Established in 2000, Sparsha Charitable Trust (SCT) has brought remarkable change to the lives of thousands of children. Founded by Sarika Desai, who has over 25 years of experience in the social sector, SCT operates on the belief that children from marginalised communities are not inherently vulnerable.
Jagdish Acharya, CEO, Paints & Coatings Skill Council |
“They face challenges because of the circumstances they are born into and are often neglected by their families. We believe that every child should be nurtured within their own family environment,” shares Sarika Desai, Founder & CEO. “With the right care and attention from their families, children can truly reach their full potential.”
Desai, who has also studied child psychology, wanted to take an integrated approach that involves the family. She believes that a child has different needs at various stages of development and requires consistent attention to reach their full potential. They need nurturing, emotional support, and educational guidance — all of which should ideally come from the family. This belief is what led to the creation of her organisation.
The NGO has helped over 85,000 children and 17,000 families | Sparsha Charitable Trust
SCT has been transforming the lives of children from marginalised communities in Mumbai through various programmes that are focused on three main elements — health, education, and community development. “The migrant families predominantly live in the slums, and most of the children we work with are often first-generation learners. So the parents, who are primarily daily wage earners, lack awareness about education and prioritise survival over schooling,” she explains the challenge.
Education plays a vital role in the early stages of child development, as it lays the foundation for a child’s future learning and growth. Under education, the NGO has three age-appropriate programmes called Shiksha (three to six years), Sanskar (six to 14 years), and Swayam (15 to 18 years). Each caters to the unique needs of children in these age groups, along with academic support, life skills, good moral values, long-term vision and goals, and overall guidance.
SCT engages with surrounding communities to promote health education and awareness, aiming to improve their health-seeking behaviour. Their programmes emphasise preventive healthcare. “Each of our community centres conducts regular health check-ups for children on a quarterly basis. We also address women’s health issues within the community,” she shares.
They also organise health camps that provide primary care services, focusing on the diagnosis of common issues such as anaemia, poor vision, dental problems, among other conditions. Through multiple services and three main programmes, SCT has helped over 85,000 children and 17,000 families.
Jagdish Acharya, CEO, Paints & Coatings Skill Council, who has known of Desai’s work for two years, shares, “I would say that Sarika is a champion of change for underprivileged children. That, in a way, sums up who she is. Under her leadership, Sparsha has significantly impacted thousands of children and families by integrating education with parental and community engagement. Her team's unwavering dedication — including that of the teachers — continues to advocate for effective interventions that enhance children's well-being and success. They truly believe that compassion and determination can transform communities and give every child a chance at a better future.”
