Through friendly competition and generous hearts, the tournament raised $2,000 for our Educate 2 Success (E2S) initiative, funds that will directly support educational resources for children in underprivileged communities.

Excellence On and Off the Court

The tournament showcased amazing talent, with K4K leaders Saisha Varaiya and Khrish Shah advancing to the final round. Share & Care President Saumil Parikh and partner Ravi Munver ultimately claimed the championship title. But excellence went far beyond the tennis matches themselves. Beyond this friendly competition, the event fostered meaningful connections as participants and spectators alike gathered between matches, creating an atmosphere of community and shared purpose.

The Power of Kids4Kids

The Kids4Kids initiative truly stands as a cornerstone program of the Share & Care Foundation, one we’re always excited to share with our community. 

Through various fundraising events – from sports tournaments to charitable initiatives – K4K volunteers develop essential leadership skills while making tangible differences in others’ lives. 

Their efforts directly support our Educate 2 Success Program, providing vital resources including scholarships, tutoring, and even educational materials to students in rural India.

A Big Thank You to Our Dedicated Supporters

Events like this one succeed through collective effort – we really couldn’t do it without our supporters, a community that continues to give. We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed – from players and spectators to donors and sponsors. Your support creates a ripple effect of seriously positive change, transforming individual lives and entire communities through education.

Join Us in Changing Even More Lives

While we celebrate this success and others this year so far, our mission continues. The need for educational support remains ever-important, and every contribution brings us closer to our goal of empowering more children through education.

Your involvement makes a difference. Whether through donations, sponsorships, and even event participation, you help creates opportunities for children to build brighter futures here and abroad.

Join us in this vital work. Together, we can continue transforming lives through education.

The post Learn How a Community Came Together For Our Kids4Kids Tennis Fundraiser appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Watch the videos below for a small glimpse into some of the projects your support makes possible. 

Women Empowerment: Giving Women the Skills and Tools to Become Entrepreneurs

The Samridhi Saksham project empowers over 500 women from 30 rural villages by providing the training, support, and materials needed to launch their own sewing and embroidery businesses. Watch the video below to meet a few of the entrepreneurs and to see how the project trains them to create beautiful, handmade embroidery. 

Educate 2 Success: Building Digital Literacy in Rural Schools

Share & Care has sponsored the creation of digital labs throughout several states in rural India through partnership with the Y4D Foundation, giving under-resourced students access to new technologies and helping them become digitally literate. In the video below, learn how these labs equip students to thrive in our increasingly digital world. 

Educate 2 Graduate: Helping Young Women Achieve Their Dreams

Share & Care partners with the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting brilliant but financially challenged young women who aspire to succeed in their post-graduate studies and beyond. Watch the video below to meet some of the program’s beneficiaries and learn more about how this foundation helps these young women develop educationally, professionally, and personally. 

Village Upliftment: Improving Quality of Life For Entire Villages

Lokmitras, or “friends of the people,” work to uplift entire villages by organizing community projects and offering support to individual villagers. In this video, hear from Anil, a Lokmitra in the Waghjipur village, and Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, a local farmer, about how they have worked together to facilitate a water storage project with the potential to benefit everyone in the area. 

English Translation

• Hello, my name is Anil, and I work as a LokMitra in the village of Waghjipur, located in Kapdwanj district. I would like to discuss how to store rainwater into the ground to increase the water level. I have a farmer friend named Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, who has conducted experiments at his house. I would like to know his response.
• Hello, Anilbhai, our village friend. He approached me and mentioned that Pravinbhai has a water store project. I asked him what the benefits would be. He explained that we should collect and utilize the rainwater that falls by storing it in the ground. He suggested digging or boring a hole for this purpose. I inquired if we could use the existing borehole, He said yes we can but he informed me that the costs of using pipes and other materials have increased. I replied saying that it’s not a problem, and if it’s beneficial, we should proceed. We took some measurements, and since my house is closer, we decided to use 4-5 pipes. We connected them to use the existing borehole, which was already dug up to a certain depth. Anilbhai accompanied me, and said i will assist you in the process. We dug a trench and laid the pipes, ensuring that the roof water flows directly into the borehole. Additionally, I installed a water tank on the roof. If the water level becomes too high, it will now flow directly into the drain. Initially, I had stopped using this borehole, but now I have started using it again, and the water supply is much higher than that of the previous borehole. After about 15 minutes, the water flow decreases briefly but then starts again. The previous borehole used to provide less water, but this new one delivers a sufficient amount in approximately 10 to 11 minutes. After it reaches full capacity, I turn it off, and if I need water again, I can simply restart it. Therefore, I have benefited from this improvement. If you share this with others, please let them know about the advantages. Within 10 to 15 minutes, I have access to an abundant water supply. If all the villagers follow the same approach, everyone will benefit.

