HISTORY

In 1990, a team of young volunteers, inspired by Gandhian values, began gathering under the branches of a tree in the Gandhi Ashram every Saturday to play with street children. They provided the children with a nutritional meal and taught them about basic hygiene by cutting their nails and bathing them. This activity quickly came together into a full time endeavor working to brighten the future of underprivileged children. Under the guidance of Gujarat Harijan Sevak Sangh, Safai Vidyalaya and Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI), Manav Sadhna was established both in India and in the United States. Today, from a quiet corner in the Gandhi Ashram, Manav Sadhna serves more than 8000 children and women through more than 35 projects. We also indirectly touch the lives of many more individuals through our healthcare and educational support projects. The projects are created based on the needs and participation of the community.

MISSION

Manav Sadhna is a non profit organization based in a quiet corner of Mahatma Gandhis Ashram, Ahmedabad. Our mission is simply to serve the underprivileged. At Manav Sadhna, we navigate with the philosophy of love all, serve all. By seeing God in every individual (Manav), mere service is transformed into worship (Sadhna). To this end, Manav Sadhna is engaged in constructive humanitarian projects that cut across barriers of class and religion while addressing issues faced by socio-economically neglected segments of society. In executing this mission, Manav Sadhna is guided by Mahatma Gandhis unshakable beliefs in love, peace, truth, non-violence and compassion.

RAMAPIR NO TEKRO
Slums are the product of broken down village life. The irregularity of rain, prevalence of unemployment, the caste system, the appeal of city life, and a lack of facilities are some of the factors that lead people to migrate from their villages to urban spaces. These spaces are congested, unhealthy, and lack basic health and education amenities. The residents of these spaces consist of migrantsoften landless laborers who came to the city in search of employment. At the time of Indias independence, 90% of the countrys population lived in villages while only 10% occupied civic spaces. Today, Indias cities host 26.1% of its population, and urban centers are growing at exponential rates. Ramapir No Tekro, also known as the Tekro, is the largest slum area in Ahmedabad, and is located directly across the street from Manav Sadhna. Home to approximately 150,000 residents, the slum consists mainly of people falling under the classification of Scheduled Caste who are originally from villages around Gujarat or potter families from Rajasthan. The entire development is considered an encroachment because the land is owned by the government and is therefore temporary; however, people have been living in the Tekro for over 50 years. Today, through government attention, most of this slum area has electricity, water, sidewalks, and a gutter system. However, due to problems with addiction, health issues, superstitions, backward traditions, high-interest loans and illiteracy, many slumdwellers continue to live in the same cycle of despair and poverty. They earn their incomes by driving rickshaws, rag picking, cleaning homes, shining shoes, and working as potters or day laborers. By promoting values, education and awareness among the children and women in this slum area, we hope to eradicate many of the challenges the Tekro residents face so that they may become more empowered to change and uplift their standard of living.

LOVING COMMUNITY
"To say that a single human being, because of his birth, becomes an untouchable, unapproachable, or invisible, is to deny God." Gandhiji Manav Sadhna has been collaborating with the Gandhi Leprosy Seva Sangh (aka Loving Community) since 2008, helping this small community of leprosy patients and their family members continue to develop in a positive, uplifting way. The leprosy disease carries a severe social stigma, not only within society but also on the family level. The original settlers of the community were forced to flee native villages (mostly from South India), either because they felt they would shame their families if they stayed or, in some cases, faced danger (e.g., being burned alive). Because of the physical impact of the disease and the common belief that it can be spread easily, leprosy patients have a near impossible time finding employment and so typically turn to begging to

earn a living. The Gandhi Leprosy Seva Sangh was founded in 1975 in Ahmedabad as a refuge for these people who had been outcast by society. A place they could call home and live with a sense of dignity, peace, and solidarity. The community has gone through a number of evolutions since that time: it started off as a slum and the situation was dire, the arrival of the current president of the community, led to the Lion's Club involvementwho secured official land, built homes, and got the leprosy patients treated, and then finally Manav Sadhna got involved (programs listed below). 2nd and 3rd generations have been born into the communityall without the diseasethere have been no new cases and none are expected since all the patients have been treated. Nevertheless, the community and all its member (with leprosy or not, including the children) still face the issues of the stigma and similar poverty challenges found in slum environments. All who visit the Loving Community are typically moved by its loving spirit, it is a place where the heart opens. We find it amazing how embracing and warm its residents are, considering the exclusion they have faced.

