Blog

Virginia Tarozzi came to Atma after spending 5 months travelling in Latin America, the US and South East Asia. She was looking for a change from the life of a traveller and wanted to re-engage in the working world by contributing to a social cause. However, she was not expecting the kind of professional development experience she received from Atma. She had hoped at best to teach children and feel good about a short-term impact. However, she found herself engaged in work that stimulated her creatively and challenged her professionally. With a Master’s degree in Fundraising and many years of work experience including fundraising at Oxfam Ireland, Virginia found a good fit for her background in a marketing role with Atma partner, The Foundation for Mother and Child Health (FMCH).

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After finishing her BA in International Business, Simran Daryanani began considering working in the field of development. She knew that her classroom studies could only take her so far, and was looking for an opportunity to use her skills on the ground and gain professional experience. Her search for real hands-on social sector experience brought her to Atma.

In April, Simran finished a six-month Atma volunteership. Simran assisted with organisational development at Atma’s newest partner, the Foundation for Mother and Child Health (FMCH).FMCH aims to improve early childhood development by providing underprivileged communities with health and nutrition education as well as interventions such as clinics and nutrition supplement programs.

Photo by Jacek Rezsko

At FMCH, Simran found a challenging volunteer opportunity: one that allowed her to truly work on the ground in the strategic planning and programs of an NGO.

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Sheetal is like many of the mothers living in the Mahalaxmi area: she works hard to care for her daughter and provide opportunities for her development. Unlike many of the women in her community, Sheetal and her daughter are benefiting from regular doctor visits and nutritional counselling to ensure their best possible health.

The program that allows Sheetal and other young mothers to access nutritional education and counselling is called ‘Bloom’. Bloom is just one of the initiatives of Atma Partner ‘the Foundation for Mother and Child Health (FMCH). FMCH focuses on innovative ways of addressing health and nutrition education with specific, community-based interventions.

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Photo by Jacek Reszko

This mother and little girl are beneficiaries of Atma’s newest partner, the Foundation for Mother and Child Health.

Dottie Wagle is the chairperson of Atma Partner FMCH’s India board. The Foundation for Mother and Child Health focuses on encouraging preventive health and balanced nutrition practices in underprivileged communities. Dottie has been a valuable part of FMCH’s blossoming projects in Mumbai since early 2010.

FMCH became an Atma Partner in June 2010.

“FMCH has an incredible staff, and is prepared with a lot of tools and expertise,” said Atma’s Partnerships Director Summer Starr.

“Atma is helping them to recognize how to use their resources to move ahead with an excellent focus.”

“This is the first step in helping children and parents feel empowered about their health,” Dottie said at an FMCH committee meeting. She was referring to the ‘Bloom’ programme: an intervention focusing on teaching nutrition to a community of mothers and children at Mahila Ward in Mumbai.

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