Living
Checkout the Top NGO’s in India
If you wish to change things for the better, do something that has a purpose bigger than making money, and create a real impact rather than simply doing their 9-to-5 jobs – clocking in and clocking out. And that’s where NGOs come into the picture.
NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) work to promote social or political change and play a critical role in developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation. Their primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause, which they do with activities that raise awareness, knowledge, and acceptance of the cause.
Smile Foundation
Smile Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization based in New Delhi, India. It was established in 2002 and has a presence in 25 Indian states. As of 2017, the Foundation reaches approximately 400,000 children and their families.
The purpose of this NGO for education in India was to promote education among the underprivileged. Their development program includes health care, education, livelihood for children and women, provision to be equally affected by lack of resources. Some of his programs are Smile on Wheels, Mission Education and Smile Twin e-learning programs.
Goonj
Goonj is a non-governmental organization based in Delhi, India. It performs disaster relief, humanitarian aid and community development work in parts of 23 states of India. Echo focuses on clothes as a basic but unheard of need. It was founded in 1999 by Anshu Gupta. For his work with Goonj, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2015. In 2012, he was named India’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 by the Schwab Foundation, a partner organization of the World Economic Forum.
Goonj has started with 67 garments and now deals over 3500 tonnes of material every year. It is registered under the Societies Act and Section 80G, 12A and FCRA for an exemption for foreign contribution.
Helpage India
HelpAge India is an Indian organization focused on the concerns of elders. Established in 1978, its mission is to “work for the cause and care of under-aged elderly people and improve their standard of living”. HelpAge is taking action against universal, pension, healthcare, Elder Abuse at the national, state and social levels with the central and state governments and advocates for the needy. It runs various age care programs to cater to the larger needs. It aims to serve the disadvantaged elders holistically so that they can lead an active, dignified and healthy life.
CRY (Child Rights and You)
CRY is an Indian non-governmental organization that helps restore children’s rights to build a society that promises equality, justice and respect. The organization was founded in 1979 by Ripon Kapoor.
CRY partners with organizations to uplift thousands of Dalit children. CRY works at all levels, including advocacy, awareness-raising, direct action and policy changes. They devote both their time and money to ensure a healthy, happy and creative childhood.
Cuddles
8 out of 10 children fighting cancer lose this battle because of malnutrition.
50,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in India, but only 22% of them make it to hospitals for treatment. 80% of them are malnourished at diagnosis.
That’s why Cuddles Foundation exists. Cuddles Foundation is India’s only NGO helping underprivileged children fight cancer with better food and nutrition. Started five years ago in Mumbai, it provides nutrition support to over 18,000 children with cancer in 21 hospitals across 13 cities in India.
Make A Difference (MAD)
Make A Difference works towards empowering children in orphanages and shelters.
Through education, the organization ensures that these disadvantaged children are economically independent to achieve their dreams.
Their volunteers commit a year and spend between 2 and 10 hours every week mentoring, teaching and interacting with children in order to ensure that they get the support and care they need during childhood.
Make Love Not Scars
Every year, India witnesses an estimated 1,000 reported acid attacks. Considering the attacks that go unreported, this number would be a lot higher.
In 2014, Ria Sharma founded Make Love Not Scars to rehabilitate survivors of acid attacks and campaign for an end to the over-the-counter sale of acid.
So far, they’ve rehabilitated over 70 survivors in their rehabilitation centre based in New Delhi.
Sammaan Foundation
Samman Foundation is a ‘not-for-profit’ company, registered under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act 1956. It was established in the year 2007, it is actively engaged in community service through several grassroots initiatives including extensive work in health and livelihoods.
Art
Navratri 2024: Celebrating the Nine Colours and Their Significance
Navratri, the festival that spans nine nights, is one of the most auspicious and widely celebrated festivals in India. Dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms, each day of Navratri holds special significance, marked by a distinct color that carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning. As we prepare for Navratri 2024, let’s explore the nine colors associated with each day, their significance, and how they inspire devotion, positivity, and harmony.
