Our Journey

To Touch the Lives of the Needy

Gopinath, our founder, is a remarkable social worker whose authenticity and compassion have earned him deep trust in the hearts of the people he serves. His unwavering dedication, spirit and commitment to creating a better world have made him a beacon of hope for those in need. In 2005, alongside a group of like-minded companions, he took a bold step and founded Sparsha - a reflection of their shared vision to expand the reach of their transformative work.

Mr.Gopinath R grew up in the remote village of Manchigana halli in the Kolar district. His childhood was challenging- his father struggled with alcohol addiction, sold all their family property, and abandoned them when Gopinath was 3 years old. Gopinath and his siblings couldn’t afford to go to school and were forced to work with their mother to survive.

Although he still had to work part time with his father after school, this was the turning point in Gopinath’s life. Driven to succeed and fuelled by his desire to help children in need of care and protection, he found like-minded friends in the Social Work field and together they formed the Social Worker’s Association for People (SWAP) in 2002. Through this association, they worked to improve primary education for underprivileged children, counsel slow learners and school dropouts, and organize health camps, education awareness drives, and personality development programs in government schools.

Alongside his regular work, Gopinath spent his Sundays searching for children who had never attended school or had dropped out. During one such visit near Bettalasuru, he found a group of children working in stone quarries. He began by creating awareness about the importance of education and soon started non-formal classes to help them begin their learning journey.

Since the inception of Sparsha Trust, Gopinath’s unwavering commitment and selfless dedication have touched countless lives. His remarkable contributions have earned him numerous awards and accolades, each serving as a testament to his profound impact on society. Every recognition is not just an honor to him but a celebration of the spirit of compassion and resilience that defines Sparsha. Gopinath’s journey serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder that one person’s vision and compassion can ignite lasting change in the world.

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While working in a cow shed, Gopinath observed the owner’s children going to school and often wondered why he couldn’t have the same opportunity. So, when his father returned after a few years and claimed to be living in Bangalore, Gopinath followed him to the city where he was enrolled in a nearby school by his stepmother.

During his fieldwork, Gopinath came across the Singh community near Yeshwanthpura, where most children were forced into work at a young age and rarely completed school. Determined to change this, he convinced parents to re-enroll their children and organized special coaching sessions and personality development classes. After 3 years of sustained effort, 9 children from the community successfully passed their exams and went on to pursue higher education.

These experiences made Gopinath realize that meaningful change couldn’t be achieved alone. With the help of his friend, D.S. Krishna, and the support of his wife, Chitra, he gathered a group of like-minded friends and formally registered an organization. In 2005, Sparsha Trust was born - its name meaning “ to touch the lives of the needy” - to establish their mission of educating and uplifting underprivileged children through care and opportunity.

Sparsha Trust’s primary objective is to empower underprivileged children. We began our journey in 2006 by working with the Punjabi Sikh community in Yeswanthpur, Bangalore, providing access to education and support to help children sustain in schools. Since then, we’ve been committed to helping children overcome difficult circumstances and claim their right to education.

In 2008 Sparsha, in collaboration with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, conducted a survey on out-of-school children. Furthermore, we've established a board comprising classmates from our Master’s in Social Work program and initiated plans to set up a functional office. We've also launched a non-formal education program for children from the Bettalasuru at Bangalore North, for quarry-working community children.

In December 2010, the trust, along with friends and well-wishers, in collaboration with a consortium of organizations, launched the UDC (Urban Deprived Children’s) program. This initiative supports marginalized children engaged in rag-picking, begging, substance abuse, and other anti-social practices. The program focuses on rehabilitation through education, enrolling them in schools, and providing de-addiction support for those struggling with addiction.

In 2012, Sparsha Trust launched impactful programs, including worker facility centers with Bangalore Urban District Commissioner and GIZ, urban homeless shelters, and Operation Rakshana with the BBMP and police department to rescue children from begging, rag-picking, and addictions. Nighttime surveys helped identify and support street dwellers and children in crisis. Additionally, we renamed our annual children’s engagement program 'Prathibha Puraskara' to 'Joy of Learning' and also established Multidimensional Learning Centres for children of Government schools.

In 2014, Sparsha Trust began the construction of Nisarga Grama under challenging circumstances, facing both financial and environmental hurdles. At the same time, the organization managed 13 children’s home across Bangalore, operating from different government buildings with a limited budget and financial aid, and also initiated non-formal education centers for out-of-school children.

2016 was a dream come true year for Sparsha Trust. After nearly a decade of struggles and perseverance, our efforts finally came to fruition in October 2016. The organization inaugurated Nisarga Grama, a children's home, and opened its doors to hundreds of children, marking a significant milestone. This period also saw the establishment of the skill development department, which partnered with the American India Foundation to offer training programs in Bangalore and other districts of Karnataka. Additionally, we initiated AVID, the Alumni for Village Integrated Development program. Our aim was to equip youth with skills and provide job opportunities in the corporate sector, empowering them for a brighter future. This achievement marked a major milestone in the organization's 10-year journey.

