Chapter 1

MEANING OF NGO

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is the term commonly used for an

organization that is neither a part of a government nor a conventional for-profit

business. Usually set up by ordinary citizens, NGOs may be funded by governments,

foundations, businesses, or private persons. Some avoid formal funding altogether

and are run primarily by volunteers. NGOs are highly diverse groups of organizations

engaged in a wide range of activities, and take different forms in different parts of the

world. Some may have charitable status, while others may be registered for tax

exemption based on recognition of social purposes. Others may be fronts for

political, religious or other interest groups. in the United States is estimated at 1.5

million. Russia has 277,000 NGOs. India is estimated to have had around 2 million

NGOs in 2009, just over one NGO per 600 Indians, and many times the number of

primary schools and primary health centers in India.

DEFINITION OF NGOs

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens'

group which is organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and

driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and

humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and

monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of

information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights,

environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning

mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. Their

relationship with offices and agencies of the United Nations system differs depending

on their goals, their venue and the mandate of a particular institution.

TYPES OF NGO

Governmental related organizations / non-governmental organizations are a

heterogeneous group. As a result, a long list of additional acronyms has developed,

including:

BINGO: 'Business-friendly international NGO' or 'Big international NGO'

TANGO: 'Technical assistance NGO'

TSO: 'Third-sector organization'

GONGO: 'Government-operated NGOs' (set up by governments to look like

NGOs in order to qualify for outside aid or promote the interests of government)

DONGO: 'Donor organized NGO'

INGO: 'International NGO'

QUANGO: 'Quasi-autonomous NGO,' such as the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO). (The ISO is actually not purely an NGO, since its

membership is by nation, and each nation is represented by what the ISO

Council determines to be the 'most broadly representative' standardization body

of a nation. That body might itself be a nongovernmental organization; for

example, the United States is represented in ISO by the American National

Standards Institute, which is independent of the federal government. However,

other countries can be represented by national governmental agencies; this is

the trend in Europe.)

National NGO: A non-governmental organization that exists only in one country.

This term is rare due to the globalization of non-governmental organizations,

which causes an NGO to exist in more than one country.

CSO: 'Civil Society Organization'

ENGO: 'Environmental NGO,' such as Greenpeace and WWF

NNGO: 'Northern NGO'

PANGO: 'Party NGO,' set up by parties and disguised as NGOs to serve their

political matters.

SNGO: 'Southern NGO'

SCO: 'Social change organization'

TNGO: 'Transnational NGO.' The term emerged during the 1970s due to the

increase of environmental and economic issues in the global community. TNGO

includes non-governmental organizations that are not confined to only one

country, but exist in two or more countries.

GSO: Grassroots Support Organization

MANGO: 'Market advocacy NGO'

NGDO: 'Non-governmental development organization'

Chapter 2

INTRODUCTION OF AARAMBH

Aarambh is NGO based in India is created by like minded people who are up

to making a huge difference in the world.

This NGO was formed to educate each and every child on this planet. Inside of this

context we’re planning to take different projects in and around Mumbai to start with.

We are working on projects like impacting results in night school, sponsoring children

studies who cannot afford to go to school, 

inspiring children to attend school, providing them with different facilities that with aid

them in completing their academic studies and make them self reliant.

AARAMBH – Waves of a New FutureA huge chunk of students have to struggle through stifling poverty to put

themselves through school and college. Moreover, the dropout rate is astonishingly

high – a staggering number of children don’t make it to school and college.

Infrastructure is dismal. Thus, Aarambh came into being – An NGO founded by

likeminded people who believe in giving back to the society; who believe in touching

lives.

Aarambh is all about offering innovative schools with a desire to create a meaningful

impact on lives of children. Connecting with livelihood is really very important and the

curriculum has been designed to get the children the kind of education that can help

them a stable career ahead. By making these children realise their self worth,

Aarambh is interested to empower them well enough to make them into highly

successful individuals.

The education that we wish to offer is filled with care, support and

independence that will provide these kids with a unique platform to tap into their

unlimited potential. With the extraordinary weapon of education, Aarambh hopes to

strengthen India by offering it with an army of learned professionals who will

contribute tremendously for a better future.

