Friends of Children

Empowers underprivileged college students in Maharashtra through financial aid and support for higher education, while offering supplementary services to ensure holistic growth and sustainable livelihoods

  • Silver Certified 2023
  • FCRA
  • 80G
  • 12A
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About

  • Headquarters

    Pune, Maharashtra

  • Since

    2006

Friends of Children (FoC), operates in Maharashtra, providing financial aid and support to underprivileged college students to pursue higher education Read more and secure sustainable livelihoods. Established in 2003, FoC started with 26 students and has since grown to support around 250 students annually across various regions in Maharashtra. In addition to financial assistance, FoC offers supplementary services like textbooks, trainer camps, skill sessions, mentorship, and guide networks to help these students thrive. The organisation's reach extends to several villages in Pune, Narayangaon, Ale Phata, Junnar, Manchar, Rajgurunagar, Saswad, Someshwarnagar, Ghodegaon, and Sangli. Run entirely by dedicated volunteers, Friends of Children continues to evolve and expand its impactful initiatives in the educational sphere.

Demographies Served

Programs

  • Umeed Workshop Programme

    FoC introduces the "Umeed" workshop programme, focusing on the holistic development of its sponsored students. The participants are divided into smaller groups based on their college course and year, allowing them to attend workshops that cover essential life skills and aspects of personality development. These sessions are especially beneficial for rural students who lack exposure to such platforms. The positive feedback and increased confidence displayed by the students over the years have reinforced the effectiveness of this workshop schedule.

  • Unnati Residential Programme

    District

    The organisation offers a comprehensive residential programme called "Unnati" to equip senior students with essential pre-recruitment skills for the professional world. During the 3-day programme in Pune, students participate in various sessions, including Resume Preparation, Facing Interview Tips, FAQs in Interviews, GDs, corporate and email etiquette, and other requisites to enhance their competitiveness. Additionally, a panel of members from IT and manufacturing companies is invited to conduct mock interviews and provide individual feedback, giving the students valuable exposure and preparation for real-world job interviews.

  • Udaan Student Volunteer Initiation Programme

    The organisation has launched "Udaan," a student volunteer initiation programme, to engage selected students in residential programmes held in Pune annually. These programmes are designed to enhance the students' volunteering skills, covering topics such as Sympathy & Empathy, Communication, and brainstorming on new projects. As a result, there are now more than 40 student volunteers from different regions actively participating in various activities and taking the lead in volunteering efforts in their respective areas.

  • Project Ujala: Support for Covid Hit Students

    District

    Project Ujala, initiated by Friends of Children (FoC) focuses on supporting Covid-affected students who have lost one or both parents or the sole earning member. Eligible students receive temporary financial aid and other forms of assistance to ensure their continuous education and future prospects.

Impact Metrics

  • Total Number of Students

    Program Name

    Unnati (Progress) – Recruitment Skill Program

    Year-wise Metrics
    • 2021-22 49
    • 2022-23 32
  • Total Number of Students in Spoken English Program

    Program Name

    Uday (Rising)

    Year-wise Metrics
    • 2021-22 49
    • 2022-23 32
  • Fees Paid for Students for Their Education in College

    Year-wise Metrics
    • 2021-22 159
    • 2022-23 176

Leadership Team

  • S Subramaniam

    Trustee

  • Manoj Sharma

    Trustee

  • Aparna Pardeshi

    Honorary Secretary

  • Vani Subramanyam

    Honorary Treasurer

  • Shantha Suryanarayan

    Chairperson & Trustee

  • Harshad Joshi

    Trustee

  • Nalini Ramachandra

    Trustee

M&E

  • Internal, External Assessors

    No

Policies

  • Ethics and Transparency Policies

    No

  • Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy

    No

Political & Religious Declarations

  • On Affiliation if any

    No

  • On Deployment Bias if any

    No

Registration Details

  • PAN Card

    AAATF2043E

  • Registration ID

    F-21088/Pune

  • VO ID / Darpan ID

    MH/2018/0216802

  • 12A

    AAATF2043EF20113

  • 80G

    AAATF2043EE20115

  • FCRA

    83930612

  • CSR Registration Number

    Not Available

Location

  • Headquarters

    L49, Flat 1134, Sanman hsg society, Yeravada, Pune, 411006

    Directions

Other Details

  • Type & Sub Type

    Non-profit
    Trust