Women in the world making special news

History created: India's first batch of women fighter pilots commissioned’, this was a big and welcoming news published in 2016. Two years later, in 2018, the women made it to the newspapers again and managed to pull out yet another ‘first’ from their bags by flying MiG-21 ‘Bison’, which has virtually the highest landing and takeoff speed in the world. As the country marked 71 years of Independence this year, a first all-female SWAT team was deployed in streets of Delhi. These women have been trained in Krav Maga, which is a form of martial arts.

Feats like this conjure up from a number of external and internal factors, external in the form of help and support, both from family and society and internal in the form of courage, confidence and skills. Even more everlasting and deeply touching is the fact that the difference is made not only in the lives of the few women who were mentioned in the papers but the impact is manifold and macro, in terms of the countless women whose lives rekindle with hope and desires.

There are a number of women in the world who are making special news in their daily lives by winning their own ‘fights with firsts’ and at the same time there are many women who need help and support to make their fights a success and their achievements a news.

‘Mission 1000’ is one such initiative which wants to empower underprivileged girls and support them to move ahead so that they can turn their chances into opportunities. It prepares them to not only take the first step but also to sustain the confidence and to enhance and grow further. This is made possible through integrated workshops, which teach Self-Defense, and also focus on core development through meditation, life-skill sessions and value-based lectures.

A girl who can stand up against bullying, another who can go out and confidently perform her chores, a girl who can now travel in public transport and continue to educate herself are all special. These are a few impacts made possible through the mission. Though their fights have just started and their firsts may sound naive but these are the turning points which create histories. Every story starts with a single word. ‘Mission 1000’ aims to impact at least a 1000 lives every year, it aims to reach out to 1000 girls, who gain confidence to teach their mothers, and thus, help spread the message of empowerment like fire.

Join the ‘Mission1000’, and help achieve a common goal – thousand lives, thousand transformations.

Ashpreet Dhillon

Girl Power : Quick Self Defense - Easy but requires dedication!

The weaker sex. Damsels in distress. Women across the world are considered as fragile creatures who cannot protect themselves. So, it is high time that they defy all the odds and prove their mettle.

Self defense-learning to fend off an attacker can not only help women have peace of mind when walking alone, but also boost their confidence, independence and instill in them a sense of accomplishment.

In Dec 2014, Colorss Foundation had launched its Quick Self-Defense Application that teaches women invaluable skills to defend themselves and their loved ones. With the help of this application, women and girls will be able to learn and practice self-defense.

A new version of this application will provide one with language options (yes, now you can choose from 19 available languages- Japanese, Nepali , Hindi , Bengali , Assamese , Marathi , Gujarati , Kannada , Malayalam , Oriya , Tamil , Urdu , Punjabi , Russian , Telugu , Chinese , Portuguese , Arabic , Spanish!) which will help reach more women and children. 

Though Colorss Foundation is going forward with the Android version of this App, we hope to launch an ioS version soon.

You can beat the world. You can win any battle. You can move mountains. You can break rocks. Your body is more capable than you think & your resolve is stronger than you believe. 

Download this app from the Google Play Store and keep yourself updated : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.colorssfoundation.colorss&hl=en

Remember-if you have been knocked down, come back swinging!

-Sagarica Brahma

WHAT WE ARE UP TO : Project Urja Designs Diyas

WHAT WE ARE UP TO

Project Urja Designs Diyas

  

In anticipation of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Project Urja has been busy designing diyas that are to be offered for sale. This recent initiative not only celebrates Diwali but also helps improve the financial status of women through the sale of the products they make.

 Designer diyas produced by Project Urja

Designer diyas are earthen pots that can be used as small pots for Diwali celebration. These pots are colored individually, with each diya reflecting an innovative idea that combines their hard-work and creativity. As a result, Project Urja produces designer diyas in various colours and patterns that depict the tradition of Diwali.  

 Project Urja Women Creating Diyas

Through initiatives such as this, Project Urja hopes to continue helping women gain more economic independence by imparting skills that can be used to generate more income for them. Project Urja is now aiding 25 women through its vision and hopes to help more women in the near future.

