Atma Partner Masoom is an NGO that focuses on illuminating Mumbai’s night schools. Night school students attend classes at night after working during the day, and must make do with fewer resources than regular students. Founded by Nikita Ketkar, an Unltd India Investee, Masoom exists to improve the classroom infrastructure and educational offerings in Mumbai night schools, allowing night school students to excel academically.
Click to learn more about Masoom and Atma’s other Partnerships.
In 2010 Emily Quinan came to India for the first time from Canada on an AIESEC internship to teach as a volunteer at a school for children with special needs in Kerala. Through this experience, Emily glimpsed the challenges faced by the NGO sector in India. She also realized that although teaching for a short period was a rewarding experience, her time in Kerala didn’t have a long term impact on the NGO or the community.
So, when Emily graduated with a BA in psychology from McGill University, she began looking for a way to engage in capacity building that would have a more lasting impact. “I was drawn to what Atma does because I realised that there are so many NGOs in India that aren’t running to the best of their ability,” said Emily Quinan of her initial attraction to working with Atma. Emily saw the potential of NGOs to facilitate change, but also observed that organisations often need someone to devote their time and expertise to take projects ahead. Emily was also looking for an opportunity to gain professional experience and use her expertise in the field of education. Before coming to India, Emily had done significant research in the fields of special education, effective motivation and praise, and teaching methods for children with special needs. Based on her research in the Interpersonal Relationships lab and Language and Memory lab at McGill,her background working with children with learning difficulties and her interest in curriculum design, Emily was paired with Atma Partner CHILDReach to develop an English Curriculum for children with learning difficulties.
Divya arrived in Mumbai in June 2010 to begin her Atma volunteership. Almost one year later, she looks back on her professional experience in the Mumbai social sector.
As a recent undergrad of Indian origin about to immerse myself in the Canadian corporate world, I was looking to contribute to the non-profit sector in India in a meaningful way. I knew volunteering would provide perspective on international development issues, be personally fulfilling, and allow me to reconnect with my roots. While researching development sector opportunities, I was impressed by Atma’s professional website, well structured volunteer program, and defined volunteer roles. Atma’s extensive experience weaving volunteers from all over the world into the fabric of Mumbai assured me the transition would be smooth. Atma’s position as a ‘capacity builder’ also seemed like the ideal place to bridge my corporate experience with the non-profit sector.
I had worked in a variety of corporate internships and had volunteered in an ad hoc manner during my university career. However, I had very little experience as a full-time volunteer. My first and most important goal was to make an impact by using my skills in a meaningful way. Secondly, I was hoping for a better understanding of what life in India is like and what working in the non-profit sector is like. In short, I wanted to give of my skills to a cause I believed in, and take away a personal and professional development experience. (more…)
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.
Photo by a CHILDReach Volunteer
This boy is a student at Atma Partner CHILDReach school in Santacruz. CHILDReach is a school that focuses on meeting the needs of students with learning difficulties that range from dyslexia to disgraphia and ADHD.
Photo by a Masoom volunteer
This young man is studying from a Braille textbook at a night school supported by Atma Partner Masoom. Masoom works to improve the educational offerings at night schools in Mumbai.
CHIP became an Atma Graduated Partner this April, after completing 3 years of educational collaboration and learning with Atma. The Atma-CHIP relationship will evolve as CHIP joins the Atma Graduated Partners Program and Atma continues to play an advisory role in CHIP’s continuous growth and development.
This April marks Atma’s 4th year as an organization. On Saturday April 9th, more than 100 people joined Atma at Volte Gallery in Colaba to celebrate 4 amazing years of Quality Education. Thank you to every supporter who came out to show their dedication to our cause! Here are a few photos from the evening.
“I wondered if I would encounter resistance from management when it came to the direction of the organisation,” said Viren about his initial Atma volunteership expectations.
“However, the partner organization founders Chris and Krishna were very supportive of the ideas I had for the future of Reality Tours.”
Photo by Bronwyn McBride
Atma works in collaborative partnerships with Mumbai-based NGOs working in education, supporting their growth through consultancy, trainings and advocacy, and with professional volunteers like Viren.
Kavita’s family is not from Dharavi, but her life has changed for the better because she lives there.
Kavita is nineteen, and the second youngest of five children. Her family is originally from Uttar Pradesh. In Dharavi, her father is a company manager and her mother is a housewife, as every other woman in her family has been.
After graduating from class ten, Kavita began to stay home to do housework. Two years ago though, Kavita heard about the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), one of Atma Partner Reality Gives’ initiatives. It’s a fifteen week course where young people from Dharavi can learn computer basics, English and soft skills.
“Reality Gives’ strength is their connection to the Dharavi community,” said Atma Partnerships Director Summer Starr. “Because of that connection, Reality Gives had identified the need for a community centre and skills programs for young adults.” Computers, English and soft skills were the specific skills that Atma and Reality Gives had determined would help the young adults in Dharavi to access employment opportunities.
