Society for Service to Voluntary Agencies (SOSVA)

Main activities in 2013-14:

1. VOLACT: For the last 16 years, SOSVA’s flagship program VOLACT (Voluntary Action) has provided human resource support to various NGOs working with the under-privileged. SOSVA has built up a corps of volunteers from all walks of life, and helps match their skills and aspirations with the specific needs of NGOs. Since 1997, more than 3,500 volunteers have been placed with around 50 NGOs. Volunteers undertake various short term activities like organizing medical camps, picnics, chess workshops, training in special skills and talks related to Career Guidance.
2. Literacy skills program: SOSVA conducts Reading Skill and Spoken English Programs for Municipal School Children. Volunteers from SOSVA conduct reading skill classes for 120 students in Standards 8 and 9 of a school run by Society for Health and Education Development (SHED) in Dharavi. SOSVA conducted spoken English classes for 90 students at three locations in FY14. These children come from underprivileged backgrounds and many of them are first generation students. SOSVA plans to expand the project to more Centres.
3. Water Project: SOSVA initiated & monitored the Water Project in seven schools where a total of 40 students from each school participated. Topics discussed covered methods of water conservation. In addition to the above, SOSVA conducted ‘Save Water-Safe Water Project’ in partnership with The Bombay Community Public Trust (BCPT). This project was conducted at 20 schools reaching out to 1,100 school children.
4. CSR Initiatives: SOSVA has partnered with four corporates for social development: Tata Chemicals for conducting activities related to environmental conservation and life skills; Tata Housing for conducting activities relating to various crafts and field trips for children; Group M to donate books & toys; and Rallis India for conducting a poster making competition and making children aware of water conservation. 
5. Other activities: Projects initiated during the year were: Livelihood Project, Food Security & Water Project and Elderly Recreational Centre. Their solar lighting project has helped hutment dwellers light up their homes and conserve electricity.