Snehalaya has always believed that we cannot be everywhere and hence has always focused our attention in Ahmednagar while encouraging like-minded organisations and individuals to work on issues in their own communities. We have always provided hand-holding, training and collaboration to all who are interested in bringing about change. Many organisations are eager to connect and collaborate with Snehalaya and want us to work with them.
One such organisation is the Malpani Charitable Trust (MCT). We have been working with them for five years, setting up the Dr Malpani Memorial Center at Chikhalgaon, in Shahapur in Thane District, to provide employment to the local tribal communities and our beneficiaries. Our partnership includes the creation of a forest based on the Miyawaki theory, the propagation of organic farming, education, health and employment, primarily to preserve the culture of the Katkari tribal group.
We believe that we are not owners but caretakers of our projects collaborating with others that can share their resources with the philosophy of maximizing their use for the betterment of society. This is our duty towards our donors and society. Hi 5 Foundation, founded by Mrs Usha Sundar and Mr Sundar Radhakrishnan, works to recognise and nurture talent in sports and when we heard they were looking for a place to start a sports training academy for tribal children we approached them and offered them seven acres of land at the Dr Malpani Memorial Center.
The groundbreaking ceremony to initiate the construction of the National Basketball Academy and Sports Centre at Chikhalgaon took place on Dusshera. The academy aims to explore the talents of tribal children, nurturing them to become national and international level basketball players. Facilities will include a residential complex, a kitchen fulfilling specialised nutrition for the athletes, schooling and international level basketball training grounds. Dedicated and passionate coaches and teachers will train the students when it is completed in the next two years.
In our experience, when everyone has the same dream, it can be realised through the immense willpower and belief of the thousands of well-wishers and supporters who stand with us. By building such strong collaborations and partnership, we have proven experience in finding practical solutions to the issues we encounter which enable us to continue our need-based work.
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