My Story

Intro

Mumbai slums are known for its unorganized, underprivileged and poverty struck people. Children are left without proper care (as the care takers are struggling to meet survival needs) wanders, enters himself into gangs, substance abuse and gambling. To meet his day-to-day needs, he sees scope to get some money (sometimes illegal means) collects few scraps initially or by doing menial task and later it becomes his means for livelihood. Later they regrets not getting a chance to establish themselves or for not utilizing the availed chances (of the state). Nanda decided instead of being a witness to such a misery, he should do something. This soemthing is his venture JEET.

About Me

I am a graduate in Electrical Engineering and did my Master’s in Social Work. I was born and brought up in Coimbatore in South India. Presently I live and work in Mumbai, in an NGO called Akanksha Foundation. Apart from that, I have independently initiated a program for underprivileged youth based on social entrepreneurship concept in 2008 called JEET.

Every human being should be able to lead a dignified life in society. The society should be a space that encourages development of their skills and enrichment in life. The learnt skills and inherent potentials should enable them to lead a better life. I believe it would eliminate most of the social problems. The effort to achieve the goals mentioned above motivates me. It gives me a sense of satisfaction when I am able to contribute my mite towards achieving the goal.

In 2008 we started JEET, a program to create a space where children/youth can channelise their time and energy positively and aspire to achieve (education, skills etc), realizing their potential. This will improve their livelihood options. JEET Foundation and its initiative are non-profit. To sustain it we moved ahead and incorporated the entrepreneur programs so that our non-profit initiative can be supported by the profit of our entrepreneurship program.

Through work I come across many people and it resulted in friendship. So most of my leisure time is spent with friends who are also motivated by the same sort of ideas. Apart from that I do photography, draw, play sports, read books and watch movies.

My Venture

The venture engages children on weekends and during vacations/holidays in sports and group activities and passes essential social messages through it to them. Presently it also caters to children with educational and medical support through other social entrepreneurs in the area. We bring children and youth from the community together by organizing sport tournaments and matches in order to build a community among the youth and to sow a united approach among the social entrepreneurs in the neighborhood. Thus other entrepreneurs’ services too are available to the youth/children. We also work with the children’s parents to address specific issues, for example to awareness, knowledge and sensitize them to basic problems in hygiene, societal and in education. Our team acts as a mentor and guide for this young people by assisting them to get a direction in life and to access the state systems facilities like health, housing, education & other rights.

Our plans are to develop income generating activities to become more self- sustainable. For example we plan to recycle waste paper to make hand-made paper and other products out them. This will support our cause while at the same time be an employment opportunity for our youth.