By Asyura Salleh

Nielsen Global Impact Day 2014 with Colorss at Baroda | Colorss Foundation

On April 20th, 2014 Colorss Foundation gave a shout out on Twitter and Facebook for people to donate a sewing machine for Project Urja. On June 12th, 2014 this request was fulfilled by Nielsen on the Nielsen Global Impact Day (NGID). This donation was made to Colorss Foundation as part of Nielsen Cares, Baroda initiative.

#colorss #womenempowerment #nielsencares - Team Colorss at Baroda

Colorss was founded by Anand Koti with a mission to give a platform to like-minded people to work towards empowering socially deprived children and ensuring their right to education. Hence the project 'Colors of Life' was started in Pune. Since its inception in 2008, Colorss has come a long way and spearheaded many more projects.  A learning over a period of time and initiatives, that a child cannot progress in isolation and that the mother is the most instrumental factor of this empowerment process gave birth to Project Urja.

#innocence #cute #children #colorss #joyofgiving

Colorss Foundation started Project Urja with a focus to empower rural women to become entrepreneurs and in turn become self-reliant citizens inspite of limited opportunities. This program marked a step ahead in this direction through this generous donation. Slums of Indiranagar, Baroda participated in various activities that Colorss Foundation and Nielsen had organised to celebrate and spread awareness about Project Urja.

The day's plan had something for each community member. A drawing competition was held which saw more than 60 children in the age group of 6-11 years take part from Sanjay Nagar - 1 and Sanjay Nagar - 2 slums of Indira Nagar. The kids also had fun playing various other games while their mothers got a health check up at the general medical health camp conducted on the day. Free medicines will be provided as per their prescriptions in the coming week to more than 65 women who participated in the camp by Nielsen.  A workshop was also conducted to emphasize the value of managing time and finances in the lives of these women who play multiple roles of a mother, daughter, wife, friend and confidante to feed and nurture their families as well as contribute to their communities. The objective was to reach out to these women and motivate them to join Project Urja.

Ms Sophie Joseph Vice President of Nielsen sharing her thoughts about Colorss

The men were definitely not forgotten. A short informative skit was performed by the Nielsen team to put forth the ills of alcoholism. In spite of Gujarat being a dry state, alcohol is still playing havoc in the lives of rural and marginalized population. This is affecting whole families and especially children. The performance addressed the negative impact an alcoholic father can have on the education of a girl child. A message for rehabilitation through de-addiction camps was communicated to help reform the fathers.

Nielsen Global Impact Day with Colorss Foundation in Baroda ended with a prize distribution for the winners of the drawing competition and hot and delicious Chai-Samosa for refreshments. But Colorss' engagement has definitely not ended with Baroda. Colorss Foundation through the Nielsen cares initiative reached out to over 200 people from the community. The foundation aims to bring together a lot more people from other parts of Baroda to grow Project Urja. Colorss also hopes the society to come forward and get involved through monetary or/and volunteering support. You can started by visiting their website/ blog to know more about their various other projects. Don't forget to follow them on Facebook , Twitter and YouTube to show your support and stay updated.

For Love,

Prajakta Patil

#colorss #nielsen #nielsencares #nielsenglobalimpactday #baroda #ngo #children #womenempowerment

DONATE BOOKS, DELIVER DREAMS - Colorss Foundation

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”-this great quote by George R.R. Martin in his book A Dance with Dragons says it all.

Donate Books for better future - designed by Monika Mahore

Learning is an indispensable process in our lives and that learning is an inevitable tool for human development. And when it comes to learning, what’s better than a great, gripping book?

Considering this as the bottom line, Colorss Foundation has organized a book donation drive to amass this rich and resourceful treasure of knowledge with the objective of setting up libraries at their schools in Pune and Vadodara. The books can be either in English or in Hindi meant for children ranging from 5th to 10th grade.

Books are conducive in umpteen ways from attaining basic speech skills, boosting logical ability and communication skills to enhanced concentration and discipline. Be it academics, general knowledge, basic skills or hobbies, books aid us in every sphere of our lives. Thus, reading becomes an imperative skill that needs to be inculcated among children at an early age to enhance their quality life.

Unfortunately, not all children are as lucky as to have access to basic amenity as quality education. For this desolate lot, reading good books is a luxury most of them can only dream of. And this is where our role steps in. we and you can make them realize this but the best part is YOU can transform this distant dream into reality for them by just one humble gesture-donating a book!