Day 1: Yellow
On Thursday, embrace the uplifting energy of yellow as you celebrate Navratri with optimism and joy. This warm and cheerful color symbolizes happiness and radiates positivity, keeping you in high spirits throughout the day.
Day 2: Green
On Friday, wear green, a color that represents nature, growth, and harmony. It evokes a sense of peace and serenity, while also symbolizing new beginnings. Let the vibrant energy of green invite tranquility and the blessings of the Goddess into your life.
Day 3: Grey
Saturday calls for the subtle sophistication of grey. This balanced color keeps you grounded and calm, symbolizing composure and understated elegance. It’s perfect for those who want to participate in Navratri with grace while making a refined style statement.
Day 4: Orange
On Sunday, adorn yourself in the vibrant hue of orange. This color embodies warmth, exuberance, and positivity. Wearing orange during Navratri invokes an upbeat energy, bringing vitality and a lively spirit to your celebrations.
Day 5: White
Start your Monday with the purity and serenity of white. Associated with innocence and spiritual clarity, this color invites inner peace and helps you connect with the divine blessings of the Goddess, offering a sense of security and calm.
Day 6: Red
On Tuesday, red takes center stage, symbolizing passion, love, and strength. As one of the most auspicious colors, red is often offered to the Goddess in the form of a Chunri. Wearing red fills you with energy, vigor, and the vibrant spirit of Navratri.
Day 7: Royal Blue
Wednesday’s color is royal blue, representing elegance, richness, and tranquility. This deep, vivid shade of blue exudes confidence and sophistication, making it an ideal choice for those who want to celebrate Navratri with style and grace.
Day 8: Pink
On Thursday, don the charming hue of pink, a symbol of universal love, affection, and harmony. Pink is a color that adds a soft touch of warmth and approachability, making it perfect for creating a loving and joyful atmosphere during the festivities.
Day 9: Purple
On the final day of Navratri, purple takes the spotlight. Associated with luxury, nobility, and grandeur, purple invites opulence into your life. Wearing this regal color while worshipping Navdurga bestows blessings of prosperity and richness, making it the perfect way to end your Navratri celebrations.
Luxury
Cartier’s New High Jewellery Collection is a Love For The Wild
In 2021, the American Museum of Natural History in New York presented Beautiful Creatures, an exhibition showcasing some of the most eccentric jewellery designs of the past century. One standout piece was the iconic crocodile necklace of Mexican actress María Félix, a loyal Cartier patron. Félix, renowned for her bold sense of style, famously strolled into Cartier’s Paris store in 1975 with her pet crocodile, requesting a necklace in its likeness. Cartier delivered, crafting two intertwined crocodiles encrusted with over a thousand emeralds and yellow diamonds. For Félix, crocodiles symbolized freedom, an embodiment of the spirit she associated with Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema.
Fast forward to today, and Félix’s wildest dreams seem to have come to life at Cartier’s latest high jewellery collection, Nature Sauvage, previewed at the historic Kursalon Hübner gallery in Vienna. Among the star pieces is the Koaga necklace, a masterful creation where a zebra clasps an emerald-cut diamond and a 6.25-carat pear-shaped rubellite in its mouth. The zebra’s form is exquisitely rendered in alternating onyx stripes and pavé diamonds, making the creature feel almost lifelike.
The relationship between animals and jewellery has deep mythological roots, often glorified through rituals and symbolism. In ancient Egypt, scarab beetles were worn as earrings to signify respect for life’s cyclical nature. Meanwhile, in Hellenistic Greece, gods and goddesses took on the forms of winged creatures in adornment. So, what is it about animal-themed jewellery that continues to captivate us? According to Amanda Triossi, a jewellery historian based in Rome, the allure lies in our primal instincts: “Wearing wild animals like panthers or tigers gives one the sense of having conquered them. It’s empowering, as if you inherit the animal’s strength and attributes.”
