To provide underprivileged children with a nurturing and stimulating educational environment that helps them recognize their limitless potential.

• to prepare underprivileged children for entry into the formal system.
• to provide on-going support to those enrolled in the formal system so that they do not drop out of school.
• to work towards parental participation in children's education.
• to improve the health status of the children who come to the Centre and provide nutrition.
• to provide a system of non-formal education to those children who cannot avail of the formal system.
• to work towards self-sustainability from the sale of the products made from the art done by our children.

At the heart of Aseema's teaching approach is the relationship between the child and the teacher. The teacher is committed first of all to establishing and nurturing a bond with the child - a bond based on mutual respect, trust and love. Once this bond is formed, the child opens herself to learning and learns at a very rapid pace. And, whatever the child learns, she retains because the learning is self-motivated; it is based on her own needs and interests.

To complement this novel teaching approach, Aseema has worked out a curriculum, which gives equal emphasis to academic study, creativity and physical, social and emotional development.
The curriculum is imparted by trained teachers as well as by volunteers. Both the professional teachers as well as the volunteers receive in-house training in Aseema's teaching approach so that each and every person who interacts with the children works as much towards building a relationship with them as with imparting aspects of the curriculum. From the very early days, Aseema has been extremely fortunate to have had people from all walks of life - college students, teacher trainees, qualified teachers, teachers trained in the Montessori system, doctors, housewives, designers, lawyers - who have identified with Aseema's cause and come forward to volunteer their time and their expertise.
The participation of the community has thus played an important role in designing and implementing a comprehensive and holistic teaching curriculum and expanded the scope of the activities of the Centre.
For details on volunteering please contact our office.

* October 2005 - The National Award for the Best Animation Film for its Film on Child Rights, "Raju and I" at the 52nd.National Film Awards given by the President of India

* March 2005 - Our Chairperson was conferred an Award by Airtel and the Continuing Education Training Centre at the "Working Women's Form for Building Partnerships" on the occasion of Women's Day for her "exceptional contribution to the upliftment of street children"

* December 2003 - The Head of Aseema's Montessori Centre was given the Young Achiever Award for Social Work by the Indo-American Society

* October 2003 - Our Chairperson was given the Rotary Vocational Award by the Rotary Club of Bombay West

* March 2002 - Our Chairperson was given the Mancherjee Joshi Memorial Trust Award for valuable contribution made to the community and society

* January 2002 - Our Chairperson was given the Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award for her "outstanding contribution in making education and health care available to underprivileged and street children"

* December 2001 - Our Chairperson was given the Gulestan & Rustomjee Award for outstanding service rendered in the field of Education and Social Welfare.

Ms. Neela Kapadia, Trustee
Photographer, Documentary Film Maker

Ms. Dilbur Parakh, Chairperson and Trustee
Advocate, Human Rights Background
Former Legal Officer for Asia and the Pacific of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Geneva, Switzerland

Ms. Snehal Paranjape, Trustee
Advocate – Bombay High Court
Experience in Human Rights Work

Mrs. Nicola Dadyburjor, Trustee
Montessori Directress

Mr. Nawshir Khurody
With the House of Tatas from 1960 until his retirement in October 2001 as the Managing Director of Voltas Limited

Mr.Mukul Pandya
Editor and Director, Knowledge@Wharton
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Mr. Rafiq Dada
Senior Advocate, High Court, Mumbai. Former Additional Solicitor General of India

Dr. Aloo Dastur
Former Head of the Department of Political Science, Bombay University
Former Hon. Director, Research Institute on Gandhian Studies and Rural Development, Mani Bhavan, Mumbai

Mr.Asoke Basak
Former Chairman, Maharashtra State Electricity Board

Dr. Meenaz Kassam
Department of International Studies at the American University of Sharjah Researcher, Centre of South Asian Studies, Toronto
Co-author of Grass Roots NGOs: By Women, For Women’, Sage Publication, 2006.
Published several articles on NGO’s and the Empowerment of Women in India.

Ms. Preeti Kundalia
Member of the Executive Board of the Citizen Forum for Better Hyderabad
Active Volunteer of Lok Satta Movement.

Ms. Feruzi Anjirbag
Development Communications Professional
Former Manager - AXIS, Xavier Institute of Communications (XIC), St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

Mr. Fredun DeVitre
Advocate, High Court, Mumbai

Mr. Saeed Mirza
Film Director and Producer, Mumbai

Mrs. Kalindi Muzumdar
Former Vice Principal, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai
Director, Sakhya, Anti-Dowry Cell, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai

Mr. Behram Sabawala
Chartered Accountant
Chief Financial Officer, Unitary Products Business Group, Voltas