Yes, it’s as simple as it sounds! All you need to do is send the needful books to the foundation or help us by taking an initiative to run a collection drive in your own city and join us in this laudable cause. What’s more? This small gesture on your part can brighten up scores of oblivious lives. So what are you waiting for? Contact us today at Facebook, Twitter , YouTube or drop us a mail at contact@colorss.org.

Written by Noma Nazish

For Love,

Self Defense Workshops - to empower the women of India | Colorss Foundation

In India, girls are forced to battle for their fundamental right to live, from the day they are born. Because of social stigma, women in India are often considered inferior and suffer torment and persecution for no reason other than their gender. From a young age, most local women are taught about the dangers they will inevitably face during their lives. Unfortunately, being aware is no longer enough.

While it is by no means an altogether solution for the terrible issue of violence against women, providing Indian women with self-defense training is a great step forward in order to protect their basic freedoms and permit the ability to walk through the streets unaccompanied without fear.

Colorss Foundation, a NGO based in Baroda, Pune and Ajmer is launching women’s self-defense classes to empower the women of India and provide the skills to remain calm and fight back against attackers, if this is ever required. If there is one thing that the December 16 attack has achieved, it is in spreading the reality that no one is safe from these types of assaults. Every woman in India, through no fault of her own, is a potential victim.

Self-defense workshop for Vodafone staff and their family members; Baroda

Colorss’ self-defense classes are for working women, university students and children, with no prior experience necessary. The classes are designed to take part 2-3 times a week, with groups of 10-15 participants in Pune. The classes may take place at your personal residence with a group of 10-15 participants, for the convenience of participants.

Anand Koti, the foundation’s director, will be conducting the classes. Anand has been practicing martial arts for over 15 years and has a 2^nd degree black belt in Karate, which demonstrates his commitment and discipline. In addition, Anand also possesses an undergraduate degree in Industrial Psychology and Masters degrees in Health Management and Industrial Relations and Personnel Management.

This unique combination of education and passion for martial arts has provided Anand with the perfect blend of skills to successfully pass his knowledge on to students. Under Anand’s supervision, many children from the Pune region have already benefited from Project Enhance, another initiative of the Colorss Foundation. Project Enhance involved providing underprivileged children of the region with martial arts and creative arts classes. The results of Project Enhance have been overwhelmingly positive. In addition to building the physical strength and stamina of the participants, Project Enhance also boosted their self-esteem and confidence.

While the most obvious benefit of these self-defense classes is the ability to defend yourself against an attacker, there are also numerous peripheral benefits, such as increased confidence and mental development. At Colorss, we strive to give women the physical and mental strength to surpass any challenges.

Colorss' have conducted self-defense workshops for different corporate:

Self-defense workshop at L&T Knowledge City, Baroda

Self-defense workshop at Nielsen, Baroda

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 24,206 cases of rape registered in India during 2011, but this is suspected to be a major under-representation of the true figure and of the problem at hand.

The worst reaction from this case would be for women to remain indoors, further restrict their activities and escalate the oppression they already face on a daily basis. This should be used as an opportunity to empower the women of India – for them to stand up and assert themselves.

It is in the hands of the government to make a legitimate stance on the issue of violence towards women and make widespread changes throughout the country; however, basic self-defense is a great step forward for the women on India.

It is our goal to empower the women of India to have the confidence to live completely fulfilling lives.

Contact Colorss for more information on self-defense training. You can email us at:emailcolorss@gmail.com and find us on Facebook.

Colorss Foundation launches its new ‘Leadership Youth Program’ on its 5th Birthday

CYLP [Colorss Youth Leadership Program] is a project intended to develop knowledge, social, emotional and leadership skills among the youth to make them effective leaders of tomorrow.
This program will specifically intend to develop tomorrow’s leaders.

