About us

We started Friends of Children (FoC), Pune, in 2003 with a dream to lend a helping hand to society. The objective was to reach out to deserving youth using education as a medium and help them grow as strong individuals with an opportunity for a sustainable livelihood. We have come a long way since then. Along the way, some friends moved on to follow different dreams and some new friends joined in. From being focused only on financial support, we have expanded to providing library and computer facilities, textbook, career guidance, personality development workshops, etc.

We ambitiously made a plan to reach out to all our students thru monthly workshops through the past year and successfully continue the same since Jan 2011. Our core objective is still the same – “Empowering through Education”. FoC sponsors higher education as well as vocational education for meritorious students subsequent to their initial school years. At present we do not accept applications for sponsorship below Standard 10. From 26 students in 2003 we now maintain steady numbers around 250 every year. We continue to grow and evolve.

Beliefs

Education is a right in democracy and provides the tools to create a more egalitarian and just society.

All children and youth have a right to a high-quality, comprehensive education.

We model what students learn — by what we say, what we do, how we treat each other, and how we organize and run our camps & workshops.

To learn effectively, student’s need their basic needs met— Academic fees, books, special education, food, shelter, clothing and respect for their individuality.

Aims & Objectives

Financial support to meritorious students who are unable to continue their higher education due to financial difficulties.

Motivate people participation at large to contribute for development of education.

Post finance support to students to achieve academic excellence and generate greater employability.

To promote volunteering for the cause of society.