Two decades of touching lives
What began as one young woman's inner calling has grown into a movement of learning and healing, while staying deeply rooted in the same communities for over two decades.
Sonia Mackwani, aged 21, begins the work of Touching Lives, driven by an inner calling to serve. It takes shape as a poetry association alongside grassroots social-work activities.
Project Sparsh takes shape on the streets of Churchgate, Mumbai, blending activities, vocations and holiday camps, supported by the Children’s Toy Foundation.
Project Sanskriti brings a long-term, play-based learning model into government schools, NGOs, hostels and community spaces.
Registered as a Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act, funded by Sonia’s savings from writing two books.
The first community center is built within the community itself, a collaborative project with children and their parents.
The first Learning Center opens with 60 students; a mothers’ awareness and Bachat-Khata savings initiative begins; and the Touching Lives Media & Films initiative is founded.
The Meta-Quantum Learning Model takes shape, along with Tithing, mentoring support to other organisations, and Teacher Training with NGOs and schools across rural and urban India.
A move to a bigger Learning Center; reach grows to 120+ students a year with an in-house integrated curriculum and a growing team.
Four community centers running; the first batch of college students becomes community leaders, teaching in the centers.
The first Mothers’ Self-Work and Healing batch begins.
During COVID, all programs move online and reach students pan-India, learning and healing continuing despite limited access and resources.
A new Learning Center opens, with creative classrooms, a library and a healing room, a safe and inspiring space for children.
350+ children, youth and women supported every year, with programs reaching young people across India through online platforms.