This program will focus to:

• Develop leadership qualities amongst the participants with the help of classroom training and fieldwork
• Develop social and emotional intelligence with help of executing real time the social change projects
• Coaching and mentoring them throughout the program
• Train the participant with necessary leadership qualities
• Teach them the required skills to execute the social change projects
• Provide them with the required training and development for the leadership youth program
• Provide opportunities to execute the project wherein he/she can apply the knowledge, skills and analytical thinking to make a difference at large

The participant would be trained and his/her leadership skills would be groomed. The participant will specifically work in the community and also interact with the society – corporate at large. The participant will work for minimum one year and towards the end of his tenure – he/she will have to train the new chosen leadership youth to take ahead the project started. The participant has to groom the new leader with the on-going work and gradually hand over the responsibilities to him/her. The new participants would be groomed by the members of Colorss as well.

• The project/program that the Youth leader will work upon would address the need of the society.
• The students, members and society at large should be engaged in the project

Who can apply?

This leadership youth program is open for youth in the age group of

• 14 years to 18 years
• 19 years to 25 years

The participant would be chosen through a selective application and interview process. He/she should give a commitment of minimum one year. This is to ensure that the participants are strongly motivated to be actively involved and in real sense can be a part of the leadership program. The students in age group 14 years to 18 years - the parents should sign the consent letter before the child applies for the program.

Projects currently available: [http://colorss.org/our-projects/] – for more details

1. Colors of Life
2. Project Enhance
3. Better Ergonomics: A study carried on musculoskeletal health among urban poor pupils in Western India by Colorss’ Foundation research division, Risachi, has been published in the International Journal of Management and Behavioural Sciences, IJMBS. Based on this research paper; the new project would focus on better ergonomics and awareness. [http://colorss.org/research-work/] – for more details
4.  Project Urja: [Vocational training program]

Duration of the Leadership program: 1 year – part time

Location

• Baroda
• Pune
• Ajmer
• Gurgaon [Proposed]
• Mumbai [Proposed]
• Bangalore [Proposed]

Take away

• Certificate
• Training in Leadership skills and live project experience
• Articles on blog and Facebook by the participants
• Paid CYLP program
• Networking
• Contribution to the society and connecting people together

Eligibility

• Attending High School/College in the city
• Applicant must demonstrate strong leadership capabilities and/or leadership potential
• Preference will be given to students from under served backgrounds 

Guidelines for application

• Completed application form
• The students in age group 14 years to 18 years - the parents should sign the consent letter before the child applies for the program.
• Short essay responses
• Two letter of recommendation
• Official transcript of High School / College
• Resume (One page)
• Essay Questions: Word limit form 14 to18 years 200 words for each answer and for 19 to 25 years 500 words.
• Why do you want to be part of Youth Leadership program by Colorss Foundation?
• What accomplishment of yours are you most proud of and why?
• Describe a difficult situation you faced and how did you handle it. Also, what did you learn from that situation?
• What are your future plans and how do you plan to achieve them?
• What do you hope to gain from this experience and how does this experience help you achieve future goals?

For Love,
Anand Koti

Jimsy from Nielsen Baroda sharing her experience on Self-defense workshop

This is an extension to our Project Enhance! While the most obvious benefit of these self-defense workshop is the ability to defend yourself against an attacker..

For Love,
Anand

Underprivileged children from slums take tour of nature park - Times Of India | Colorss Foundation

Media coverage in 'Times of India'

The Colorss Foundation had recently organized an event for 25 underprivileged children and 5 women, from Sanjaynagar slums at the nature park in Sindhrot, on the outskirts of the city. The event was organized by Nielsen, Vadodara to celebrate its global day celebrations. The activities included cartoon strip competition, trekking and the launch of E-zine. E-zine is the output of a Colorss Foundation project - Colors of Life

click the link below to read more about it on Times of India
Underprivileged children from slums take tour of nature park - Times Of India

Student/Beneficiary Feedback Vishakha Randive | Project Enhance ~ Pune

Project Enhance

Certain things can be put to complete use only when they are given to the right people at the right time. From a social perspective, realizing the need of the hour, researching the dire requirements and identifying the target group is of utmost importance to get anything up and running. And the outcome is bound to be beneficial and definitely advantageous given the pre-work that has gone into it.

Listen the student talking about the project and her experience - that would make more sense:

Colorss hit the gong at just the right place and the right time through its innovative developmental initiative – 

Project Enhance:- Project Enhance is basically a multidisciplinary programme that aims at encouraging creativity, promoting healthy development, increasing productivity and creating a sense of responsibility towards the community and its members.

