MY stay at the NGO Navkshitij for 15 days was the one of the most important ones in my life. My mission here was to implement an effective marketing strategy, and even now, from Brazil, we will continue to work on this, but besides that we have been able to modernize Navkshitij presentations. This will […]

I remember Navkshitij ever since my memory can take me back. I remember the long meetings that Dr. Neelima Desai (Neelima aunty to me) and my mother Kanaka used to have in our house in Pune. As a child I used to think, Wow, this idea is amazing. I have been exposed to social work, […]

SOME TIME back, I was talking to a young couple about Navkshitij, highlighting the adventure activities. After hearing me out, the girl said, “You guys are doing a great job, true. But getting mentally challenged persons to do all those activities like trekking or zorbing may not be so difficult because they do not know […]

WE’VE often heard Dr. Neelima Desai talk about her gratitude for our colleagues’ support and unstinting love for our Friends and us. I got to experience it firsthand recently. The day before Dr. Neelima’s 60th birthday, I called our Assistant Manager Mr. Mahendra Suryavanshi and told him to expect a parcel that I had sent. […]

ANAND, a special friend with Down’s syndrome, is a quiet boy with a good sense of what is fair and unfair. One day, at my weekly meeting with Friends, he complained about Friend Chaitanya who did not allow him to take solar water first. “I am very angry today because I thought it was unfair,” […]

I spent the last six weeks working as a volunteer at Navkshitij. Because the volunteer room was not available, I stayed under one roof with the special friends during my visit. Besides some minor challenges that arose because of that constellation, it wasn’t a problem for me at all. Looking back, I think that I […]

INTERACTING with our Friends is very interesting. Often we gain great insights. One day, during lunchtime, one of the girls said, “Madam, my father gets angry very often and then my daddy and mom start fighting. But Madam, I just ignore it.” And she started laughing. I said, “Good.” Then another girl came and began […]

OPPORTUNITIES come knocking at unexpected times. A big one did, last month, bringing with it a huge challenge. We got a huge chocolate order from Vansum Industries, Pune. Taking the order was a bit of a challenge. Our head of the chocolate unit, Anuradha, our Workshop Manager and some Friends from the chocolate unit were […]

I visited Navkshitij in early 2019, after a gap of many years. There was a sea change everywhere. The campus had been developed so much. I was struck by the eco-friendly activities, especially making products from Nirmalaya from temples. Workshop coordinator Mr. Eknath showed us around patiently. He explained how natural powder is made from […]

Hi, I am Shalaka, Monika’s sister. I fall asleep easily, and that can happen anywhere and anytime. Wherever I am, I can just catch a wink until someone shakes me out of my slumber. I address all the males here as Dada, and if he does not pay attention to what I’m saying, I make […]

They say that I have CP. I don’t know what it means, but I have difficulty walking; you see, I find it difficult to control the movement of my arms and legs. As far as possible, I try to move around by myself. I like to watch the others play, but I take care to […]

Namaskaram. Yana Prajyot… sorry, sorry… I’ve started speaking Kannada. That’s my mother tongue. But I can converse in Marathi too. I speak slowly and am very attentive to what others are saying. I have less vision and so cannot see clearly but I keep a close eye on what my friends are doing. I keep […]

Namaskar, I am Praful Brahme, the ever-smiling gatekeeper of Navkshitij. I love to greet all guests with a broad smile and a rich, throaty laugh. Those who visit Navkshitij regularly love to hear the roaring sound of my laughter. Prafulla means happy, and I make everyone happy with my laughter.I hate doing any work at […]

Hi, I am Harshada from Alibag. I am a Konkani and Konkanis are strict people. This makes them unpopular.I love making friends, and I have a special friend named Sushma. My parents have a big resort at Alibag, where we all go for a two-day trip. It’s facing the sea, and we all have a […]

Hi, I am Gautam Gat, the tiniest amongst all my friends. I am like a chuha. I’m in my thirties, though I look much younger. I don’t get awed by the hefty dadas here. I take panga if anyone interferes in my work and go charging at them. This scares them, so they keep to […]

Hey, I am Amol, the star of Navkshitij. I work at this place to earn a living. I love to chat with people and you will easily identify me when you are here. I will be the first person to ask you your name.I can bore you with my constant chatter but I don’t care… […]

I am Abhijeet, always concerned about what is going to happen. I am worried about the unexpected and I am very fearful. I feel something untoward is going to happen to me. I long to go back home at all times. My friends also tease me when I do not obey orders and say that […]

Hey guys, I am Giriraj, the first male inmate of Navkshitij. Aditi and I were the first two admissions to the residential home.I support my special friends however I can, and so they call me the King. The one who protects his subjects. Haha, isn’t this too much?I also worked as an office assistant here […]

I am Aditi. Baba fondly calls me “my little Zen master.” I don’t really understand it but he says, “Those who act without acting are Zen masters.” Navkshitij started because I am who I am, without me doing anything. When I was small, Aai and Baba tried to teach me so many things but I […]