In conjunction with the NASA Foundation, built toilets for homes without, addressing a sanitation issue. Provide free medical supplies to leprosy patients and arrange doctor's visits when necessary. With gracious support of Katherine and Rohit Desai Family, built a beautiful, Rs. 19L community center and commercial-grade kitchen. The community center is a venue for functions and workshops and shelters residents whose homes are prone to flooding in the rainy season or extreme heat in the summer. Arranged a visit with the Mayor of Ahmedabad, since that visit the AMC (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) has provided a number of valuable upgrades and services: installation of a footpath, trees, playground materials, waste bins, new water stations that have shortened queues for fetching water, and a renovation of an old structure to be used for smaller programs. On site, free Anganwadi (pre-school education). Free, daily dinner program for a group of the most needy residents of the community (without family, beg, afflicted with leprosy). Worked with a group of motivated children in the community to inspire future, community service leadership. Initiated a monthly, community-wide day of service to mainly inspire the children to take greater responsibility in the community. Purchased basic gym equipment for a small gym to be run out of the community center. With a team of AWF architects and MS volunteers, built a children's playground.

Those are the projects. The process beneath those activities has, and continues to be, what defines Manav Sadhna. Providing love, care, and inspiration. The community has continued to grow in wonderful ways and it really is our privilege to be involved with it.

RAM RAHIM NO TEKRO

A Manav Sadhna teacher, Tarik Mansuri, had been teaching children how to read and write at the Paldi Street School for many years when one day, none of his students came to class. Visiting their homes, he found that police had been harassing children working on the street, taking them to the juvenile jail without informing their parents; so, parents had stopped allowing their children to go out. It was after this incident that Manav Sadhna started a school in Jamalpur. We started teaching the street school classes in Ram Rahim where the kids live rather than where they work, so they would attend class after returning home from working. Seeing the need in the community and the interest in education demonstrated by the residents of the area slowly blossomed into more and more classes and projects being done in the area. Manav Gulzar is a project that operates under the NGO Manav Sadhna. Manav Gulzar is based out of the Ram Rahim Nagar in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. This is a large slum area which is home to over 60,000 residents, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, a rare combination in India. This community is an inspiration and model for peace and communal harmony. However, like any other slum area, its residents have many issues of health, education, addiction, sanitation, hygiene, and employment. The residents suffer due to lack of education and opportunity. The goals of Manav Gulzar are to promote values, education, and awareness among the children and women of the area to eliminate some of their challenges and provide them with opportunities and resources to grow. Manav Gulzar has worked to build a strong relationship with the Ram Rahim community through the organization Ram aur Rahim Jhupdavasi Mandal, which is a trust that operates in Ram Rahim Nagar and is comprised of local residents. Building a relationship with the Ram aur Rahim Jhupdavasi Mandal and its leaders was vital to Manav Gulzar being a sustainable program in the slum. The leaders meet with Manav Sadhnas staff members regularly. They provide their input and tell us their concerns. We work together to troubleshoot and expand the programs we offer based on the needs expressed by the community. This relationship is especially vital since we are in the process of building a community center in the slum that will allow Manav Gulzar to become a permanent and integrated part of the community. In the summer of 2010, we completed a survey of approximately 1,000 families. We surveyed everything from demographics, to occupation and income, to amenities, to health. The purpose of this survey was to characterize the community and better understand it in order to address their needs better. We have used the results of the survey to make a list of goals of how we can support and help the residents of Ram Rahim Nagar and are working towards those goals. Manav Gulzar means the flower garden of blooming children. At Manav Sadhna we believe in value- based education where we teach values, hygiene, spirituality, culture, and social skills. We want the children and women that go through our program to come out with life skills in addition to education. All of our classes start with a Sarva Dharm (all faith) prayer and end with a nutritious warm snack made on site. We tracked the childrens weight before and after implementation of the nutrition program, and saw a significant increase in weight in nearly every student.