Chapter 3MISSION AND VISION OF AARAMBH

VISION:

Educating the underprivileged

Educating each and every child on this planet. To make education an enjoyable,

fulfilling and rewarding experience for children.

Impart the highest quality of education to all those who have the burning desire to

study.

MISSION:

To help the needy cope up with their education needs.

To create a stress-free, fun education environment.

To offer maximum resources to make education impactful.

To improve the quality of education at all levels.

Chapter 4

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The success of AARAMBH is the result of our staff of dedicated and

committed men & women who choose to participate in this venture. Most of our staff

is drawn from local communities and after obtaining the requisite training, has joined

the organization. We also have professionals from various fields to manage our

programs. 

SHOBHA MURTHY:

Ms. Murthy is the Founder Trustee and Director of AARAMBH. She has worked

with several national and international corporate and non-profits like Lakme, CRY,

USAID, and others. She has brought to Aarambh, her wealth of experience and

talent. She has also completed a course in Social Wok form T.I.S.S..

MRS. SIVAPRASAD:

Mrs Sivaprasad serves on the board of trustees for AARAMBH. She is a retired

college lecturer and a talented classical singer. She is a dedicated social worker and

regularly raises funds for our activities 

MRS VIJAY CHAKRAVARTY :  

She is a psychologist and a landscape designer. She is also our trustee 

MR.SUDHIR SUDHAL :

A trained social worker who has over 20 years experience in the development sector.

He is a founder trustee

Dr KUSUM SHENOY :

Is a volunteer-doctor who conducts regular health education classes for mothers and

health checkups for the communities. 

Chapter 5THE PROBLEM FACED BY SOCIETY

Navi Mumbai ( New Bombay), a satellite township to Bombay with its broad

roads and beautiful railway stations is also home to thousands of migrants who have

come to this city in search of employment. They live in small shanties put on the side of

roads, under flyovers and along railway tracks. These areas have no sanitation and

drinking water facilities. Diseases like T.B., Malaria, etc are common and the worst

sufferers are the children. 

Problem Why? Cause Again Why?

Further Causes Possible Solution

A lot of

youths are

roaming

around

without any

work

becaus

e

Families are

unable to

afford higher

education

for youths in

the villages

becaus

e

Families lack

adequate

financial

resources to

afford higher

education for

their youths

Families can be motivated

to increase savings & take

credit through microfinance

to afford education for their

youths

Youths are

not

interested in

traditional

work such

as farming

becaus

e

Farming is not a

sustainable

occupation due

to crop losses,

poor marketing

linkages, water

scarcity etc

Agricultural productivity can

be made profitable and

interesting (for youths) by

using technology &

enhancing marketing skills

There are

no

employment

opportunitie

s for youths

becaus

e

Lack of any

other sources of

livelihood other

than farming

Alternative livelihood

opportunities for youths can

be developed like

establishing computer

in the area centers

Men

regularly

migrating to

cities in

search of

work

becaus

e

Lack of

sustainable

income

opportunitie

s in the area

becaus

e

Farming is not a

sustainable

occupation due

to crop losses,

poor marketing

linkages, water

scarcity etc

Agricultural productivity can

be made profitable and

interesting by using

technology and enhancing

marketing & management

skills

Wome

nhave to

struggle

hard to feed

themselves

and

theirchildren

becaus

e

Lack of

sustainable

sources of

income for

the

household

becaus

e

Women depend

upon

unprofitable

microenterprises

to feed their

families

Profitable microenterprises

can be introduced for

women

  Sickness among children and poverty of parents force thousands of children to drop

out of school  even before they are 10 years old

  Hundreds of children are forced to work 10 to 12 hours a day to support their families

  Women and young girls face harassment and abuse at home and in the community

  Girls as young as 14 and 15 years are forced into marriage due to social and cultural

pressures 

Chapter 6Funding CONTRIBUTES AND SPONSORS

Aarambh has been receiving cash and non-cash assistance from several

organisations, corporates and individuals. It is the support and encouragement from such

people that motivates us to reach out to more and more families and new communities year

after year. Some of our donors are :

INSTITUTIONS INDIVIDUALSJP Morgan Chase Susan Jacob

United Way of Mumbai Mrs Siva PrasadSandoz Private Limited Mita & Kailash Agrawal

