Don’t loose faith in India!
"Don't loose faith in India" were my father's dying words. Both my parents were true patriots and loved their country with rare passion, a passion that they instilled in their only child. I fell in love with India from the stories I heard at their knee. I am a proud...
FCRA out of the closet
FCRA or Foreign Currency Regulation Act is something NGOs aspire to as it allows them to get funds from foreign countries. Today FCRA is out of the closet. The government wants to amend it and the opposition is up in arms. Wonder why? Till date the FCRA did not have...
Walk don’t run
I have been trying to write this post for some days now. Each time I decide to do so, another article appears in the press and compels me to change my approach. OK let us put this in context. Over the past weeks there have been a plethora of news articles on...
Our doors remain open
Keerthana is 9 year old. She lives in Narapanenipalle, a small village in Telangana. Once there were 70 children in this upper primary school. But slowly with time passing the rural education scene has changed as parents migrate towards urban centres or shift their...
A soul stirring birthday gift
I had decided to celebrate my 74th quietly, without much ado but that was not to be.With the very eclectic social circle I have, it is quasi impossible for me to have one big bash, not that I like those. But everyone needed to be satisfied. So planned a small lunch...
Please help me
This little girl all dressed up for her second birthday is looking ahead at her future: what does it hold for her, she wonders. Let in unfold and be a mystery. Tomorrow she will be 27010 days or 74 years old. Time to look back at the mystery and answer the one...
Inclusive Education Means More Than Admission: A child with ADHD’s story
True inclusion means more than admitting a child into a classroom. Through the story of one little girl with ADHD this article explores why understanding, compassion and the right support are essential if every child is to thrive in school
Wedding bells at Project Why
A few days back Xavier informed us about the visit of Serge an old friend of Project Why with his new bride Saranya. We decided to do something special for them. It was to be a surprise. Serge carries India in his heart and his bride has never visited India. It was...
when joy becomes simple life becomes extraordinary
I came across this beautiful article recently. What caught my eye was the title:"When joy becomes simple, life becomes extraordinary". I read it and was drawn to every word as it resonated with everything I have gone through. If you have time, read it. It took me a...
The Cathedral Within the Rockpile
A deeply personal reflection on the purpose of Project Why and the challenge of preparing children for an uncertain future. Uses the St Exupéry metaphor powerfully to connect dreams, education and changing times. Strong founder’s voice and legacy piece.
Building a Future Beyond the Founder: How Project Why Found Its Wings
After 25 years of leading Project WHY, I faced the challenge every founder eventually confronts: how to ensure the organisation would survive beyond me. This is a story of resilience, hope and the people who helped secure its future. For every founder of a social...
The Boy Who Came Back to Give
Aman was once a Project Why child with a dream of becoming an artist. Years later, after pursuing that dream, he returned—not only to teach and mentor the children, but to make a donation to the organisation that had helped him find his wings. For me, there could be no greater gift.
The haunting flute
Twice everyday a haunting melody is heard from the street below.. It is the flute and toy vendor who peddles his ware in our rather upmarket colony. Street vendors still ply across the city though much less than some decades ago. The flute vendor in our street has a...
Out of the Box
India recently hosted the India AI Impact Summit! Anchored in the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, it envisions a future where AI advances humanity, fosters inclusive growth, and safeguards our shared planet. AI is here to stay! Some go as far as saying...
Five Lessons 25 Years of Project Why Taught Me
When I started Project Why, I believed I was setting out to change lives. I soon discovered that the people I thought I was helping were, in fact, changing mine. Over the past twenty-five years, thousands of encounters—with children, parents, volunteers, and complete...
Don’t lose faith in India
A personal reflection on patriotism, poverty, injustice and hope—and on a promise made to a father: never lose faith in India.
Next time, don’t look away
When I decided to cross the proverbial Rubicon, to leave the armchair I had sunk in post losing my parents in an almost catatonic state, I did not know where the journey would take me. I just knew I had to step out and so I did. I also knew that it was time to redeem...
The length of a lifetime
The story of one little girl becomes a powerful reflection on child abuse, silence, and our shared responsibility to protect the most vulnerable.