MEET KRISHNA

On a four day trip to Dwarka, Somnath and Porbandar, a few Manav Sadhna team members made their way out from Ahmedabad, early afternoon, March 12th, 2010. By mid afternoon the Manav Sadhna van had reached Chotila, a small town about two and half hours outside of Ahmedabad, and the team decided to take a tea break at a stall across the road. After stretching, washing up and getting refreshed, everyone was getiting ready to leave as they were only half way along their journey. As they got up from their seats, they noticed a young boy five to six years of age, peacefully and mindfully sweeping the floor. Everyone was curious how and why such a young boy took his sweeping duties with such grace and detail and so he proceeded to talk with the little boy, whose name was Nitin. Meanwhile, others around noticed the Manav Sadhna Gandhi Ashram van and decided to open up to the Manav Sadhna family and share the boys story. Nitin stepped off a bus coming from his hometown of Baroda by himself, with only a backpack and his birth certificate.

He ended up getting off at the Chotila bus station and walking around to this area where the tea stall owners offered him some biscuits and milk and a place to hang around and stay as long as he helped out with cleaning and sweeping. Nitin had lost his mother to cancer and his father is an alcoholic and criminal. His brothers and sisters are nowhere to be found. After digging further into his story, the Manav Sadhna Family decided to inquire with the police department at Chotila about his background in Baroda and his current situation. Everyone agreed to bring him to Manav Sadhna and give him a home and family there. After having a conversation with the Baroda Collector, Sarpanch, and PSI, an application was signed with the Chotila police department and Nitin, whose new name was given as Krishna (because of the upcoming trip to Dwarka), joined the Manav Sadhna family on the trip to West Coast of Gujarat and back to Ahmedabad. He enjoyed his new clothes, toys and wholesome food. Full of life, energy, and enthusiasm, he has absorbed himself in his new family and love. Since then has not looked back. Now, Krishna has a family of over a 100 people and kids. For the three months after we met Krishna, he has lived mainly with Jayeshbhai, Virenbhai and various other Manav Sadhna family members, eating healthy daily meals, learning values, being tutored, and playing with other kids. He was showered with the love that he deserves. Krishna has been admitted to the India First Foundation, one of the premiere boarding schools in India and is scheduled to start in June. Krishnas journey continues to unfold and we are only blessed that we can receive so many beautiful gifts of life from him.

MEET ROHAN

One tear drop of compassion and two drops of sweat can transform the life of any human being. The story of Rohan reflects the spirit of Manav Sadhna. A gift from God, this resilient 8-year old is a continuous source of inspiration to us and a reminder of the power of love and service. When we first met Rohan, he was living on the footpath just outside the Gandhi Ashram with his elder sister, her husband and their son, Ajay. His family would beg during the day, leaving Rohan on his own. He seemed oblivious to the world as he sat motionless, often without clothing, never reacting to any of our efforts to connect with him. His face was shrouded with a deep void and an absence of hope unfair for any child to burden. One day, one of

our volunteers passed Rohan as he was banging an empty cup on the concrete sidewalk. The volunteer brought him a vessel full of water, which Rohan guzzled eagerly.
The volunteer was moved to tears as water quenched this childs thirst and quickly brought Rohan and Ajay to the Manav Sadhna centre to bathe and feed them. We were heartbroken to learn that Rohan was deaf, mute and blind. That was the beginning of a transformational experience for both Rohan and Manav Sadhna. To foster an improvement in Rohans condition, we worked with his family, but they too were fending for their own daily survival. Rohan soon developed a serious infection, which spread quickly with the encouragement of the rains and poor hygiene. We admitted him in the hospital, where he was operated on and under observation for two weeks. At this point, his family abandoned him. Inspired with compassion, the collective force of Manav Sadhna decided to adopt Rohan. Manav Sadhnas karyakartas assumed different responsibilities to nurture Rohan into the healthy and loving child he is today. We looked into options to treat his glaucoma and the cataract that had caused his blindness. The doctors could not guarantee any improvement, but we thought it was worth the chance. Karyakartas have taken turns welcoming Rohan into their homes, families and hearts. During his recovery, Rohan lived with an elderly widow who lives in the slum community where we work. She showered an abundance of love and care on Rohan, guiding his full recovery. He gave her the chance to be a mother. After a few months, Rohan lived with a family of five. Through the bond of this family, Rohan grew into

