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As a child, my heart was filled with questions. Watching children beg and families sleep on footpaths, I wondered: Who feeds them? Where do they sleep? If it’s the streets, then where do they run when it rains?
These thoughts came naturally, and I wanted to help. But as a kid, there wasn’t much I could do.
Sure, I would empty my pockets for them on my way back from school. But it was usually just a few fruits or a ten-rupee note.
It wasn’t enough for me, and I knew it wasn’t enough for them.
As time passed by, the “right time” and “enough money” always felt out of reach. I’d tell myself, ‘When I have proper working shifts,’ ‘the moment I have a handsome salary,’ or ‘definitely with my next raise.’ They were the conditions I set for myself, and eventually, they became excuses.
Then, I Got a Phone Call That Shook My World
While juggling daily life and my urge to help, life struck me with a harsh lesson. I received a phone call saying that Vishalakshi, my dear friend, had passed away. A tragic accident had taken her. I couldn’t believe it. Just a few weeks earlier, she had invited me to her wedding. I heard the excitement in her voice. She had planned all her dreams, so vibrant and full of promise.
Then, in an instant, everything was extinguished. She could not even savour the amazing time that was about to come. At the hospital, her parents’ cries pierced me, echoing the fragility of life. It felt almost symbolic, as if she were telling me, “My dreams are gone, but yours are still alive.”
In that instant, my excuses turned weak, and my resolve became steel. I realised that waiting for the right time often means waiting forever. On that day in January 2019, I created a social media page to step towards my initiative. As a tribute to her, I named it the Vishalakshi Foundation.
Project Hunger Became More Than a Meal
The job that pays me wages is that of a researcher. With my efforts underway, a little digging showed me that 7,000 Indians die of hunger daily.
Even trying to imagine it broke my heart. Starvation isn’t an overnight illness; it takes an agonising number of weeks. Furthermore, the solution was about a simple meal, not complex prescriptions.
I knew this was where it should begin.
I named my first initiative Project Hunger and set a simple goal: provide 100 meals in a Lucknow slum. When I began sharing my efforts on social media earlier, I was heavily trolled. I mainly heard “pointless,” “you’re doing this to gain attention,” and worse.
When I woke up, there were enough funds for over 1,000 meals.
Amid the noise, kindness was blooming. That moment changed everything. It showed me that people want to help, they just need a spark.
Since 2019, Project Hunger has grown to 2.1 million meals. Each of our 500 daily meals carries more than food; it delivers hope.
I Wanted to Help Children Dream
Amidst my efforts, I saw children playing in Gurgaon’s slums. This was during the COVID-19 lockdown when everyone was at home and needed help.
Nevertheless, I asked them about school out of curiosity. Their blank stares crushed me. The word "school" was almost alien to them; they had never set foot in one.
It wasn’t as though they couldn’t afford it anymore. Their families were locked in survival mode for so long that they had no room for dreams. In fact, no one in generations had gone to school.
This serious issue was the universe’s sign to include education in our mission to end poverty.
Together with Milaap, we were able to raise funds to transform a few small rooms into classrooms.
To build a space where children look to the future, the Dream Schools intiative was born.
While it started with 52 children in that slum, there are ten centres across India today. Dream Schools empower 2,000 first-generation learners.
We're helping them become the last generation to experience poverty.
Dreams now have a chance. Now they’re hungry for their dreams, not food.
How We Empower Families Alongside Education
We know that addressing education, meals, or awareness alone will not break the cycle of poverty. After so many generations of pain, it’s not that simple.
That’s why our mission blends everything. From toothbrushes, rations, and heaters to jobs, smiles, and hope, our NGO provides what survival demands and dreams require.
In the early days of Dream School, I often wondered: Could we truly make a difference? Would these children ever focus, let alone thrive?
Then, the magic unfolded. A child’s first English words didn’t stop with him—his mother learned from him. A father’s despair lifted when his child started to count.
Their trust and faith in a better future began to shine.
Gradually, everything changed. School meals are now lovingly prepared by community members, while local carpenters, electricians, and workers sustain our centres.
Together, they earn dignified livelihoods and build resilience. This has allowed us to pave the way for a thriving community economy.
I’ve been honoured to witness this ripple effect. We are transforming lives, one dream and one family at a time.
I Believe in Building Resilience Together
The painful truth is that those who build our homes, clean our spaces, and maintain our surroundings are often the very ones trapped in poverty.
They’re always scared for their children’s futures and, if time permits, their own.
This injustice must be abolished. Every child and family should be able to live peacefully and happily every day.
Yes, the challenges are immense, but our determination and vision must burn brighter.
We don’t just feed or educate. We help families rediscover the future they almost lost and redefine their lives.
Today, we’ve accomplished a lot for thousands, but many more await a lifeline. Everything depends on support.
We can rewrite their stories if we do it together. So, let’s pick up the pen.
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