AFFECXN (Read: AFFECTION), is a Newsletter
published by Catalysts for Social Action (CSA).
Orphans: The Indian Context
Transforming Young Lives
From God, with Love
The past few months in Pictures
Being the Change
Enabling Children to Dream Big
Making Measurable Changes
How you can get Involved
Established in September 2002, Catalyst for
Social Action (CSA) is a Not-For-Profit
organisation dedicated to the cause of child
welfare. CSA works as a catalyst to promote
and facilitate adoptions and works towards
transforming the lives of orphans by enabling
them to get an education, eat a nutritious
meal and be healthy & happy.
As part of our Adoption Facilitation process,
we work with existing rural institutions to
facilitate adoptions. We have successfully
facilitated over 200 adoptions so far. Our
intention is to ensure that every adoptable
child should find a home. In the area of
enabling holistic care of children, we support
a number of child care organisations in the
areas of Nutrition, Hygiene, & Health,
Education & Vocational skills, Infrastructural
support and Recreation activities. We have
made and continue to make a valuable
difference to 1500+ children across 41 homes
in 4 states that we support.
Orphans: The Indian Context
30.75 Lakh North Zone
(Delhi, Haryana, Himachal
There are an estimated 21 million destitute and orphaned children in India. While a small Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,
percentage of children become orphans due to the death of one or both parents, a large Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal)
majority are abandoned due to extreme poverty.
36.28 Lakh South Zone
While adoption is a viable option for children below 6 years, approximately only 6500 (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,
adoptions take place in the country annually. Of the millions of children who remain Kerala and Tamil Nadu)
unadopted many live in sub standard living conditions with limited access to proper hygiene,
nutrition, educational and medical support. 68.42 Lakh Central Zone
(Chattisgarh,Madhya Pradesh
and Uttar Pradesh)

56.83 Lakh East Zone

(Bihar,Jharkand,Orissa and
West Bengal)

Number of Orphan Children

22.24 Lakh West Zone
TOP FIVE STATES (Goa,Gujarat and Maharashtre)

Uttar Pradesh 47.56 lakh

Bihar 22.47 lakh
Maharashtra 16.17 lakh
West Bengal 15.19 lakh
Madhya Pradesh 15.23 lakh

* Above figures are from a study done by SOS Children's Village by analyzing data from National Family Health Survey-3 for the year 2005-06 and the population estimation for 2011 by the Census of India. These Figures were published in an HT article in July 2011
Transforming Young Lives

The 'Wall Heart' Project, Mumbai

Improving living conditions is one of the focus areas for CSA and towards the same we needed to
organise some badly needed repairs & paint for the walls of an Observation Home at Thane. In
between discussions on cost of paint and budgets, one of our volunteers came up with a brilliant
idea of a crowd sourced intervention and the innovative 'Wall Heart' Project was born!

It took some paint, people and 'poha' to organize the 'Wall Heart' Project an initiative to add
colours in the lives of under privileged children. Volunteers, connected with through Facebook, came
together to buy paint and paint the walls of the Home. Our Volunteers comprised a mix of writers,
painters, businessmen, dentists, professional artists & social media professionals.

From Calvin and Hobbes to an abstract mural, the 'heartists' showcased a plethora of beautiful
bright coloured pictures brightening the otherwise dull white walls of the boys dormitory. The
children had a bright cheerful room with inspiring messages and a lesson to take home that The
world is not a bad dark place to live in; it can be a party after all

The initiative has helped in changing the attitude of these boys. We

usually only have a white coat of paint but this initiative has added art &
colour to inspire their thinking. We hope for more such creative
associations with CSA"

Secretary of The Dilip Kalantri Boys and Girls observation Home,

Bhiwandi

The idea is not just to paint walls but beautify the lives of the children. If This kind of an experience would not normally have been possible for
a small action like this can inspire them to better some aspect of their me. Being able to spend the day adding a little beauty to the sparse
life, we could help in changing a life forever. Creative therapy is the best surroundings of the facility for children was both humbling and
way to divert young energy into something worthwhile" enriching. It was also a lot of fun splashing paint onto walls!"

