Children are the future of mankind to grow into responsible adults; they should have a safe and happy childhood. This is the basic principle of Sphoorti. Sphoorti's single mission is to change lives of children who are orphaned, homeless and destitute and other vulnerable groups - to provide with long-term care – a “home” filled with love and affection, education and above all skills and confidence to grow into self-reliant individuals.
This is how Srivyal Vuyyuri (founder of Sphoorti) defines his organisation — “I don’t like to identify our Foundation with what it is not, such as non-profit and non-governmental. We are a for-impact organisation.” Mr. Srivyal, an economics graduate from the University of Ohio found his calling in serving the society. He discontinued his Ph.D in Canada and returned to India in 2005 and started Sphoorti in the same year along with a few friends.
Sphoorti admits children falling into the following categories:
i) Children who have lost at least one parent
ii) Children from poverty-stricken families
iii) Children of physically/mentally challenged parents
iv) Children of families ravaged by HIV/AIDS
v) Children of sex workers
Sphoorti have been trying to rehabilitate some of the younger Dommara children, from the community settlement in Sivunur, Ramayampet. The intention is to transplant these children from the vicious environment they are condemned to, where their mothers or sisters have been commercial sex workers for years, to SPHOORTI which can assure them a safe and secure childhood. This intervention will help these children lead their lives with confidence and be responsible citizens. A lot of preliminary work was done by Human Action for Rural Development (HARD) and Vitharana (vitharana.org) and Manavatha (manavata.org) and in the later stages, SPHOORTI joined their efforts. After facing initial resistance, our team succeeded in convincing members of the community to send their children away from their neighbourhood. Vitharana and Manavatha have taken up the responsibility of placing 20 children between 13-17 in residential schools and colleges in Hyderabad. Sphoorti is supporting of 22 Dommara children who are below 11 years.
How you can help? You can work with Sphoorti in one of the following ways:
1) Support a child: Through our Sponsor-A-Child Scheme, an individual or a group of individuals can extend support to one child. The aim of the scheme is to generate financial support for this child till he/she completes education (graduation level or above) and is able to venture out independently. You will receive periodic updates about the child including pictures, video messages and letters. The average expense for this is 15000 per annum which includes food, clothing, schooling, health care.
2) Sponsor Food: You can sponsor a meal or making a donation of food. Children will be more excited if you celebrate in their midst, spend good time and have lunch/dinner along with them. If you are unable to come to SPHOORTI, you may make an donation to sponsor a meal on a day of your choice.
For detail please visit http://www.sphoorti.org/spfood.html
3) Support education: Perhaps, the most valuable contribution you could make to a child's life is the gift of education. We request you to generously help us provide the best in education - school education as well as oveall development of a child's personality. For detail please visit http://www.sphoorti.org/speducation.html
