Bookshelves of Hope: Padma Library for Underprivileged Children in Salia Sahi
-
400
Books Goal -
312
Books Received -
0
Days to go
Who we are
The Society for Nature, Education and Health (SNEH) is a voluntary organization founded in 1992, with a vision to provide welfare without barriers and to create meaningful change in the lives of marginalized communities across India. SNEH focuses on improving the daily lives and long-term prospects of vulnerable groups—including women, tribal communities, slum dwellers, and the distressed—through initiatives in healthcare, education, environmental conservation, and income generation.
While SNEH works broadly across development sectors, its primary focus remains on women and children. Over the years, it has inspired a committed network of staff, volunteers, and donors. Through community-based development programs, SNEH continues to bridge the gaps left by public services, working to improve the lives of the marginalized through access, empowerment, and sustainable support systems.
Our work and its impact
SNEH began its journey in the tribal-dominated Rayagada district of Odisha in 1995, with a mission to promote girls’ education. Its flagship initiative was the establishment of Nalini Vidya Mandir, a residential school for tribal girls, which continues to educate and empower 300 students annually. Over the years, SNEH has expanded its work to address broader issues affecting tribal and urban poor communities, including health, livelihoods, gender justice, and disaster resilience.
In 2021, we established the Padma Library for underprivileged children in the Salia Sahi slum of Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Trained local volunteers nurture a love for reading and learning among the children by organizing regular storytelling sessions. This safe, welcoming space offers free access to books, learning materials, and fun-filled games and activities—helping children build literacy, confidence, and curiosity about the world beyond their surroundings.
Over time, we have witnessed transformations in these young minds: students performing better in school, and mothers expressing a desire to join the storytelling sessions to share stories of their own. We believe that every book donated is a step toward breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and hardship—by igniting young minds and inspiring a brighter future.
How we will utilise these books
The storybooks from Pratham Books sourced through this fundraiser will be distributed to the Padma Library, located in the Salia Sahi slum of Bhubaneswar. A reading space for marginalized and vulnerable children, many of whom do not have access to libraries in the schools they attend. It also acts as an interactive space that brings the children, story tellers and even children from outside the slum together. The library is a simple tin-roofed structure, but its bright colors and cheerful drawings make it an inviting haven for the children. They are encouraged to treat the space as their own. When the library becomes too crowded, the children are simply spill out and continue reading outdoors—turning every corner into a reading nook.
More than just a place for books, the library hosts storytelling sessions and reading activities, and also welcomes drop-in visitors, making it a flexible and accessible space for all.
Supporters
| Anonymous | ₹4,250 |
| Anonymous | ₹9,292 |
| Anonymous | ₹8,500 |
| Anonymous | ₹250 |
| Pooja Venkatesh | ₹500 |
| Mayuresh & Shilpa | ₹2,000 |
| Anonymous | ₹1,700 |
| Name | Donate Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Suchita A | ₹4,250 | September 22, 2025 |
| ₹9,292 | September 19, 2025 | |
| Padmini Sankaran | ₹8,500 | September 12, 2025 |
| Tejal Vartak | ₹250 | September 10, 2025 |
| Pooja Venkatesh | ₹500 | September 10, 2025 |
| ₹2,000 | July 22, 2025 | |
| Shubham Oswal | ₹1,700 | July 01, 2025 |