Project Objectives: 

Project Enhance, designed for young children is a multifaceted approach aimed at

• Developing discipline by way of imparting Martial Arts training
• Increasing focus by helping them cope with stress and tension
• Improving their physique by way of sports activities, thus contributing to their healthy development.
• Increasing productivity by helping them get better control of body and mind
• Fostering confidence by getting them involved in creative artwork
• Contributing greatly to increased self-awareness
• Training them to be responsible social members of the society.

Project Benefits:

Project Enhance has multiple benefits as listed below.

Psychological Benefits: Control aggression and anger; Stimulate Brain Activity; Increase happiness; Build self confidence; Develop trust, co-operation and togetherness

Physiological Benefits: Increase Stamina; Fortify Muscles; Regulate breathing; Widen range of flexibility; Improve body posture and control.

Creative Art & Benefits: Responsibility; Cognitive Skills; Eye/Hand Coordination; Responsibility; Cognitive Skills; Eye/Hand Coordination; Focus & Discipline

For Love,

Anand

Part-time Openings at Colorss for Baroda and Pune

Colorss Foundation is offering a fantastic opportunity to gain invaluable experience, while also making a positive impact on society. If helping the underprivileged women and children of India is something that appeals to you, a part-time role with Colorss Foundation is the perfect opportunity to give back to the people of India, while also making your CV stand out.

Colorss Foundation is an Indian NGO that works towards enhancing the lives of less fortunate children and women through the use of art and technology. For many children and women in India, access to quality education is simply not a reality. This lack of resources and training leads to a vicious cycle of poverty, which continues through generations and is almost inescapable. Colorss Foundation takes an innovative approach to this issue and provides these children with invaluable skills, and more importantly, the confidence to lead successful lives on their own terms.

Colorss currently has an amazing opportunity for a part-time employee based in Pune and Baroda. The successful applicant will be fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi [for Pune] and Gujarati [for Baroda] and be internet savvy. Access to two-wheeler and indepth knowledge of Pune city / Baroda city will definitely be advantageous, also. The role involves project management, volunteer coordination and corporate presentation. This will be a 4-5 hour commitment daily.

If you think your values and goals align with the vision of Colorss Foundation, a part-time role with the organization could be a perfect match. This opportunity will allow you to display leadership qualities and take initiative in your career. We believe that a positive change in society can be achieved by breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. To help us in our goal, contact Colorss today and help us in our quest to liberate the ostracized members of society.

For Love,

Volunteering at Colorss

Volunteers are the constant support to Colorss. But, what exactly are the volunteers doing? How are they doing it? and why are they doing it! These are all those infinite questions that many people think about or ask.  Well,  it's better that we hear the volunteers sharing their experiences! It gives more clarity to the subject 'volunteering' and the 'content' of joy felt by them.

This video would also help all those new volunteers/interns who are planning to support Colorss. Watch this video wherein our volunteers are sharing themselves.  As Colorss continues to make great strides on the social front, let’s take a vow to contribute in whatsoever manner possible to reach out to people in our communities and societies to enhance, empower and energize them.

"If you want love or if you want to give back love”, then you are all set to join the social bandwagon!

We are always there to answer your questions – we are here to make things simple.  Are you joining us! Why don’t you share us – it’s also a great volunteering service you can do! Well the choice is absolutely yours!

For Love,
Anand

About Colorss Foundation...

Who are we! This post would talk about the origin of Colorss, its founder member, vision and mission.

Origin: 

Lack of education and resources, dearth of infrastructure and facilities, poor or in fact no access in some cases, are issues that still remain and continue to haunt a traditional Indian setting. Every individual realizes this at some instance or the other but the concerned action is most often shelved and remains to be, due to various reasons. While this process continued, there were others who nourished the thought and gave it food. There came up social institutions, non-profit organizations, self-funded and self-run societies which realized the necessity and importance to empower the nation and do whatever they could. Colorss was born too!

