70 YO Mangaltai Wants To Build A New Home For Hundreds Of HIV+ Orphans, Help Her

“I proudly tell people that I am a grandmother with 120 grandchildren. These children are mostly orphans and their distant relatives have abandoned them but none of this is because of their own fault. They are left on the streets with no one to care for them. At Palawi, we make it our priority to look after all these children,” - Mangaltai, Founder, Palawi. 

How Palawi came into being

The stigma and taboo around HIV+ children is still a social menace as it was 20 years ago. One fine day in March 2001, while Mangal Arun Shah or Mangaltai and her daughter Dimple, were out spreading awareness about HIV/AIDs among s*x workers in Pandharpur town, Mahrashtra, when they were informed about two girls aged 2.5 and 1.5 who were left abandoned in a cow shed in a nearby village. 

Both girls were HIV positive and as a result their relatives had abandoned them in a cow shed, believing that they brought ‘shame’ to the family and were at risk of infecting the entire family. When no hospital or NGOs were ready to take them in, Mangaltai with all courage, compassion and love, the project Palawi, under Prabha Hira Pratisthan began its mission to provide shelter  for HIV/AIDS orphan children. 

“Here, we try to give them all that they deserve. Love, affection, education, medical care, legal counsel and even help them stand on their own feet. What started off with just 2 girls has now grown into a safe haven for around 125 girls. We wish to continue doing the good work,” - Dimple Palawi, Secretary. 

Palawi now seeks your help to give these children a happy life 

‘Palawi’ literally means new leaves of a plant in Marathi and quite true to its name, the organisation goes out of its way to provide a safe, happy and stigma-free environment for all those whose family have disowned them for no fault of theirs. 

“The pandemic has been a tough time for us here in Palawi. While on one hand, these HIV+ kids are highly susceptible to any kind of illnesses and we had to provide them with the best of facilities; we were also struggling to continue their education during the lockdown period. With love and blessings from all of you, we have emerged from that crisis but now we wish to help many more in need. We would need an ambulance for the sick children and construction materials to extend our existing home.” 

Your support will be of immense help to Mangaltai and her dedicated team who leave no stone unturned to help these 125 kids in need. Every donation will make a difference. 

About the NGO: Started in 2001 by Mangal Arun Shah, Palawi is the first of its kind shelter home for abandoned children suffering from HIV-AIDS. They aim to create a just and equitable society for HIV+ orphans and empower them to lead a life of happiness and fulfillment.  Email : dimple@palawi.org