The dot you do not see
The dot you do not see on the picture, is our planet Earth viewed from the Martian sky. It is a beautiful reminder of who we truly are and takes care of any hubris we may be tempted to fall into. This is all 7 billion of us viewed from the heavens above. Makes one...
The anatomy of a blog
I start blogging in April 2005. That makes it 21 years and over 2000 blogs. It all started like this. It must have been circa 2003 when I realised that the proverbial ‘pockets’ I easily dug into whenever extra funds were needed were emptying at the speed of light or...
It is not what you GATHER but what you SCATTER
It is not what we GATHER but what we SCATTER, that tells what kind of life we have lived were the words on of the greatest athletes of our times began is speech at a red carpet gala function in Los Angeles in December 2025. He was to receive a life time achievement...
In the sands of time – an India song
Memories are the footprints we leave in the sands of time For the past few days I have been travelling down memory lane and that for a very special reason. In 2015 if my memory serves me right I decided to write the Project Why story. It was time when the elephant in...
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Project Why’s beauty salon
In January of this year, we opened a beauty skills centre for the women of the community. This is to teach the ladies new skills and make them more independent. In this centre, we have employed the mother of one of our ex students. In the first 6 months, the ladies...
You reap what you sow
India’s ancient system of education and the New Education Policy talks about Panchkosha, the five dimensions of a child’s development. Education which fosters holistic development and goes beyond academics is what builds WHOLE child. At project WHY we create a...
Once you learn to read you will be forever free
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” wrote Frederick Douglass. At Project Why we strive to instill the love of reading in all our students. That is why we have a library period where children can go look at books, feel them, browse hem and be motivated...
What’s new
Happy New Year
The children, staff and management of Project Why wish you a very happy 2022!
What’s new
In lockdown time
In lock down times project Why does not stop work. Our team of dedicated teachers take online classes for all their students. Our goal is to ensure that no child drops out of school in Covid times. we hope we can meet our goal
What’s new
Happy New Year
The children of Project Why wish you a happy and peaceful New Year.
What’s new
Project Why on line
For the past six months now Project Why has been teaching online! Our stellar teachers did not take long to adapt to the new normal and came up with innovative ways to make sure that the children study in the best way possible. With the help of smart phones, whatsApp...
Anou’s blog
Chapeau Bas!
Meet Project Why and Azure hospitality's Covid 19 warriors: Vijay, Seema, Sanjeet, Dharmendra (Project Why) and Manoj Kumar (Azure Hospitality) For the past 2 weeks now they have been distributing over a 1000 meals to the agricultural labour families on the banks of...
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FCRA out of the closet
Life in the times of pollution #WATWB
Usually for We are the World Blogfest, we share a positive story--one that shines light amid the darkness, For the past two months Delhi has been in the throes of severe pollution with the Air Quality Index reaching impossible figures. This sadly happens every year...
What’s new
Write Tribe Festival of Words: Project Why takes over Daily (w)rite!
From March 4 to 10th, Project Why will be participating in the Write Tribe Festival of Words by taking over Damyanti Biswas's Daily (w)rite! It is an honour to be part of this Festival and to talk to a new audience about Project Why. I hope all my readers will join me...
What’s new
A Thirst for Education in the Children of the Okhla Centre #WATWB
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. – Walt Streightiff For We are the World Blogfest I want to share the story of the education of a bunch of children who took it upon themselves to change their futures. I came to...
Auf Wiedersehen, liebe Luisa und Fabian #GivingTuesday#India
For the past three months, Project Why has been touched by the magic of two young souls: Luisa and Fabian. Luisa was barely sixteen when she first visited Project Why with her mother. She was touched by what she saw and told us that she would come and volunteer after...
Whats new
Janmashtami Celebrations
Project WHY centres - Delhi and Dehradun - celebrate the Indian festival of Janmashtami today. Children dress up and play act as lord Krishna.
ANOU’S BLOG
The art of surviving #GivingTuesday#India
One of the greatest lessons I have learnt during the last two decades is that of survival with dignity and a smile. It has been not only a great eye opener but also taught me to review my own life in a whole new perspective. The art of survival with dignity lies in...