Mastek Foundation Mr Suresh TalrejaAmmadat Trust   Mr.T.R.V. Kochappan

Konsberg (I) Pvt Ltd Dr Milind JavleConcern India Foundation Usha & Mahesh Godbole

Tata Motors Vinod & Maya JanardhanGodrej Foundation

Team Rustic.comGalaxy Surfactants Pvt Ltd

Kelloggs FoundationMumbai Indians & Reliance Foundation  

Rotary Club Millenium City  

Rotary Club Navi Mumbai Industrial Area  

Rotary Club Of Vashi  

Lions Club of Turbhe  

Lions Club of APMC  

Gorwani Trust  

   

The Table below summarizes approximate costs for some of key programs: 

     Program # Beneficiaries    Cost per annumMid day meal 150  children Rs 1,08,000

Balwadi 100 children Rs   70,000Painting of classroom 225 children Rs   40,000

Sponsorship Per child Rs 2500

Chapter 6NEW INITIATIVES

CARING FOR THE AGED IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES

Every community has its share of elderly people who have worked hard their entire

lives, providing for their families, educating their children, etc. They are now old and infirm.

They suffer various ailments and health problems like joint pains, anemia, defective vision.

 

Becoming bedridden is the biggest fear for these people since their

families are very poor and cannot afford expensive medical care for the

elderly.  We would like to do our best to keep these people healthy and

happy in the twilight years of their lives.Last year we conducted several

health camps for the elderly which included eye camps, anemia control,

bone density camps, etc - followed up by treatment at the local private

hospitals. Today they are leading normal lives and we wish them all

LONG AND HAPPY LIVES.

SCHOOL ADOPTION PROGRAM

Aarambh has adopted the local Samata Hindi Vidyalaya, Turbhe where the poorest

migrants send their children. The school is in a very bad state with holes in the roof, broken

windows, walls of the class rooms broken down, etc. We raised funds and materials in kind

from many kind and generous individuals and completed some of the major renovation at a

cost of Rs 1,50,000/- We still have to provide drinking water, toilets and a computer lab for

the children.

Chapter 7SWOT ANALYSIS

MEANINGStrengths and Weaknesses describe ‘where the project or organisation is now: the

existing resources that can be used immediately and current problems that won’t go

away. It can help identify where new resources, skills or allies will be needed’. Both

refer to ‘technical, financial, promotional, networking, knowledge’ or competency

based factors internal to the programme. ‘When thinking of strengths it is useful to

think of real examples of success to ground and clarify the conversation’ . Strengths

are ‘those things that are working well in a project or situation. The aspects people

are proud to talk about’ and which differentiate the program from others. 

Weaknesses are ‘those things that have not worked well’ or that the program is less

efficient in than others.

Opportunities and Threats describe ‘what is going on outside the organisation, or

areas which are not yet affecting the strategy but could do’. Opportunities include

‘ideas on how to overcome weaknesses and build on strengths’ within

the environment the program operates in. Threats are ‘things that constrain or

threaten the range of opportunities for change’ in the programme environment.

These external aspects are often related to ‘sociological, political, demographic,

economic, trade-specific’ and environmental factors.

Strengths

This portion of the chart provides the opportunity to list everything that is good about

your NGO. As well as the two example strengths listed above, other common

strengths in NGOs are volunteer manpower which supplies organisation’s with

substantial amount of free labour and huge savings on staff costs. NGOs in many

countries are eligible for tax discounts which could be listed as another strength of

your organisation. You should include any assets that your organisation benefits

from in your strengths quadrant of your SWOT analysis.

Weaknesses

The weakness section enables you to list all of the deficiencies of your organisation.

Everything that causes you a problem in the management of your NGO should be

included here. The most common problem for most NGOs, especially ones in their

first years, is the lack of financial stability in terms of income, expenditure and

reserve levels. Weaknesses normally focus on internal issues that you can work to

resolve but can also include outside weaknesses beyond your control such as a lack

of institutional funders working in your region or country.