Cartier captures this essence beautifully in its Amphista necklace. Featuring two intertwined snakes with diamond scales set with emeralds, their heads adorned with kite-shaped diamonds, the necklace echoes ancient Chinese philosophy’s yin-yang balance. The pièce de résistance? Nine octagonal Colombian emeralds, weighing a total of 14.72 carats.
Triossi also notes that many historical heroes are often depicted draped in the skins of animals they’ve vanquished, a symbol of triumph. Today, jewellery transforms that symbol into something precious and eternal—animal skins reimagined in imperishable materials.
Later that evening, at a celebration held at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, the largest in Austria, the enchantment of Cartier’s collection was heightened. The museum’s octagonal domes featured paintings of animals dancing with angels, setting the stage for a magical night. Guests were greeted by masterpieces such as Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait and Caravaggio’s Madonna of the Rosary, alongside Cartier page boys in their signature red hats. The evening’s soundtrack, a seamless blend of Bach and Kygo, was curated by DJ Gillian Sagansky, lending a modern twist to the classical ambiance.
The following day brought another cultural adventure—a visit to Otto Wagner’s Villa, a stunning summer palace designed by the famed architect. The paintings adorning the villa’s walls depicted animals in various forms—some caught in purgatory, others wandering the biblical bardo, with alligators restlessly emerging from swampy landscapes.
Luxury
Indian Craftsmanship Meets Italian Savoir Faire : Rahul Mishra x Tod’s
Quiet luxury was expected to dominate for a while, with many predicting that the return of bold, extravagant fashion would take its time. However, maximalism seems to be making a swift comeback, especially in the realm of designer collaborations. Hot on the heels of the vibrant, print-heavy H&M x Anamika Khanna collection, another limited-edition line has arrived, celebrating opulent luxury: Rahul Mishra x Tod’s.
As part of Tod’s T-Factory project, which features exclusive collaborations with creative innovators, this marks Indian couturier Rahul Mishra’s debut in the international accessories space.
Mishra is a true ambassador of Indian design. Along with his wife Divya Mishra, he leads his eponymous label, which has brought the essence of India to the global stage in remarkable ways. A regular at Paris Fashion Week and the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week, his creations have adorned celebrities like Zendaya and Mark Zuckerberg, and have graced magazine covers in South Korea, China, and Europe. With such a path-defining legacy, it’s no surprise that Mishra and his visionary label were Tod’s natural choice for their first-ever Indian collaboration.
Mishra describes this collaboration as a beautiful fusion of “Italian craftsmanship serving as the canvas for Indian vision.” Tod’s iconic Gommino loafers and mules, along with the Di Bag and T Timeless shoulder bag, have been reimagined with intricate resham embroidery, crystals, and sequins—all meticulously hand-embroidered at Mishra’s atelier in Noida. “It was a technically challenging process that took time to perfect. I can confidently say these are some of the finest bags and shoes you’ll ever witness, in terms of craftsmanship and longevity. Such pieces are forever,” Mishra proudly shares.
Crafted entirely between India and Italy, the limited-edition pieces from this collection are a true love letter to the artisanal heritage of both nations. “There’s a beauty in the teamwork here,” Mishra explains. “We received raw materials from Italy and worked on integrating our embroideries seamlessly into their leather. The pieces were then sent back to Tod’s, where they transformed them into stunning, three-dimensional products. In that sense, it’s been a genuine collaboration between Italy and India.”
Mishra firmly believes that the future of global design will be shaped by a global Indian aesthetic. “Just as French, Italian, British, and Japanese designs are now seen as universal,” he explains. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing that narrative. “When you push the boundaries of ‘handmade in India’ to be respected at the pinnacle of luxury, everything else will naturally follow,” he emphasizes.
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