Our Projects
MIDAS TOUCH: CHILD
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
TOUCH’s first initiative, Midas TOUCH, which started in 1994, is a flagship child sponsorship program initiated by TOUCH to provide long-term, sustainable support to underprivileged children in need of educational and holistic development. Many children from economically challenged families drop out of school due to financial hardships, lack of resources, and absence of guidance. Midas TOUCH bridges this gap by connecting these children with individuals, families, and corporate sponsors who are willing to invest in their education and well-being.
3 Guardianship Principle
Child’s parents – TOUCH – kindhearted donors desirous of helping children. TOUCH is a bridge between the child’s guardian and the funding partner ensuring a hurdle free continued education for the underprivileged children.
Under this program, sponsored children receive full or partial support that covers:
• School fees and uniforms
• Textbooks, stationery, and learning aids
• Daily nutrition and regular health checkups
• Mentorship and emotional support
• Academic progress tracking and reporting
Educational Materials are Distributed in the Schools of following Locations
- Jalgaon
- Belgav
- Osmanabad
- Thane
- Latur
- Ratnagiri
- Kankavli
- Chiplun
- Khed
- Solapur
- Mumbai
- Gondia
- Purulia
- Jaunpur
Midas TOUCH is run by a dedicated team of 5 full-time staff members who manage sponsor-child communication, documentation, disbursement of resources, and annual progress reports. Over the years, more than 14,000 children have been sponsored through this initiative, many of whom have completed their school education, joined colleges, or started careers. Through this program, TOUCH ensures that no child is denied the right to education simply because of their circumstances.
TOUCH TEXTBOOK BANK
Since 1994, the Textbook Bank is a key support initiative run by TOUCH to ensure that no child is deprived of learning due to a lack of study materials. This program is designed to provide free textbooks and academic resources to students from low-income backgrounds who cannot afford to buy schoolbooks every academic year.
Every year, TOUCH collects gently used or new textbooks from donors, educational institutions, and well-wishers. These books are then sorted, catalogued, and distributed to children enrolled in schools across TOUCH’s programs including beneficiaries from Midas TOUCH, Bridge School graduates, Balgram residents, and other community-based outreach.
The Textbook Bank supports:
• Schoolchildren from grades 1 to 12
• State board, CBSE, and SSC syllabus books
• Distribution of reference guides, notebooks, and exam material
• Special focus on first-generation learners who require extra academic support
Over the years, the Textbook Bank has benefited over 2500 children. By promoting reuse, sustainability, and equal opportunity, the Textbook Bank not only reduces the financial burden on families but also encourages a culture of shared learning. In many cases, these books have made the difference between a child continuing school or dropping out due to lack of resources.
Currently, the initiative has 4 different centres in Thane, Ratnagiri, Gondia, and Mumbai and is run with the support of volunteers, who help in collecting, sorting, and organizing book drives during the start and end of each academic year. It is also an ideal way for community members to give back in a meaningful, practical way.
TOUCH BRIDGE SCHOOL
The Bridge School, started in 2014, is one of TOUCH’s most innovative and impactful initiatives providing mobile, non-formal education to street children who are unable to attend formal schools due to extreme poverty, migration, or lack of documentation. The concept is simple yet powerful: bring the school to the child.
The program runs from a custom-designed school bus equipped with seating, whiteboards, charts, educational materials, audio-visual devices, and hygiene kits. This mobile classroom travels to areas where street children reside under flyovers, on footpaths, near railway stations, and beside construction zones. Every day, around 25 children attend sessions on the bus, with a rotating outreach that has impacted over 950+ children since inception.
The teaching approach is play-based and interactive, using songs, stories, educational games, rhymes, and drawing activities to introduce children to basic literacy, numeracy, hygiene practices, and socio-emotional skills. A nutritional snack is provided at each session to address hunger, and children receive health checkups periodically to identify and manage health concerns early. Various camps are arranged for the children twice a year. The parents are given an option of either opting for Balgram or they are guided towards admission in the nearby government school by the co-ordinators.
The goal of the Bridge School is not just to educate, but to prepare children for formal school enrollment, with the support of local schools and government bodies. With a team of just 3 passionate educators and outreach workers, the Bridge School serves as a critical stepping stone for children transitioning from the streets into structured learning environments.
TOUCH BALGRAM
Balgram, initiated in 2016, is a comprehensive residential rehabilitation center designed for children rescued from the streets, abusive households, or abandoned by their families. Located in the peaceful setting of Vihigaon, Shahapur (Thane District), Balgram is more than just a shelter. It is a home, a school, and a family for the children who live there.
Currently home to 50 children, Balgram offers:
• A safe and loving residential environment
• Enrollment in local formal schools
• Academic tutoring and remedial education
• Nutritious meals, clean clothing, and healthcare
• Emotional counseling and trauma recovery
• Life skills training, including hygiene, discipline, and social conduct.