Opportunities

These factors tend to focus on outside opportunities such as new grant availability

and the development of local business relations but can just as well be used to

evaluate internal opportunities including staff that are quickly developing and the

contacts of a board of trustees member. You should try to look towards emerging

developments arond your NGO that may provide new options in the near future as

well as opportunities that are immediately available to your organisation. Many

people include potential opportunities that may not be available currently or may

never actually come to fruition but it is important to list them so that your NGO is

suitably prepared if they do.

Threats

NGOs and other similar non-profit organisations are particularly vulnerable to

financial threats and shocks. This is because non-profit organisation’s often have

less secure income streams combined with often just a few months of financial

reserves result in NGOs that can be perilously prone to major economic shifts.

Changes in priorities from a major grant provider or local authority could mean an

NGO is suddenly without its major revenue stream with no Backup plan. These are

the type of threats that you should use in your threats quadrant, essentially anything

that could happen that could jeopardise the success of your NGO.

Strengths High Demand for Services

One major donor

Weaknesses Lack of community awareness

Under developed board of trustees

Opportunities Public service contracts soon to be

put out to tender

Developing links with the business

community

Threats Other more established NGOs

complete similar work

Limited financial reserves

Chapter 8

FUTURE : CONTINUING AND LONG-TERM STRATEGIC GOALS

We recognize that our success in attracting and retaining children-at-risk to this

program is dependent on mobilizing mothers and convincing them that AARAMBH is

a productive and useful opportunity for their children. We therefore have and will

continue to include women in our activities. We seek to empower women in slum

communities in order to ensure their access to health and economic services. 

Our key goals for the next three years include:

  Expand our programs to include 2000 children

  Provide vocational skills training for 200 youth

  Provide Health and Social Awareness programs for 500 women.

Over the next ten years, we plan to provide educational and health support for 5000

children. In addition, we will work with 1000 women to help them access and

exercise their rights to health, social & economic prosperity.

Chapter 9

SUCESS STORIES

 Shekhar Manjulkar, studying in Class XII has been blind from birth. His parents could

not afford to send him to a “special school”. However, with support from St Xavier’s

College, Mumbai who prepared all his notes in Braille, today Shekhar is studying in

Junior College at ICL, Vashi. He dreams of being a professor one day. 

 Maya Gawli, a deaf- mute student is an excellent sportwoman winning several district

and state level medals in athletics. P.T. Usha remains her idol

 Subash Hegde, whose parents are daily wage earners, is now placed with L & T after

compeltion of his vocational course

 Shabana Sayyad, once a school drop out is today running her own small tailoring

business from home. She has employed two needy women to assist her. These

women take home Rs 3000/- to Rs 4000/- every month

 Siraj Sheikh, a hardware trained student is now working with ICICI Bank

 Kalpana Padghan, another school drop-out, re-enrolled in school after a gap of 4 years.

Today she is on the way to completing he graduation. She is a trained Balwadi

teacher too.

 Kaushalya Singh, an illiterate housewife is today a dedicated community leader who

has inspired many women like her to learn tailoring and work from their homes.

 Abdul Khan, who had lost all interest in studies and loitered in the area with his

friends for 3-4 years, was encouraged to re-enroll into school. He scored 80 % in

Class X and in now on his way to graduation.

 Akshay More, another student is studying Law and wants to set up his own practice

one day.

 Pradeep and Deepak, the twins from Turbhe are studying for their Diploma in Civil

Engineering.

Chapter 9Programmes run by Aarambh

Consistent with our current mission, AARAMBH’s programs cover children, youth, and

women in the slum communities of New Bombay. The following is a listing of our current

endeavors:

Children  Educational activities for children who have dropped out of school

 Enrollment of out of school children into regular schools

 Eliminating child labor in the slum communities by awareness programs for parents

 Regular health camps & follow ups for children

 Cultural activities for self expression

Youth   Training in vocational skills training for including screen printing , paper products, and

computer    courses

 Leadership training for youth

 Sponsorships for needy students to enable them to pursue their education through high

school and    college

 Health awareness camps

Women   Vocational skills training & income generation including tailoring, embroidery, candle

making, crafts, etc

 Through our savings groups, women are encouraged to open and operate their own

bank accounts, and to save for a rainy day.

 Health education and adult literacy classes

 Leadership skills

OLD CLOTH VALUE CHAIN – by AARAMBH..