an active child. When he parted from their home, the father cried and could not eat a morsel for days. Afterwards Rohan moved into an extended family of 20 people, all living under one roof. He has made this family his own. Today he attends a residential blind school in Gandhinagar where he is learning self-reliance and basic life skills. Despite his physical challenges, Rohan expresses himself clearly, engages with everyone fearlessly and is even learning how to ride a bike. Despite his blindness, Rohan sees the world through his heart. For us, he is a miracle who spreads joy wherever he goes. The fruit of collective effort, Rohan is an example of what is possible when we love all and serve all.

CHIRAG AND PUSHPABEN Chirag Gohil is 25 years old and is from Bhachau- Kutch. In January 2011, Chirag was involved in a major accident, requiring him to have a number of large scale operations to his legs and stomach. Chirag was sitting as a passenger on motorcycle when another vehicle collided with his, only Chirag was severely injured. Since January, Chirag has been treated at the Civil hospital in Ahmadabad. Chirags Grandmother Pushpaben Rathod is in her late seventies, and has been living next to her Grand-sons bedside on the floor in the hospital. She is with him constantly, taking care of his every need. She ensures that he eats 3 times a day, bathes him daily and changes his urine bag when needed. Since being introduced to Chirag, Manav Sadhna has seen vast improvements in his recovery. In the initial months of our visits, Chirag was very frustrated and sad that he may not walk again and would be bed-ridden for the rest of his life. Over the last few months, Chirag has been involved in a number of physiotherapy sessions for his legs and has been provided with a wheelchair. Chirag is now able to walk with the support of a zimmer frame. Although his left leg may not recover fully, he has accepted this and has got a positive outlook on life. He now believes anything is possible. Manav Sadhna visit Chirag and PushpaBen in hospital on a regular basis. Manav Sadhna provides additional medicine (especially for PushpaBen), equipment and other items to make their lives easier. Pushpaben recently caught an infection causing her a lot of leg pain. She was unable to sit, sleep and stopped her from supporting Chirag. Manav Sadhna asked Dr. Poonum to provide a checkup and prescribe a followup treatment. Since then, the infection has been treated successfully and she is now cured. Pushpaben also suffers from high blood pressure. Manav Sadhna is in the process of reviewing this to ensure she receives the right support and medicine. The relationship between Chirag and Pushpaben is very powerful. They

will not leave each others side for a long period of time, and will always look after the others welfare. Chiraag himself is a very positive person, humorous and full of life, which is very inspirational considering his situation. Pushpaben is also very positive, extremely caring and is convinced Chirag will walk again. When Manav Sadhna visits both of them in hospital, they are very appreciative of the company and the additional support.

SANGEETA DABHI
with a shoulder I remember the days my family went to sleep on a hungry stomach. Her name is sangeeta. She live in Ramapir no tekro with her parents and two brothers. With no real sources of income to support her family, her mother struggled to make ends meet. Her mother would spend her days rag picking, collecting enough to barely feed her family one meal. Her mother worked very hard, but her father would take the money and drink it away. Continuous physical labor, unhygienic working conditions and domestic abuse made her mother seriously ill. Her mothers hardships continued mounting and life for her family become desolate. Deteriorating health prevented her mother from working. She and her family had almost given up on hope when gramshree came knocking on their door with an opportunity for change. Her mother sent her to receive training in handwork at gramshree. In no time, she began quiling. The nurturing atmosphere of gramshree is worlds apart from the miseries lingering at her home. Despite the continuous challenges, her earnings and other benefits from gramshree such as the food loan, healthcare and guidance have really improved her familys living condition.

Today, she believes in herself. Her father and elder brother have given their life and sensibilities to drinking and quarreling. Although her younger brother drives a rickshaw, he does not contribute anything at home. Even with the three man in house, she shoulder the responsibility of her entire family.