Outreach
Salaam Baalak Trust
Since 2021, I’ve volunteered with Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of street children. They provide children rescued from the streets with shelter, education, counselling, health and nutrition services along with rehabilitation, vocational training, and job placement.
Over the past two years, I’ve been working closely with Aarushi homes, an SBT shelter for girls. Over my many visits, I have built a personal connection with the girls under their care.
Fundraising Exhibition
I organized and partnered with Salaam Baalak Trust alumni photo artists for an exhibition at Vadehra Art Gallery, a leading gallery in New Delhi, to showcase the upward mobility achieved as a direct outcome of the resources provided by this organization.
I displayed 18 of my works capturing the residents of SBT’s Aarushi Shelter Home. I used masks to creatively protect their identity. I sold 22 prints of my works and raised USD 3000. The extensive media coverage of the exhibition raised awareness about SBT’s impact on the children under their care.
Merchandise
In addition to awareness about their impact, Salaam Baalak Trust was in need of monetary resources to achieve their goals. To provide an additional revenue stream, I designed reusable cloth bags featuring photographs from an annual theatrical performance by SBT’s children, an ode to their talent, creativity, and resilience. This merchandise is being sold by SBT at their centers. I personally have raised approximately USD 3500+ by selling 400 bags. I am working closely with SBT’s team to develop additional products.
Malvernian Initiative
Continuing to raise awareness about the plight of street children in India, I advocated for SBT to be supported by Malvern College, my boarding school in the UK. I conducted a series of presentations leading to SBT’s selection as a community service option. Building on this initial recognition, I pushed and ensured that SBT was assigned as both Ellerslie House and as the official school charity. Students will work through the year every Wednesday to plan various fund raising activities to support SBT’s goal of educating the children under their care.
