| |
Lend-A-Hand India is an outcome
of an idea, nurtured over five years. The motivation behind it is
to give back to the community and to contribute to confronting challenge
of the poverty wherever it exists. The personal journey and experiences
of Sunanda Mane and Raj Gilda, the founders of Lend-A-Hand, go a long
way in this motivation.
After working in the social development sector for over ten years
in various parts of India, Sunanda moved to the United States in 2000.
She had already decided that she would remain in touch with the work
that she had started in India. For Raj, besides making a successful
career in consulting and banking, his primary interest was to get
involved in social activism to bring change in the lives of poor and
underprivileged people. Together they worked to bring into reality
the dream of Lend-A-Hand India.
Lend-A-Hand India was incorporated in December 2003 in the State of
New York and thereafter immediately obtained the tax exempt status
from the IRS under Section 501(C)(3).
The network with friends and well wishers and linkages with the non-profit
sector in India and the United States helped Lend-A-Hand India launch
its program without much delay. Due thought went into selecting "Youth"
as the focus area of work. Three projects were launched in 2004 in
partnership with grass roots non-profit organizations covering about
600 beneficiaries.
|
|
|
|
Here Vaibhav and Bhargav learn the art of heavy metal welding.
Vaibhav failed his 9th grade exams in school. He never liked sitting
in classrooms and listening to theoretical lectures but loves the
focus on practical skills.
|
|