Mr. Anand Koti, Founder Colorss Foundation

Anand, Founder, Colorss Foundation holds a Masters in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from Bhavans College of Communication and Management. He also has done his Masters in Hospital and Health Management from Symbiosis Centre of Health Care. He is a Graduate in Industrial Psychology from MSU, Vadodara. He has extensively worked for social causes and has been part of many community oriented projects before he founded Colorss in 2008. He is also a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate which exhibits his commitment and discipline. Now, Anand solely manages the operations of Colorss and its projects and is a true source of inspiration to all the budding social entrepreneurs out there.

Colorss Foundation was the outcome of the socio-centric and humanitarian thought process of its founder Mr. Anand Koti. Anand’s passion and dedication to bring in a massive social change in the society, to drive this social change by imparting education using creative and innovative methods brought Colorss into existence in 2008. Since then many action driven and research oriented projects have come into existence here and have been instrumental in achieving the purpose of this mission. As Colorss continues to make great strides on the social front, let’s take a vow to contribute in whatsoever manner possible to reach out to people in our communities and societies to enhance, empower and energize them. Colorss is present in Baroda, Gujarat and in Pune, Maharashtra.

Vision: 

Warren Bennis was right when he said “Vision animates, inspires and transforms purpose into action”. Colorss was set up with a purpose – to empower and develop the underprivileged children in the society and to make them ideal and value-driven individuals. And since its inception, Colorss has been working towards its vision, thus contributing in whatsoever manner possible to strengthen the deprived communities and get them in closer proximity to what may seem alien or new to them. It has also been striving hard to inspire and transform individuals and volunteers to take action and serve the society and in turn give back to the communities where we belong.

Mission: 

Colorss is currently working towards setting up an educative and resourceful environment for the socially deprived children, which will help them complete their basic education. Its founder, the supporting organizations, individuals and volunteers are working with dedication and devotion to make its vision a reality. On the road towards achieving its goals, Colorss would be more than happy to absorb like minded individuals on board their efforts to support them in whatsoever manner possible. In the words of its founder, Anand Koti ”If you want love or if you want to give back love”, then you are all set to join the social bandwagon! -> contact@colorss.org | emailcolorss@gmail.com | www.facebook.com/colorssfoundation | www.colorss.org 

For Love,

Self Defense - to empower the women of India | Colorss Foundation

The brutal gang rape and murder of a young girl in Delhi has brought worldwide attention to an issue that has plagued India for years - the oppression and gross mistreatment of women in the country.

In India, girls are forced to battle for their fundamental right to live, from the day they are born. Because of social stigma, women in India are often considered inferior and suffer torment and persecution for no reason other than their gender. From a young age, most local women are taught about the dangers they will inevitably face during their lives. Unfortunately, being aware is no longer enough.

Anand Koti teaching self-defense 

While it is by no means an altogether solution for the terrible issue of violence against women, providing Indian women with self-defense training is a great step forward in order to protect their basic freedoms and permit the ability to walk through the streets unaccompanied without fear.

Colorss Foundation, a NGO based in Baroda and Pune, is launching women’s self-defense classes to empower the women of India and provide the skills to remain calm and fight back against attackers, if this is ever required. If there is one thing that the December 16 attack has achieved, it is in spreading the reality that no one is safe from these types of assaults. Every woman in India, through no fault of her own, is a potential victim.

Colorss’ self-defense classes are for working women, university students and children, with no prior experience necessary. The classes are designed to take part 2-3 times a week, with groups of 10-15 participants in Pune. The classes may take place at your personal residence with a group of 10-15 participants, for the convenience of participants.

Anand Koti, the foundation’s director, will be conducting the classes. Anand has been practicing martial arts for over 15 years and has a 2^nd degree black belt in Karate, which demonstrates his commitment and discipline. In addition, Anand also possesses an undergraduate degree in Industrial Psychology and Masters degrees in Health Management and Industrial Relations and Personnel Management.

This unique combination of education and passion for martial arts has provided Anand with the perfect blend of skills to successfully pass his knowledge on to students. Under Anand’s supervision, many children from the Pune region have already benefited from Project Enhance, another initiative of the Colorss Foundation. Project Enhance involved providing underprivileged children of the region with martial arts and creative arts classes. The results of Project Enhance have been overwhelmingly positive. In addition to building the physical strength and stamina of the participants, Project Enhance also boosted their self-esteem and confidence.

