Six months of the journey at Dream A Dream

Dream A Dream has completed 6-months of its Financial Year 2009-10 (April-September) and we thought it’s a good time to reflect on what has been achieved in the year so far and also communicate our achievements to our stakeholders – YOU.

The last six months have been nothing short of exhilarating at Dream A Dream and as we celebrate some of our achievements, we continue to humbly realize that we are still just about touching the tip of the ice-berg and renew our commitment to our vision.

Our Vision

Empowering children from vulnerable backgrounds by developing life skills and at the same time sensitizing the community through active volunteering leading to a non-discriminatory society where unique differences are appreciated.

Highlights of the last six months

1. Reaching out to 9 NGO Partners impacting over 1178 children through regular life skills development programs
2. Impact 644 Boys and 534 Girls through our programs
3. Average attendance in all our regular programs is about 88% showing the tremendous interest in the various life skills programs
4. Actively engaging over 648 community volunteers who have contributed over 6600 volunteer hours
5. Continue to run and build strengths in our 5 core life skills development programs – Sports, Creative Arts, Mentoring, LearnIT and Adventure.
6. Dream A Dream has 17 people on the rolls working to provide a meaningful experience to children and volunteers alike
7. Ms. Hema Hattangady, Managing Director - Schneider Electric Conzerv India Pvt Ltd and Mr. Bhasker Sharma, Director Operations – Mformation Technologies Inc. have joined the Board of Trustees of Dream A Dream
8. Dream A Dream has established an Advisory Board in UK which includes Arvind Malhotra, Ed Williams, Pierina Arul and Rajesh Gandhi – all of them long-term supporters, volunteers and contributors to Dream A Dream.
9. Dream A Dream has been able to raise 50% of its Funding requirements for the FY 2009-10. Our key supporters include NIKE India, WNS Services, Hans Foundation, ERSF-UK, TPI amongst others.
10. Dream A Dream has revamped its website with a new look and updated content – www.dreamadream.org and also enhanced its online presence through our own Twitter, Blog, Youtube and Facebook pages.

Finally, our success lies in the impact that we have had on every single person who has come in contact with Dream A Dream and we leave you with a few reflections from a volunteer and a child.

“I really look forward to the mentoring program. Everyone thinks we are useless and rowdy. No adult has ever come to us and said we would like to be your friend. I feel happy when I think of that. Dream A Dream really cares for children like me.” ~ A child in the Dream Mentoring Program

“An example of how I love their spirit is one day the girls forgot the cones that they use as goal posts in the auto rickshaw. The kids didn’t even pause for a moment- they got coconut shells and played with those as goals instead. I also came across problems like the cows on the field that I would never ever imagine happening in the United States. We played around cows sometimes, which was kind of funny to me! Nothing kept these kids from playing, not even rain. One day it was pouring and we all got soaked, but we played anyway. They only get to play football three days a week, and they were so enthusiastic about it that I had to be enthusiastic as well! They played in the rain until a teacher came out and told them to come inside.”

~ Aisha, Volunteer

Thank you for your continued support and belief in us. It means a lot to us and gives us the strength to stay focused on our vision.