Parivaar – A Unique Family

Parivaar is not just a fund raising organisation nor it is just another NGO nor it is just another orphanage nor it is just another destitute home. But, Parivaar is a Seva-Ashram whose inmates truly believe and act on principles put forward by many great saints i.e. "Service to human is Service to God" or in words of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda 'Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva' i.e to serve the Divine in Man in a reverential spiritual attitude, in a spirit of worship.

At IIM Kolkatta , when everyone was busy in campus placements, interviews and negotiating pay packages, one guy stood apart having seen the light and shine of the corporate world during his previous stint at Infosys. He was no more interested in a corporate life and it was no more a purpose of life to him. He was much inspired by the ideals shown by Swami Vivekananda and heart broken to feel the condition of children living on streets, in red light areas, orphans, children from poor families and other destitute children for whom doors of opportunities were closed forever. He wanted to work for them give them a good life, a homely environment, full meals, good education and a place they could call home and thus started Parivaar. Starting with 3 children in a rented house, Parivaar now has more than 250 children and a small ashram of it own where children live, study, play, pray, eat, roam together in a very homely environment. You have to be really there to feel that love and compassion.

Starting from scratch and thereafter developed brick by brick, Parivaar Ashram is being continuously developed and moulded into a unique institution transforming the lives of each of its inmates (children and adults). At present, Parivaar Ashram's Residential Institution for Destitute children has 250 children (both boys and girls) who have found a new life at Parivaar and are being prepared for bright future through quality education. Parivaar Ashram at Bakhrahat, about 30 Km from Kolkata city is spread over 3 acres (about 150,000 sq. ft) of land. At the Parivaar Ashram campus is also located Parivaar's own Formal School 'Amar Bharat Vidyapeeth' in which the resident children of Parivaar study.

Kindly read below a Brief Fact sheet and for more information, picutres, visitors book, donors letter, etc.. check out www.parivaar.org

A Brief Fact Sheet

Parivaar is located in South 24 Parganas district outside Kolkata and was started by Vinayak Lohani

The mission of Parivaar is to bring out total transformation in the lives of destitute/homeless/orphaned children through education, love, parental care and by instilling the right values so that each one of these kids grows up to be a responsible, productive and enlightened member of society

250 erstwhile homeless and destitute children have found a new Home, Family ,and Future at Parivaar Ashram since its staring in December '03 (120 girls, 130 boys, ages 4-14); these children live at Parivaar 7x24x365, are housed, fed, clothed, schooled and will be there for the next 10-12 years while they complete their education and attain adulthood

There are currently 63 workers working at Parivaar in various tasks. There are 23 Resident workers, most of whom are Jeevan-Vratis (life-committed) workers, with their lives dedicated to Parivaar's mission of service.

For each 8 children, a resident caretaker and a teacher.

All children are admitted in good Formal Schools through Competitive Entrance Tests. Children upto grade IV go to Parivaar's own school - "Amar Bharat Vidyapeeth". Most of them are performing commendably, matching shoulder to shoulder with any other children from educated background and educated families.

Plans are to expand Parivaar's own school to High school over a period of time

Special Emphasis on character building and values-orientation with a spiritual basis.

Continuous pursuit of academic excellence despite heavy initial backlog (due to non-exposure to education for first 8-10 years of life) Computer Education, Spoken English, Broadening knowledge horizons, and other skills and trainings provided right from early age.

Cost of supporting each child for one year is USD 360. This includes the average cost incurred for the running/daily needs for one child per year

Funds collected at zero fund-raising cost (funds raised totally by persons and well-wishers who have turned into dedicated volunteers for supporting Parivaar). There is no outgoing fund-raising done through events or publicity campaigns. Parivaar is blessed to have increasing base of sensitive persons who have identified with the pulse of Parivaar's mission and are long-term supporters of Parivaar's work.

90% of the total financial support of Parivaar met through financial contributions from individuals.

www.parivaar.org