While the most obvious benefit of these self-defense classes is the ability to defend yourself against an attacker, there are also numerous peripheral benefits, such as increased confidence and mental development. At Colorss, we strive to give women the physical and mental strength to surpass any challenges.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 24,206 cases of rape registered in India during 2011, but this is suspected to be a major under-representation of the true figure and of the problem at hand.

The worst reaction from this case would be for women to remain indoors, further restrict their activities and escalate the oppression they already face on a daily basis. This should be used as an opportunity to empower the women of India – for them to stand up and assert themselves.

It is in the hands of the government to make a legitimate stance on the issue of violence towards women and make widespread changes throughout the country; however, basic self-defense is a great step forward for the women on India.

It is our goal to empower the women of India to have the confidence to live completely fulfilling lives.

Contact Colorss for more information on self-defense training. You can email us at: emailcolorss@gmail.com and find us on Facebook.

Paul Whelan

Professional Volunteer Internship - Colorss Foundation

For students looking to gain some much needed experience and set themselves apart, an internship at Colorss Foundation is the perfect solution. Colorss Foundation provides the opportunity for students of all backgrounds to gain some invaluable experience, while also contributing to a fantastic cause.

Colorss Foundation is a non-profit organization, which aims to improve the lives of underprivileged children living in India, and help them break free from the vicious cycle of poverty. What’s unique about the Colorss Foundation is their innovative approach. The company uses a blend of art, sport and technology, to give these children much needed life skills and enhance their self-esteem and confidence. The goal of the organisation is to empower these children to go on and make a positive impact in the world on their own terms.

To continue this amazing work, Colorss is reliant on the contribution of volunteers, through a variety of internships. Internships are not just limited to social work students, but are available to students from a wide range of business, science, art and engineering backgrounds. The organisation has achieved outstanding results over its short history and had been able to benefit many disadvantaged children. However, Colorss requires the assistance of skilled volunteers to continue this success and help the company grow and benefit a greater number of children.

This rare opportunity will not only make your CV stand out, but will also give you the chance to make a positive impact on society and greatly influence the lives of many underprivileged children. This experience will undoubtedly give you an abundance of unforgettable memories and the skills to achieve your personal and professional goals. Contact Colorss Foundation today, to see how you can contribute to this great cause.

emailcolorss@gmail.com | www.facebook.com/colorssfoundation | http://colorss.org

Diwali Celebrations at UrjAa - igniting the fire within

No other time of the year or festival conjures up as much excitement as Diwali! The festival of lights which illuminates the country with its brilliance and dazzles everyone with its joy is coming soon! The lights illuminate our homes and hearts and empower us to commit ourselves to good deeds. A celebration of light, love and prosperity, the spirit of Diwali entices all. 

Celebrating the festival of lights with the community members would't had been possible if we did't get the support from you;

22nd Parallel, Restaurant, Baroda - for sponsoring food
Mr. Ramgopal Rajan - for sponsoring the gifts and sweets

The joy is beyond explanations; these small gestures bring in a lot of trust, hope and faith in these communities. The women and their family members really had fun. It was like a family get together having everyone at one place...

Thank you for making this event a big success..

For Love
Anand

Colorss Foundation in partnership with Badhai.in; India's premier online gift voucher company

These are some real deserving NGOs with impeccable background and real focus on making change at the grass root level

Badhai.in, India’s premier online gift voucher company, has added another feather to its cap.  After launching various firsts in the industry Badhai.in has now added NGO’s as its affiliates. Now users can not only shop at leading brands but also donate to NGOs. Mr. Ajay Pandey, CEO and Founder, says, “It’s a direction in our endeavour to add goodwill to gifting. These are some real deserving NGOs with impeccable background and real focus on making change at the grass root level”. Given the fact that not all NGO’s have the distribution strength to raise funds, some deserving NGOs may end up losing out. Badhai.in has extended its platform and reach to these very organizations. Badhai.in has tied-up with Colorss Foundation - works towards the well being of underprivileged children. [Please click here to go Colorss’s page on Badhai.in and make your donations.] Then click on Donate and your donations. Ajay adds that “Many people are willing to donate but do not know if their contribution would ever reach the needy. Also there was an issue of time and convenience towards this effort. Therefore, we decided to open up our platform to these very people who could contribute without the slightest anxiety. It is a chance for individuals and corporate to connect with and support different charities, anytime and from anywhere, even abroad”. Source: http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Badhai.in-opens-its-platform-to-NGOs/5540101490