This facility has affected over 190 lives. It operates like a village, consisting of 6 hostels occupying around 10 children each under the guidance of trained house mothers and caregivers. There is a strong emphasis on building structure and stability, which are often absent in the early lives of these children. The 9-member staff team includes teachers, caretakers, counselors, and program coordinators who work round the clock to ensure the holistic development of every child.
Over the years, Balgram has produced inspiring success stories with children completing high school, joining vocational courses, and even returning as volunteers to give back. The mission of Balgram is clear: to rescue, rehabilitate, and empower children so they can reclaim their right to a safe, dignified, and fulfilling life.
TOUCH ASHA SADAN
Asha Sadan was established in 2020 by TOUCH to address a critical but often neglected gap in the child care system the transition of children into adulthood. In India, once children in state care or NGO shelters turn 18, they are legally no longer eligible for support under the juvenile care system. For orphaned or abandoned youth without family support, this can mean a sudden, traumatic plunge into homelessness or exploitation.
Asha Sadan serves as a transitional shelter for young men aged 18 and above, providing them with:
• Safe and stable accommodation
• Support to pursue higher education or vocational training
• Guidance on finding employment opportunities
• Life skills coaching in budgeting, cooking, hygiene, and time management
• Mentorship and emotional support
Currently housing 15 residents, Asha Sadan is staffed by 3 social workers and mentors who act as both guides and guardians. Each youth in the program has a personalized development plan, with a focus on gaining independence at a comfortable and supported pace. The shelter also partners with local colleges, trade centers, and job placement agencies to help the residents build self-sustaining futures.
Several young men from Asha Sadan have gone on to secure jobs, rent apartments, and even pursue college degrees proving that with the right bridge, even the most vulnerable youth can walk into a future of confidence, dignity, and purpose.
TOUCH VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Women Empowerment
TOUCH conducts vocational training workshops for women particularly mothers of the children supported under Bridge School and Midas TOUCH. These women often work as daily wage laborers, domestic workers, or home-based artisans.
The vocational training courses aim to give them an alternative or supplementary income source by teaching skills such as:
• Tailoring and stitching
• Embroidery and fabric crafts
• Candle making, diya painting, and other seasonal items
• Bag making, jewelry design, and eco-friendly products
These sessions are conducted in collaboration with local trainers and NGOs, and often culminate in exhibitions or sales events, allowing women to showcase and sell their work. The income earned boosts their confidence, strengthens family stability, and helps them contribute to their child’s education and health.
Computer Literacy
TOUCH also offers basic computer literacy training to both older children (especially from Asha Sadan) and interested women in the community.
Recognizing that digital literacy is a vital skill in today’s job market, TOUCH conducts beginner-level training that includes:
• Basic computer operations (MS Office, Windows, file handling)
• Typing and internet browsing
• Email, digital safety, and online transactions
• Introduction to job search platforms and resume creation
These sessions are held in small batches, using laptops and basic internet tools, and are facilitated by trained volunteers and interns. The goal is to prepare youth and women to access job opportunities, perform administrative tasks, or even manage small businesses with confidence
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
The Child Development Centres were launched in 2016 by TOUCH with one mission in mind: to give rural and underserved children a fair chance at holistic growth. In many tribal and village communities, children either drop out of school early or receive an education that is heavily under-resourced, disengaging, or inconsistent. These centres bridge the gap by offering daily non-formal educational sessions filled with creativity, encouragement, and joy.
Every session includes a nutritious snack or meal, addressing both hunger and malnutrition, which are barriers to learning and healthy development.
These centres are more than classrooms. They are safe, welcoming environments where children can discover their talents, ask questions without fear, and gain the confidence to thrive in formal education. Many children from these centres have successfully transitioned into local government schools and continue learning with a stronger foundation and brighter mindset.Over 350 children have benefited through this initiative.
HEALING TOUCH
For children growing up in poverty, good health is often the first and most invisible barrier to education. Weak eyesight, untreated infections, undiagnosed developmental delays. All these can quietly derail a child’s learning journey before it even begins. That’s where Healing TOUCH steps in.
Healing TOUCH, inititated in 2016, is TOUCH’s dedicated preventive healthcare initiative, focused on providing early detection, treatment, and referral services to children from rural, tribal, and street backgrounds.
Through partnerships with doctors, clinics, and local health workers, TOUCH ensures that children who attend Bridge School, Balgram, Youth Development Centres, or community outreach programs receive age-appropriate, culturally sensitive health support.
Healing TOUCH doesn’t just respond to illness, it prevents it. The result is healthier, happier children who are more alert in class, more confident in play, and more engaged in life. It also gives parents peace of mind and builds a culture of wellness in families that often have limited access to healthcare systems.
This project has made more than 3500 children lead a healthy and happy life.