Healthcare 2 Unreached: Providing Medical Care in Rural Villages

Share & Care helps provide healthcare to underserved rural areas of the state of Manipur in India through mobile medical clinics, healthcare for mothers and children, and medical education within the community.

The post Reports From India: See Our Partner NGOs in Action appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Please watch the videos below to see our partner NGO’s in action.

Village Upliftment: Lokmitras Ensure Children in Village Are Cared For

Lokmitras often look out for village children like Anil and Vishnu, who are forced by circumstance to largely care for themselves and depend on the generosity of others for meals and income.

Women Empowerment: Project Launches to Empower Women in Kashmir

The “Saamartya – Power of Girls” project, supported by Share & Care, was launched in Kashmir to empower girls as community leaders. The project works to fight gender inequality and reaffirm the belief that girls can do anything.

Educate 2 Success: Supporting Highschool Students In Rural India

Share & Care empowers students in four state rural districts (Maharashtra, Madya Pradesh, Orissa & Rajasthan) by ensuring they have the supplies and support necessary to complete their education.

Healthcare 2 Unreached: Providing Medical Care in Rural Villages

Share & Care helps provide healthcare to underserved rural areas of the state of Manipur in India through mobile medical clinics, healthcare for mothers and children, and medical education within the community.

Nirmal Village Program: Lokmitras Reach Out to Communities

Lokmitras (“friends of the people”) offer relief, education, and mentorship in their villages in Gujarat. With the backing of Share & Care, they provide much-needed supplies and support.

Educate 2 Graduate: Making College Education a Reality

For some students like Manimegalai, in TamilNadu, the path to higher education is out of reach without the financial support of Share & Care. Through scholarship funding, she and students like her have a pathway to success.

The post Glimpses of Our Work in India appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Kids4Kids, a group composed of ambitious and philanthropic teenagers, aims to raise funds and participate in events that improve education for marginalized kids in India. The children they’re helping are beneficiaries of E2S, which provides educational resources, counseling, and career guidance for at-risk students.

During their trip overseas, the nine teens (Krish Sheth, Arnav Choudry, Parth Mehta, Akshay Mehta, Vidit Shah, Arya Shah, Rishin Shah, Neil Parikh, and Yash Mehta) taught children in a municipal school and volunteered in an after-school center designed to keep kids off the streets.

It was a rewarding and enlightening trip, Arnav reflects. “The best part was the reciprocation; it wasn’t simply us going and teaching, it was a mutual experience. We shared our knowledge of English and technology and they taught us Hindi as well as local games, such as Langdi and Kho Kho.”

Below, read more about what the group had to say about the experience — in their own words.

Reflections from a Trip Across the Atlantic

“Traveling and experiencing an environment that is way different than the one in America gives us a valuable perspective of the big world we live in. Sharing our knowledge about English and computers will help the children in certain aspects of life that are very important. While we teach those skills to them, we obtain certain factors of life, such as companionship, respect, trust, joy, and Hindi from them!” — Akshay Mehta, Aarya Shah, and Neil Parikh

“Seeing these kids so eager to learn and ready to build friendships was absolutely amazing. The memories I have made here will change me for the better.” — Yash Mehta

“We chose to travel to India to volunteer because we saw how other people were struggling to get an education. We believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity, and so we came to India to provide them with the education that they lack.” — Krish Sheth, Parth Mehta, and Rishin Shah

We’re proud of our students for their commitment to helping children across the world. In India, 40% of students drop out of school before eighth grade, which is why programs like Educate 2 Success are so important. By receiving support to stay in school, students from marginalized communities have the opportunity to escape the cycles of poverty that have oppressed their families for generations.

Would you like to join Kids4Kids in making a difference for needy and at-risk students in India?

DONATE FOR EDUCATION

The post Share & Care Kids4Kids Members Visit Students in India appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

When Suraj Dhanaji Patil was a young boy, his father passed away — and Suraj’s mother, an uneducated woman, took up domestic work to provide for herself and her two sons. However, her earnings were meager, and Suraj’s older brother was forced to drop out of school after Std. VIII and take up odd jobs to help his mother.

But Suraj, who had always dreamed of making it big one day, was a bright and promising student. He wanted to complete his education.

It was at this time that social workers from Light of Life Trust (a partner NGO for our Educate 2 Success Signature Program), came across Suraj. They immediately enrolled him in Project Anando, a program that provides educational resources and counseling for at-risk kids.

Suraj proved to be an outstanding student and actively participated in all of the program activities throughout secondary school. With support from Share & Care and LOLT — in the form of education materials, supplementary coaching classes, and career guidance — Suraj passed his SSC exam.

