Support Vinaya & Mahesh To Help Abused & Orphaned Kids From Nomadic Tribes

“I’ve been doing social work since I was 19, but there’s one incident that will always stay with me. Mahesh and I were going to Jamgaon village when we saw a boy crying on the side of the road. He didn’t speak to us for a long time. We took him for a meal and after eating he finally told us his story. I still remember him crying and telling us that he was s*xually abused. He didn’t have any parents and his grandmother was visually challenged. They had no money and barely anything to eat. That’s when I was reminded of our own struggles when we would survive on biscuits and water. I knew we had to do something” - Vinaya Nimbalkar, Co-founder, Snehgram Democratic School .



Just like this little boy, there are many children belonging to nomadic tribes from Marathwada and Rajasthan who are in Solapur, Maharashtra. Often these children end up begging, stealing, collecting garbage, and are victims of abuse and s*xual harassment. Mahesh and Vinaya Nimbalkar started Snehgram Democratic School in 2014 to give these kids the ability to forge their own futures.



A Day In The Life Of A Student At Snehgram

Snehgram Democratic School in Korfale Tehsil- Barshi District, Solapur, Maharashtra is no regular residential school. It’s a unique alternative to traditional models of education. Here, the children not only learn academic subjects but also learn valuable lessons about responsibility. problem-solving, social justice, and social interactions.

“Every child is unique, and every child has a unique talent. We want to empower each and every one of them to have the confidence to move forward with their lives. All of them have been through a world of pain. We want Snehgram to not only be where they learn but also where they are loved and cared for; where they can spread their wings and explore their creative side. This is why they not only learn from books but also by interacting with each other, field visits, art and much more.”



There are 192+ children at Snehgram, out of which 43 of them live in the hostel. Every single child loves coming to school because they are heard, not judged and have the space to be children again - something they’ve missed throughout their children due to their difficult circumstances. They have taken in s*xually abused children, children of suicide victims, children of prostitutes, orphans, and migrant children. The ones who stay in the hostels have finally found a safe home, and Vinaya and Mahesh’s belief in the children has given them the confidence they need.



With Your Support, They Can Help Many More Kids

Vinaya and Mahesh now need your help to build another hostel so that many more children can stay there.

“All of these children come from difficult homes. Staying at Snehgram, we can ensure that they’re given healthy meals and all their needs are taken care of. We want to make it possible to take in many more kids. Tomorrow when they go out into the world, they need to be able to believe in themselves and know that they have people who believe in them.”



Your contribution towards the construction material and groceries will help Vinaya and Mahesh give these underprivileged, abused, and abandoned children the childhood they deserve.

About Snehgram:

Founded in 2014 by Mahesh and Vinaya Nimbalkar,  the Snehgram Democratic School in Korfale Tehsil- Barshi District- Solapur, Maharashtra (India) provides a unique alternative to traditional models of education by offering children a self-directed approach to their learning. Students at the school, many of whom have slipped through the cracks of today’s regimented test-driven school system, flourish in a nurturing environment that allows them the freedom to chart their own course of learning while fostering emotional development. 

Note: All the donations towards this campaign are eligible for Indian Tax Exemption.