Our Revolutionary Journey
Started as a project under PRERANA NGO, SATHI began working with children at Raichur Railway Station, Karnataka, providing shelter support and skill training in areas such as welding, carpentry, tailoring, and other vocational skills
The first successful home placement of a child connected with the railways, with a positive response from the parents, helped shape the organization’s strategy. Reuniting separated children with their families became a primary focus, while SATHI continued its work on the rescue and restoration of children at Raichur, Wadi, Mantralaya Road, and Guntakal railway stations.
Developed Home Orientation and De-addiction camp module with the help of Dr. Shekhar P Seshadri, NIMHANS, Bangalore and Fr. George Kollashany (DON BOSCO)
SATHI formally registered as a Society under Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960
Conducted sample study on retention of home placed children and found 80% children staying back at home.
SATHI began its work in Government Children’s Homes and expanded across XXX Indian states, successfully promoting Early Restoration practices in 65 GCHs
Expanded its geographical reach through collaborations with other NGOs. Between 2006 and 2010, SATHI partnered with more than 45 organizations and extended its work to railway stations across 14 states.
Collaborated with researchers from TISS and IIM Bangalore to produce research reports, consolidated our work with the support of SRTT fellows, and developed internal systems for data management and documentation.
SATHI was granted an Open Shelter under ICPS by the Govt. of Karnataka
SATHI’s practice of using Open Shelters for railway children mentioned as best practice on MWCD website; SATHI got Open Shelter grant in Pune, Maharashtra – Central Railways provided free building space to run the shelter. SATHI was granted ICPS Open Shelters in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
SATHI actively participated in consultations on SOP for care and protection of children in contact with Railways
SATHI organized a Family Reunion Program with 40 children, attended by Smt. Maneka Gandhi, the then Union Minister for Women and Child Development, which highlighted the issues of railway children and the SATHI model, leading to the launch of Railway Childline in May 2015
SATHI started working with children in street situations across six cities in Uttar Pradesh and assisted more than 30,000 children from street situations and slums in obtaining legal identity documents (Aadhaar) and accessing government social security schemes.
During COVID-19, SATHI supported affected children through online education, school, tuition, and skill development assistance, reaching 3,600+ children, including 365 children in Pune and rural Bangalore. SATHI also provided financial and employment support to 89 single parents to help sustain their livelihoods.
Launched a free two-year online coaching program in 2022 for meritorious 9th and 10th standard students from 10 states, preparing NMMS high achievers for competitive exams. More than 100 students have benefited from this initiative so far.
Started a project to improve access to education and well-being for children and youth of migrant workers in the Bangalore, Yadgir, and Raichur districts of Karnataka
Started a project for street-connected, school dropout, and substance-affected children in the PCMC area of Pune, Maharashtra