1. Ready to use material

2. School material

3. Washable – repairable

4. New/Export Surplus

5. Waste material

Broad categories 

1. Ready to Use material

Value Add

Rigorous sorting based on gender, size etc.

Take out under garments, dirty, torn, oversized, western outfits.

Making complete sets

Add a string with suit (over 50% ladies suits are donated without a string)

Coding- based on item and quantity

Dispatch- based on geographical and cultural need. For example : half sleeved shirts

with a little check to South India, salwar suits to muslim dominated areas or hills, and

gowns to West Benga l- ensuring optimum utilization of the material as in West Bengal

women in villages wear a gown in the day time also

Use as Resource

Under Cloth for work -

Infrastructural change – for village development activities like repairing of roads,

desalting of water bodies, etc.

New activities – like making a school structure or developing boundary wall with

bamboo/ other local resources, plantation etc

Behavioural change – cleanliness drive, clothes given as incentive after regular

monitoring of behavioural change in personal hygiene habits.

2. School Material

Value Add

Take out common uniform colours while sorting general clothing.

Packing- based on colours and same kind of uniforms.

Dispatch- based on matching needs in terms of numbers, size, dress colours.

Separate packing for mixed colours to be used class wise in non-formal schools.

Use as Resource

Motivation for kids

Works not only as uniform but as a pair of general clothing also.

Given to kids under School to School initiative as reward for maintaining hygiene,

punctuality, discipline etc.

3. Washable/Repairable

Value Add

Taken care at our end- right from washing to changing zip/elastic, repairing collar etc.

Extra efforts on Saris & Woolens

(demand is much more than supply).

Use as Resource

To create employment (like a truck load is given to people to wash in Vellur district and

the washing cost to be paid by the end beneficiary, hence no burden on AARAMBH,

employment to many people and cloth at a minimal cost to people

4. New/Export Surplus

Value Add

Take out relatively new and best clothes separately

Sorting of export surplus in different categories i.e. which can be used in villages or

good for urban markets or useless for both but good for making products

 

 

Use as Resource

New Cloth – Make a complete set of male/female clothes along with bed sheets,

blankets etc to support marriage time shopping in poor families.

Export surplus - used for raising funds for AARAMBH by selling through stalls or

promoting among volunteers. Based on area trends,material is sold in different cities.

Unusable material is converted into products for urban markets to raise resources for

AARAMBH.

5. Waste material

Value Add

Sorting of torn/useless clothes in many categories

Cotton- suits, bed sheets, blouse, petticoats etc. for sanitary napkins

Jeans & trousers- for school bags

Saris for school/yoga mats

Chunris- for string

Children clothes- front portion to be added as design in bags

Ladies suits- front portion to be added as design in bags

Old T-shirts and other hosiery items- to make undergarment for women

Old non cotton bed sheets, towels, sofa covers- for making bags

Colorful clothes- to develop a range of products

Western clothes- for adding design and color in products

Over size- inappropriate for rural population is cut into pieces for various products

Old shirts/ non cotton material to make sheets and covers for baby beds

Jeans/pants are converted into half pants and the rest is used for school bags

Zips and buttons are removed before further cutting for reuse

Even the small strips are used in making school. yoga mats.

The last bit of small pieces is converted into mattresses for babies.

Use as Resource

School bags – sponsored by urban people for rural kids – AARAMBH generates

money, old material is put into use, sponsor finds it cost effective means more

beneficiaries in the same amount and village kid get a durable bag

Napkins are provided to women under our initiative Not just a piece of cloth

Ladies under garments- made out of old t-shirts and other hosiery clothes are for

women, to be given with napkins as half the women population there can’t afford/don’t

use a panty

Mats - are sold in urban markets as Yoga mats and goes as sponsored item in

rural//slum India as School mats

Bags - Right from mobile covers, pouches, wallets, coaster sets to a range of fancy

bags are developed out of waste material to raise funds for AARAMBH.

Zip & buttons- taken out of useless material is used in mending/ repairing of clothes

and is also used for school bags and other products to cut the cost.

Baby beds – made of ultimate waste, where we use the last inch of cloth is for

children, especially in colder regions to save them from winters.