Connecting Trust is a Pune-based NGO founded in 2005 that specializes in suicide prevention and mental health support. Driven by trained volunteers, the organization provides free, confidential and non-judgmental listening spaces for individuals experiencing severe emotional distress or suicidal thoughts.
Offers immediate telephonic and email support using Mindfulness-Based Active Listening.
Assists individuals and families recovering from a suicide attempt or loss.
Trains school students to recognize distress signals among peers.
Conducts community workshops to reduce mental health stigma
VFIT has helped add to their data base of trained volunteers and presently supports them in promoting active listening at two NGOs in Pune, namely, CanSupport (that works in palliative care) and the Stree Mukti Sangathana (that implements the Jidynasa project in 10 schools). This engagement is likely to ease the pressure on the palliative care and counselling teams of the two NGO and lead to their more engaged participation with their respective beneficiary groups.
VFIT appreciates the training and engagement structure developed by the Connecting Trust team. The self-efficacy scale and specialised assessment metric adapted by them will contribute to an understanding of the effectiveness of internalisation of inputs provided to the trainees
“The Volkart Foundation Indian Trust is helping us with our mission of reaching out to more communities. Given the times we live in, it has become necessary for us to work together for mental health and suicide prevention. The first step we can take is spread awareness and destigmatise conversations around mental health.”
Suhit Jeevan Trust's core mission is to educate, train, and rehabilitate children and young adults with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Surekha Patil in Pen Taluka, Raigad district, Maharashtra, the trust focuses primarily on empowering special needs individuals from rural and tribal backgrounds. So far, 300+ special children and adults have been nurtured by SJT.
Suhit Jeevan Trust works through an integrated model that supports every stage of learning and rehabilitation.
Infants and toddlers up to age 6 at risk of developmental delays. It remediates or prevents developmental issues across cognitive, physical, and adaptive sensory functions.
Infants and toddlers up to age 6 at risk of developmental delays. It remediates or prevents developmental issues across cognitive, physical, and adaptive sensory functions.
A sheltered workshop catering to young adults aged 18 to 45. It teaches tangible skills to enable economic independence.
Creating a steady pipeline of qualified special educators through the Light House Special Teacher Training Centre, building regional capacity to sustain high-quality, long-term education.
Students at EVTC are trained to manufacture marketable, eco-friendly goods, such as coir doormats, traditional diyas, and festive rakhis. Profits from sales go directly to the students and their families to promote pride and financial inclusion.
Physical rehabilitation is reinforced through sports. The trust's athletes actively participate in the Special Olympics Bharat and state-level meets, winning numerous national gold, silver, and bronze medals in track and field.
To remove geographical barriers, the trust runs custom school buses that travel deep into rural villages. They transport students safely from their homes to the facility daily. They also actively collaborate with local Anganwadis and panchayats to drive early disability screening.
“The Volkart Foundation Indian Trust is helping us empower every child with intellectual disabilities to learn, grow, achieve independence, and live with dignity, while strengthening the communities that support them.”
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