In 2018, Sparsha Trust faced significant challenges in retaining children's homes across Bangalore, particularly when we received a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs requiring us to separate boys and girls into different centers. To address this, we formed a committee and assembled a team of 24 members. This effort was supported by 'Friends of Sparsha,' a group initiated in 2014 with the help of our well-wisher Andrew Turner. Today, our efforts have led to the development of a facility in Makkala Dhama, catering to 300 children as of 2023.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges. With about 200 children and staff residing at our 2-acre Nisarga Grama campus, we worked tirelessly to ensure safety and engagement, though 85 children contracted the virus. Despite these hardships, we continued supporting the community by distributing 12,000 ration kits across Bangalore and launching the Women Lead program for 700 street vendors. The pandemic left a lasting impact, as many children who returned home did not come back, with some discontinuing education or getting married.

In 2022, we supported families affected by the pandemic, including children in crisis and women who lost spouses. We advanced the construction of Makkala Dhama, relocated girls to new schools under BIAL Namma Shikshana, and expanded our reach to Raichur district through the ABCD initiative, engaging 100 government schools and empowering children as ambassadors for cleanliness and hygiene.

2024 was a great year for Sparsha Trust, scaling up activities in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, focusing on road safety in schools. We also promoted hand hygiene and cleanliness awareness in around 500 schools in Raichur. Notably, 70 girls started college from Makkaladhama children home, with many pursuing post-graduation, marking significant progress. We’ve consolidated our focus on child-centric and education-focused activities for the next 2–3 years from the organization.

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In 2007, Sparsha Trust conducted in-depth research on out-of-school children and those in need of care and protection, laying the foundation for impactful interventions and child-centric programs.

In June 2009, friends and well-wishers from the Master's in Social Work program launched the Makkala Dhama program at Bettalsuru, supporting quarry-working children. Initially, we provided education, accommodation, and basic facilities to 20 children in a cowshed setup. Additionally, we established the Shikshana Mitra Children's Home at Sanjeevini Nagar, Yelahanka Government school building, which included the Gnanamitra Library for local community children.

In 2011, Sparsha Trust, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched the Open Shelter Program to provide safe shelter, care, and education for children in need. The Prathibha Puraskara Program, now known as Joy of Learning, was started to celebrate children's talents through cultural, academic, and sports activities. That year, Operation Rakshana rescued and rehabilitated about 300 children from begging, labor, and school dropouts in collaboration with Police and other related departments.

In 2013, Sparsha Trust embarked on a dream to build its own home for children in Bangalore. After persistent efforts with the government and well-wishers, we identified a plot of land at Hesaragatta for our Nisargagrama children’s home project. We performed a groundbreaking ceremony on March 31st, 2013, marking the beginning of our journey to construct a nurturing home for our children. Additionally, we initiated 70 Zero Schools for children aged 1–6 years at government schools and established MDLC (Multidimensional Learning Centers) at government schools.

In 2015, Sparsha Trust was selected by Childline India Foundation, under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, to run a child helpline in Bangalore Rural district. As the nodal organization, Sparsha Trust worked to rescue and support children in crisis, promote child rights, and ensure they enjoy their childhood. Following a successful evaluation, Mobile Crèches Delhi partnered with Sparsha Trust to implement activities for construction labor children. Starting with 4 centers for children aged 0-6, the program expanded to 48 centers by 2023-24, reaching more children and providing vital support. The child helpline also aided thousands of children in need of care and protection.

2017 marked a significant milestone for Sparsha Trust. We partnered with Toyota Kirloskar Motors to implement model school development programs in Ramanagara district, a proud moment for us. The company's trust in our expertise in education and child development led to this collaboration. Additionally, United Way Bangalore partnered with us to execute a learning program for Anganwadis, focusing on infrastructure development, quality enhancement, teacher engagement, healthcare, and community involvement. This partnership is set to scale up to nearly 200 Anganwadis across Bangalore and Karnataka. Furthermore, the model school program with Toyota Kirloskar Motors has potential for expansion, amplifying our impact in education. We also partnered with Quest Alliance and Smile Foundation to develop marketable skills for underprivileged youth across Karnataka.

2019 marked a remarkable milestone in Sparsha Trust’s journey. We held the groundbreaking ceremony (Bhumi Puja) for Makkala Dhama, a visionary project dedicated to transforming the lives of hundreds of girl children. Around the same time, we proudly inaugurated a Children’s Museum at Nisarga Grama, made possible through the generous contribution of Mrs. Padmini Ramamurthy, a 90-year-old art enthusiast who has lovingly collected artifacts from nearly 90 countries.

In 2021, the devastating second wave of COVID-19 brought immense challenges, and we sadly lost four staff members. Despite this, we continued supporting affected families by distributing ration kits and collaborating with NGOs to aid people on the streets. Our Women Lead program was initiated to empower street vendors, and the core committee launched the We Care for You initiative to support children who lost parents during the pandemic, reaching 1,075 children with education and family support. Remarkably, we also continued developing the Makkala Dhama campus without halting construction.

In 2023, after 18 years of perseverance, our dream came true with the inauguration of Makkala Dhama, a home for girls in need. We welcomed children who lost their parents to the pandemic and those requiring care and protection. Despite COVID challenges, this milestone marked a new beginning. We also joined the SAAS program, in collaboration with H&M and partner organizations, supporting 3,500 children from waste-picking communities with education, a learning-friendly environment, and community engagement to help them get back on track.

2025 is a year of consolidation, focusing on core areas and creating a sustainable model. We’ve started structuring systems and processes, building internal systems for future sustainability. We’re revisiting our core focus areas, building team capabilities, and developing second-level leadership for future sustainability. This year marks our 20-year milestone in service, having been founded in September 2005.