Payal Shah Karwa ,a Communications Professional and our volunteer who conceived Ramya Pandyan, Blogger and Social Media Professional and a volunteer
the Wall Heart Project for the Initiative
From God, with Love

Vani & Anand Kumar from Bangalore adopted a 4 months old baby girl from Balasore, Odisha in December 2012. Here is their heart warming story.

"It was an exhilarating moment for me and my wife Vani when we got our little angel home on 4th December 2012. I have heard that God answers your prayers at the right time and now
I understand truly what that means. We have named our baby angel Avantikaa Kumar and she has completely transformed our lives. She has changed our perception of life and has
taught us the meaning of parenting.

We have also shared our joy with all our friends and referred the center at Balasore to many of our friends who were undergoing similar complications in life. Three couples have adopted
from the same center and we are extremely happy that we could bring some happiness to their lives.
The past few months in Pictures

Adoptive Parents Meet

Drawing competition

Health Camp conducted for Girls and Boys

Fruits of the Season

CSA's participation in the Mumbai Marathon

Being the Change

At the very heart of bringing about change is

volunteerism. The inputs and efforts of passionate and
dynamic volunteers from India and overseas has
helped strengthen our organisation and bring about
positive social change.

Dan & Sarah, two young volunteers from the UK

recently spent a month volunteering with us at Goa.
They worked with 5 of our partner orphanges and
organized various events for the kids with a focus on
nutrition and hygiene. Here's what they have to say
about their experience.

We have worked with CSA for a month now and are

sad to be leaving so soon. It has been a wonderful
experience interacting with the children as well as
learning and experiencing first hand what CSA is
involved with. It felt great to be a part of a team that
are helping to improve the lives of these children, and
after meeting the children themselves it became clear
how these efforts had a direct affect on their daily
lives. Furthermore, everyone at CSA has been great
and we have appreciated the diverse and interesting
work schedule we have been given. Considering that
this is our first time in India, the work we have done
with CSA has made this trip an incredibly rewarding
and unforgettable one. "
Enabling Children to Dream Big

Shivani Jadhav, an Orphan girl from Balika Ashram dreams of being an Astronaut one day!

200 Children attended a Health Camp at an Observation
Making Measurable Changes Home for Girls and Boys. A team of Doctors met the
children and assessed their physical condition. Height,
Weight and BMI was recorded for all children and Eye &
Dental Checkup was conducted.

80 children participated in an Art based therapy workshop
in Goa

19 girls and 15 boys completed tailoring classes at an
Observation Home for boys and girls at Bhivandi

14 adoptions were facilitated since Oct '12

30 adoptive parents attended our 'Adoptive Parents Meet'.
The meet was organized to help parents deal with post
adoption issues and learn from each others experiences.

232 children from Mumbai orphanages were given fruits of
the season (Oranges, Grapes, Watermelons) as part of our
nutritional support program.

3 children at 'Love Trust', a special needs home are now
going to school due to the support & intervention of CSA

26 children of Bapuji Seba Sadan, Balasore & Servants of
India Society (SIS), Odisha, are now being provided
supplementary nutrition

60 girls from an Observation Home at Pune attended hobby
classes and learnt to make greeting cards

1 Children's Home (Anath Parityakta Balashram, Odisha)
saw an improvement in living conditions with their walls
being repaired & white washed by CSA

90 volunteers participated in the Mumbai Marathon and 58
volunteers participated in the Delhi Half Marathon to raise
funds for the Children
How you can get Involved
The welfare of orphans depends on your contributions. Donate today!

By Cheque:
made payable to Catalysts for Social Action and sent to:
CSA, C/o Accelya Kale Solutions Ltd, 3rd Floor, Modi House, Eastern Express Highway, Naupada,
Thane (W), Mumbai 400602.

By Credit Card:
Please visit www.csa.org.in to donate online through 'Give India' or 'Global Giving' both of which are
secure and independent web portals for donating to reputable Charities.

By Volunteering:
Please contact us by phone
020-24227090 / 9930143994