the challenges faced by those we support. For many, it is an experience that stays with them long after they leave. Philip Byrne from Ireland first visited

"When we look back 10 to 20 years from now, the world would see a new generation honouring women for who they are rather than judging them for who they want to be." In a world that has long dictated who women should be, what they should wear, how they should speak, and how far they should go - Snehalaya chose, once again, to tell a different story. On 18 March 2026, Snehalaya hosted the Agnishikha Puraskar Sanmaan Sohla- a celebration and tribute to women. Now in its second y

Chances are if you have visited Snehalaya over the last 10 years we may have met. I have been living alongside the women, children and staff residents of our Rehab Center reporting for duty in the Fundraising and Marketing team on a daily basis since April 2016. It’s from there I have contributed to the development of the Snehalaya’s volunteering, social media, website and other communications while also managing Snehalaya UK in my role of CEO of the UK registered charity. My

Launching Snehalaya Scents, a talc-free powder As part of her visits to India, our Snehalaya UK trustee, Caroline has always been concerned about the powder our women and children use. This is based on her personal experience of losing her friend Nicky to cancer which has been attributed to her lifelong use of talcum powder. Caroline explains why she is so passionate about finding alternatives for our residents and the wider Indian community. “Around May 2024, my good friend

From 21–27 January 2026, Snehalaya students and teachers embarked on a truly enriching exposure visit to The Scindia School, Gwalior —an institution celebrated for its timeless legacy of excellence and holistic education. Set against the magnificent historical backdrop of Gwalior Fort, the visit beautifully showcased how academics, discipline, leadership, sports, arts, and strong moral values come together to shape confident and responsible individuals. It was not just a scho

Pedalling for Unity, Humanity, and Constitutional Values In a time when divisions based on caste, religion, language, region, gender, and ideology are widening, Snehalaya, along with like-minded organisations and citizens, once again chose the path of dialogue, unity, and compassion through the 11th Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Cycle Rally. The rally, carrying a strong message of social harmony and constitutional values, began on 31 December 2025 from the sacred precincts of Sachkha

In the “Child Marriage Free India” Campaign Snehalaya Udaan Awareness Chariot Becomes the Highlight of Republic Day Celebrations As the nation celebrated India's 77th Republic Day with pride and enthusiasm, Ahilyanagar city resonated with a strong spirit of patriotism and social responsibility. The national flag was ceremoniously hoisted at the Police Parade Ground by the Honorable Minister for Water Resources and District Guardian Minister, Shri Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. As

This is a story that began nearly 20 years ago—a story of resilience, care, and quiet courage. It is the journey of an orphaned girl, whom we will call Palak, whose life found a new direction with the support of Snehalaya. Palak came to Snehalaya at a very young age, during the early years of the institution’s development. As part of routine medical examinations, doctors discovered that she was HIV-positive. Under proper medical guidance, she was immediately started on ART me

The Story of a Pregnant Mother’s Struggle This is the story of Hina (name changed), a Muslim woman from another state who was found in an abandoned condition in Shrigonda taluka. Seven months pregnant and appearing calm at first glance, it was evident that she was under severe mental stress. Concerned local citizens contacted Snehalaya to ensure her safety and rehabilitation. A team from Snehalaya’s Snehankur project visited Hina in Shrigonda and tried to communicate with her

We were honoured to welcome John Coster, founder of Documentary Media Center , based in Leicester, UK to our projects in India. John’s visit was planned to help celebrate our radio station's 15th anniversary and document our work to help promote our UK charity and Snehalaya in the UK through his many media connections. We already have an established relationship with John after he played a key role in helping us celebrate and promote Snehalaya UK’s 10 th birthday in Leice

A Voice for the Community Radio Nagar 90.4 FM Celebrates 15 Years of Community Voice and Connection Radio Nagar 90.4 FM, a strong pillar of Ahilyanagar’s social, cultural, and people-centric communication landscape, proudly celebrated its 15th anniversary on Tuesday, 13 January, with great enthusiasm and warmth. Run by Snehalaya, the city’s first community radio station has, over the past decade and a half, become a powerful platform amplifying the voices of every section of

Love, Pain, and a Question Every Parent Must Face It was an ordinary afternoon. Traffic moved as usual, people were busy with their routines, and life seemed to flow uninterrupted. But one phone call to the Mukti Vahini Helpline shattered that normalcy and changed the course of several lives. The call came from a police station. The words were urgent and unsettling: A 25-year-old man had arrived with a 17-year-old minor girl. She was pregnant, her condition was critical, and

A Celebration of Dignity, Belonging, and New Beginnings Community Wedding Ceremony | 15 December 2025 True social change begins when we choose inclusion over indifference. Many individuals who are orphaned or socially excluded are denied not just opportunities, but also the simple human right to companionship and family life. Keeping this belief at the heart of its work, Snehalaya organized a community wedding ceremony for orphaned and destitute couples, creating a moment of