He then went on to pursue a diploma in engineering, but the mounting pressure of academics caused him to drop out of the course. This was a challenging phase for Suraj, who became disappointed in himself. His interest in education decreased, as did his self-confidence.

But once again, with intervention from Educate 2 Success, he was able to bounce back — with even greater energy.

To keep Suraj’s spirits high, he was enrolled in a specialized training program, which he completed successfully. After this, Suraj took up a job at a call center and was motivated to pursue his higher education. He passed Std. XII with flying colors, and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Not holding himself back after this, Suraj then pursued his post-graduate education and received a Master of Commerce degree. At this time, he also joined LOLT as an English teacher.

Today, Suraj works as an executive officer with Axis Bank, Khopoli Branch. Despite the ups and downs in his path to success, Suraj was finally able to achieve his goals and establish a career in the field of his choice.

He is now able to support his family financially as well as emotionally, and has become a shining example for many other students in the Educate 2 Success program.

I WANT TO HELP

The post Despite Ups and Downs, This Determined Student Achieved His Dreams appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Share & Care’s Educate 2 Success Signature Program provides support for students who are at risk of dropping out (or in some cases, have already dropped out) of school. The children selected for this program are from the poorest and most marginalized communities in India, and are assessed with the help of our incredible NGO partner, Light of Life Trust. The majority of our beneficiaries are from single-parent homes or large families where they may face neglect, or have been orphaned.

Currently there are 666 students, each with a unique perspective and background, enrolled in the program. Below are just four of their stories.

The Children

Leena Atmaram Kambli

Leena is an orphan who lives with her maternal aunt, the only adult who supports her emotionally. When she initially began the program, Leena was very shy; however, over time she has blossomed socially and has displayed extraordinary artistic talent. She now supports other students and enjoys participating in all school-related activities.

Divya Vinayak Shinde

Shortly after Divya enrolled in the program (in 2015-16), her instructors noticed that she was often absent from her workshops. Counseling revealed that she was distracted not only by a romantic relationship, but also by her parents’ tumultuous marriage and the fact that her mother lives and works in another town. Our team is helping encourage Divya to focus on her studies during this crucial point in her life.

Mayuresh Krushna Patil

A neglected child, Mayuresh lives in Nehuli village with parents who are daily wage earners. He has hearing difficulties, making it difficult for him to study and understand others. Our team supports Mayuresh and his parents through counseling, and he is showing improvement in reading skills and word pronunciation. He loves to draw and hopes to pursue a career in drafting.

Iccha Kamalakar Tambde

Iccha, a shy child with poor communication skills, comes from a family with no education awareness. Her older brother dropped out of school, and without our help it is likely that she would have followed. Our instructors have prepared special learning tools for her, as her knowledge of English and Marathi is very limited. Fortunately, with continuous support and encouragement, she has begun to develop these basic skills.

The Problem

Millions of children in India, especially those living below the poverty line in rural areas, drop out of school before they reach the secondary level. Across the board, common factors influencing students to drop out include discrimination, child labor, and an inability to pay for school expenses. Among our beneficiaries, other common problems include instances of addiction or health problems within the family, gender discrimination, and a general lack of support or guidance from elder family members.

Sadly, many of these children’s parents don’t want them to have an education. Sometimes they’re uneducated themselves, and sometimes they’re absent from their children’s lives completely. For these young people, life is a vicious cycle of deprivation, illiteracy, and poverty that has been repeated generation after generation.

What $130 Can Accomplish

We understand the heartbreaking reality that every child cannot be saved. However, it is our mission to provide as many as possible with opportunities to grow and thrive — and our E2S program has the potential to improve thousands of lives. We currently support 666 students, and with your help, we hope to reach our goal of supporting 1,000 students by the 2019-20 academic year.

With a donation of just $130, you can present one student with learning resources typically beyond their reach. Your donation will provide not only text books, uniforms, and a school bag; it will also cover counseling for home and school, nutritious food, weekend confidence-building workshops, peer activities, and more.

An overwhelming majority of our beneficiaries (about 89%) graduate high school and secure jobs or go on to pursue higher education. The program has also been proven to promote independence and self-sufficiency for young women. Statewide, the average marriage age for girls is 17. For female E2S beneficiaries, the average age is 19-20. These educated women will help to create a permanent cultural change in their families and communities.

Be Part of the Solution

Share & Care is driven by the belief that all children, regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds, have the capacity to complete a certain level of education given the opportunity.

And these children, like all young people around the world, need support, guidance, and nurturing. With your help, they can complete their secondary school education. They can get jobs, pursue higher education, and live up to their full potential. They can support themselves and their families.

They can escape the cycle of poverty once and for all.

GIVE A CHILD A FUTURE

The post Keeping India’s Poorest Children in School — For a Brighter Future appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.