Our Foundation
Founded on March 27, 2009, the Make My Dream Foundation is a public charitable trust registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950. The foundation is dedicated to preserving the fundamental rights of disabled children, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. Make My Dream Foundation is committed to creating opportunities and providing support through a range of initiatives, including Trekking, Mobility Projects, the Dream Vision Fund, and Walkathons for Awareness, alongside its comprehensive rehabilitation programs.
In India, while an estimated 15-20 % of the population lives with disabilities, less than 7% of disabled children benefit from inclusive education. This stark discrepancy highlights the significant barriers faced by disabled individuals in accessing education, employment, and societal visibility.
At the Make My Dream Foundation, we work with children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of their parents, who are often illiterate and struggling to make ends meet, lack the resources and knowledge to support their children’s education and future prospects effectively. The daily struggle to provide basic necessities often results in these children being overlooked and neglected.
Make My Dream Foundation seeks to address these challenges by offering support and resources to ensure that these special children receive the education, care, and opportunities they deserve and lead a self – reliant and dignified life. Our initiatives are designed to bridge the gap and create a more inclusive environment where disabled children can thrive and realize their potential.
Our Founder
The foundation’s origins are deeply personal, stemming from the journey of Ms. Medha Kulkarni, Make My Dream Foundation’s Founder Trustee and Chairman. Ms. Kulkarni, who has lived with a congenital ailment, overcame significant mental trauma and depression through spiritualism, philanthropy, and the unwavering support of her family. Guided by influential figures and supported by her loved ones, she transformed her challenges into strength, growing to lead a self-reliant and fulfilling life.
Driven by her own experiences and the desire to share the resilience she developed, Ms. Kulkarni established Make My Dream Foundation to extend that confidence and mental fortitude to other special children facing physical difficulties. Through Make My Dream Foundation, she aims to empower these children and improve their lives by providing them with opportunities for growth and inclusion.
Foundation of Make My Dream is about turning my dream into reality. Its journey is like a bundle of energetic activities, contentment and creating success stories.
Ms. Medha Kulkarni
Founder Trustee and Chairman
Make My Dream Foundation
Vision
At Make My Dream Foundation, we envision a world where disabled individuals are treated with dignity and fully integrated into an inclusive society. We believe that every physically challenged child, whom we proudly call our “special children,” possesses immense potential and talent. Our mission is to provide them with the opportunities they need to realize their dreams and harness their abilities.
Our focus is on creating a supportive environment that fosters self-awareness and self-reliance. By offering guidance and encouragement, we aim to help these children unlock their full potential and achieve remarkable milestones. We are convinced that with the right support, they can accomplish extraordinary things.
Make My Dream Foundation is committed to transforming societal attitudes toward the inclusion of special children. We strive to combat apathy and change the prevailing mindset regarding their education and employment. Our goal is to shift public perception and foster a more accepting and supportive environment for differently-abled individuals, enabling them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.
Make My Dream Foundation aims at bridging this gap by empowering these special children through education and self-reliance and imbibing in them the confidence to participate in an inclusive society.
We want dignity for the disabled and their active participation in a more inclusive society.
Mission
Our Mission is to provide varied opportunities of education and self- reliance to underprivileged special candidates with value addition of personality transformation.
At Make My Dream Foundation, our mission encompasses around several key objectives that drive our commitment to empowering and supporting disabled individuals:
Empowerment through Education
We are dedicated to empowering physically challenged children by ensuring they have access to quality education and the resources needed to build self-confidence. Our aim is to enable these children to actively participate in and contribute to an inclusive society.
Enhanced Infrastructure for Mobility
We work towards creating essential infrastructure that facilitates easy and independent mobility for individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to ensure that they can navigate their environments with greater ease and autonomy.
Raising Awareness and Advocacy
Through proactive community outreach and educational initiatives, we strive to raise awareness about the needs and rights of disabled communities. We advocate for their rights and opportunities, aiming to foster a society where every individual can live with dignity and respect.
Establishment of Gurukul
We are focused on establishing a comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre designed to offer tailored support and resources for physically challenged children. This center will facilitate their physical, emotional, and social development, providing them with a nurturing environment to thrive.
In the fiscal year 2022-2023, in alignment with our commitment to inclusivity, we have broadened our focus to include the rehabilitation of economically disadvantaged individuals without physical disabilities. This expansion reflects our dedication to fostering a truly inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to succeed and flourish.
With the support of the government, other NGOs, social organizations, and the broader community, we are committed to advancing the development of essential infrastructure that facilitates hassle-free mobility for individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to enhance their visibility and accessibility in public spaces, ensuring that they can navigate their environments with ease and independence. Through collaborative efforts and collective action, we aim to create a more inclusive society where disabled individuals are integrated seamlessly into everyday life and have equal opportunities to participate fully in public life.