About the Organisation
Founded in 1999, Dream A Dream empowers young people from vulnerable backgrounds with critical Life Skills and at the same time sensitizing the community through active volunteering. In the last 12 years, we have impacted the lives of over 12000 young people through an active support of 2000 volunteers.
Organisation Activities
Life Skills Through Football Programme - A unique life skills development program, running since 2003, for children from vulnerable backgrounds where in they can participate in team sports and benefit from professional coaching. Through weekly sessions, children not only learn the sport in a fun and engaging environment albeit also develop critical life skills such as team-work, creativity, problem solving, self-awareness, etc.
Life Skills through Creative Arts Programme - Long-term, focused curriculum based programs aimed at developing life-skills in the children using a variety of arts and crafts based mediums. Through art, children learn to value their own uniqueness, to appreciate their individuality and express themselves. Working in teams also helps build their team-skills, sense of worth, responsibility and discipline. Run with support from artists, facilitators and volunteers, the program is highly popular with children and develops critical life skills in a fun-filled, unobtrusive environment. The program has been in existence since early 2000.
Outdoor Experiential Camps - The outdoor experiential camps are aimed at taking children on 2-4 day professionally guided adventure camps to develop self-esteem and important life skills. Through activities such as trekking, camping, swimming, water-sports and outbound activities, the children develop life skills such as problem solving, decision making, choice-making, team-skills and leadership.
Life Skills for employ-ability - With The DreamConnect Program, we hope to empower 10th standard graduates / drop-outs aged 15+ years (Dream A Dream Alumni) by offering the tools and foundational life skills necessary for career development. This will encourage them to make their own decisions for the future, thereby 'connecting' them into adulthood and tangible outcomes such as higher education, sustained relationships, and employment.
Awards / Recognition
1.Dream A Dream is among the 200 national organizations that meet all the credibility norms setup by GIVE India
Credibility Alliance recognizes Dream A Dream as a leading NGO that is transparent, accountable and meets national reporting standards
2.Dream A Dream is validated by Charities Aid Foundation, India and is part of their network of beneficiary NGOs
3.The Director, Vishal Talreja, is an Ashoka Fellow (www.ashoka.org)
4.Awarded the Region (South) – Indian NGO of the Year Award in 2007 and 2009
5.2011, Winner of the “Outstanding Annual Report Award” (Medium category)
6.In 2009 and 2010, awarded the “Outstanding Annual Report Award” (Runners Up, Small Category)
7.Runner-up at the GDN “Most Innovative Development Project” Award in 2009-10