‘See-green’ – an initiative to encourage use of eco-degradable bags instead of plastic bags

As an intern to Colorss, Mr. Aditya Gupta a Doon School Alumnus took up his own initiative of working on a project that would benefit a community and lead to increase use of eco-friendly bags in his locality. Aditya has a concrete plan and he intends to take this to a larger scale - as it involves three interesting and worthy factors: 

Recycle: in form of donation of old clothes from urban households.

Empowering women: bulk production of hand-stitched cloth bags which can improve their financial stability and their self-esteem too.

Going plastic free: encouraging use of eco-friendly bags instead of plastic bags.

Women and girls working in the See-Green initiative

'See-Green' product 

Aditya at the community

Aditya did the needful data-collection, he encouraged people to donate old clothes as well as gave environment-friendly tips to the localities he covered. This simple idea of a business opportunity with easy availability of raw material motivated the women to work for an extra income. Aditya demonstrated leadership qualities when we saw how he got around and made the finished product.

Aditya selling the bags at stores in Baroda

His next challenge was to sell the bags to the vendors.  Organic friendly shops like Jatan Vasundhara stores in Vadodara regularly purchased the product. This was a rewarding achievement and we did see the joy in his eyes. More impressive than this -it was the compassion and heart with which Aditya worked for the benefit of the deprived women.

Aditya after selling the bags :) the joy

Aditya has been truly able to justify the entire process of manufacturing to sales; his dedication and focus is commendable. Aditya came to us as he wanted his project to have a larger impact. Seeing how contemporary and relevant this issue is Colorss Foundation will do it’s very best to take “See-green” to the next level.

Thank you,

For Love,

Anand

Project 'Colors of Life'

One can never emphasise on the importance of education much. If the present and future of any society is to be bettered it is only through education. Unfortunately in our developing society, many underprivileged children are denied the right to education. In fact, not just denied but do you know that 50% of children discontinue education after 8th grade? These is our target population. We at Colorss have taken up the responsibility of making sure that underprivileged children enrolled in schools do not drop out and continue their education. We are currently carrying the project out in 3 schools: Mahadji Shinde High School, Dr. Ambedkar Memorial School, and Navprerna- day care-club of Navrachna School. 


The project offers a mix of creative arts, psychology and technology to help these children. We conduct hourly sessions twice a week in which exercises are carried out asking students to draw and write on a topic that inspires them or fuels their imagination. These are compiled together in the form of an e-zine. The students are also trained in computer usage and hence by such activities we seek to improve their communication, writing, analysis and interpersonal skills. Through these activites a portal for extra-curriculars is provided to the students which ensures that they have more interest in their schooling and that they continue their education.


As always, volunteers and donations are more than welcomed. We need your help in turning our small steps into big steps. If you think you are well-equipped to conduct workshops on creative writing, personality development and communication skills, feel free to contact us. You can also help us by donating drawing, writing and other relevant materials or monetary aid. Any sort of contribution is valued and appreciated. Our volunteers and donors are our biggest asset and the life blood of this
organization.


Warda Baig ~ UNV Volunteer

Volunteering ~ if you want to, you can do yours

If you pay attention, you will see that you are just beginning your life. You can study, you can work – you can do everything you want to build your future. Doesn’t this moment look like the perfect one to start making a difference in the world?

Reducing the number of school drop outs, brightening children’s lives with martial and creative arts, and teaching skills to poor women: some actions have a great potential of change. This is what Colorss Foundation believes in. This is what we do: use knowledge to transmit knowledge. And, this way, find better possibilities to people’s lives.

By developing programs to improve disadvantaged groups’ lives, Colorss Foundation is doing its part. If you want to, you can do yours. By volunteering, you can begin your journey in a great manner. And you do not just help: volunteering is a mutual relationship. You, for sure, are going to get a better person and learn new things.

Don’t you want to help someone to build a bright future too? Contact at: emailcolorss@gmail.com | www.facebook.com/colorssfoundation

Luisa Peixoto - UNV Volunteer!