The
Lady with the Lamp is a popular nickname for Florence Nightingale who earned it
for her care, love and compassion during the Crimean War. There are many women
in our society who don many hats, juggle many tasks and radiate love, care and
compassion.
Gayatree Joshi is one such carefree whirlwind ministering
angel on a mission to love and spread the peace. Beginning in school and moving on till date,
this radiant lady has touched innumerable lives through her cheerful, vibrant
and compassionate heart. Magnetic and bindass
exuding warmth, she is considered the quintessential didi by scores of ‘street kids’ in Mumbai who have found in her a
soul without malice, ready for any sacrifice and generous commitment.
The
journey which she ventured into at the age of 16 intending deliberately and
consciously to make a difference in the lives of the desolate, destitute and
the lost, continues with broadened activities, voluntary initiatives and ever-evolving
newer commitments to bring a smile, wipe a tear bringing joy to everyone in
need. Gayatree is not just a lady on a
determined mission, rather a phenomenal juggernaut that cascades delightfully
including and involving every broken heart, wounded soul and desperate cry
along the tumultuous journey of life.
The
immensely creative and vibrantly talented Gayatree’s is a journey of many
milestones in a short span. It all began with empowering girl children and
women affected by HIV/Aids through creative activities including dance sessions
at FXB, (Jaipur & Goa) India. Represented National Social Service (NSS) at the Republic Day parade. Volunteer
Manager at Don Bosco training Indian & Foreign Volunteers to deal
creatively with children. Created a Volunteers Manual for the Don Bosco
Salesian Provinces of India. Created a Social
Work Citizenship Project for Welingkars Institute, Mumbai. Worked with the
Don Bosco banner for 15yrs helping marginalized children and youth and later as
part of the research team at Don Bosco
Research & Documentation Centre with the project Connect All India which envisaged to bring in social &
financial inclusion in rural & urban India.
A
certified Arts Based Therapy Practitioner from WCCL Foundation-Pune, Gayatree
is the founder-director of HEALING WITH
ARTFORMS, a non-profit initiation aimed at healing children, youth and
adults across India. Has contributed extensively at different Government
Children Observation Homes with juvenile delinquents, children in conflict with
law, tribal, slum and natural-disaster affected children.
Founder-Director
of HUG THERAPY FOR ALL, a sweet
cause of hugs for every person deprived of love and care needing a hug. To
bring peace to several children and people through hug therapy scientifically
proven to be the most effective reducer of stress levels, Gayatree uses a Hug
Teddy Bear concept meeting children catering to them with a 15 minute hug. This
has proved extremely effective with excellent responses. Till date, more than
1400 Hugs have helped heal kids in various remand homes and rural areas.
Founder-Director
of TATTOO FOR A CAUSE originally
initiated for street children melas
for many years, presently helping NGO youth by honing their artistic skills
amidst their 9 to 6 jobs. 50% of the
funds raised are distributed among junior artists as a part of their future
savings. Visible at various events of different kinds – birthday parties, fund
raisers, NGOevents, Corporate events – supporting Child Rights, Drug Abuse,
Cancer , Section 377 LGBT Rally & at the Mumbai Worli Seaface Festival.
Founder-Director
of TREK FOR A CAUSE, her brainchild.
The idea sparked during her 1st mountaineering camp to the Himalayas and she
decided that she ought to do something whereby all the vulnerable children
would get an opportunity to come close
to nature, be able to relax, rejuvenate themselves. She finds sponsors for a
minimum of 10 children enabling them to have a fun-filled trekking weekend. As
an Adventure Instructor and Camp Leader with Mountain Lovers and Escapades she has also encouraged many youth to
take up jobs in the Adventure Industry with many gainfully employed as Kite
surfers, Jet Ski riders, RiverRafting guides, Adventure instructors, etc.
As
a professional Cartoonist and Wall Mural Artist, Gayatree has also
initiated PAINT FOR A CAUSE with the aim to change wall spaces, especially where
distressed children live, to create a hilariously cute environment. She is a
Cartoon Ilustrator for Quest Adventures Pvt Ltd., works with the NSPA and will
soon paint Railway Stations across Mumbai. She has illustrated cartoons for social
causes for the Nirbhaya Case, Birds Helpline,
Health & Hygiene, and Indian Navy Cleanup after Ganesh Visarjan. Currently
she is engaged in the TIBETAN FIGHT FOR FREEDOM and this artwork will be presented
to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in person at Ladakh in July 2014. Her aim is to create
social awareness through art.
SURVIVAL COOKING – yes, Gayatree is also an Asst. Chef at PADMA JOSHI’s COOKING CLASSES training
single, bachelors and others who go abroad. Many underprivileged youth who live
all by themselves have benefitted much. She has also initiated a small business
DIET TIFFINS with yummy diet
brunches with the aim to help people maintain their health.
Apart
from these myriad activities and initiatives to spread joy and cheer especially
among the most underprivileged and the distressed, Gayatree is also an active Buddhist peace builder with an SGI as a Block
Leader with the aim to bring absolute happiness and harmony within peoples lives
with her positivity and practise of the Lotus Sutra.
Gayatree
is also obsessed with the idea of SOCIAL
& FINANCIAL INCLUSION of marginalised children taking small steps
towards bringing an end to their miseries. She aims to end the vicious cycle of
marginalization and has recently initiated small STUDY CENTRES near schools & colleges keeping youngsters busy in
the evening classes with creative skills. The students in turn, aim at making
their parents aware of better jobs and saving money, procuring identity proofs that
will keep them in school preventing abusive situations on the streets. One of
her many projects currently operates under Os
ANStrengung United which trains children in education and sports. Future projects
with similar aspects are planned in Dehradoon, Rishikesh and Rajasthan.
Gayatree says “Most life journey’s are spent living with the
flow and in focussing on what’s important to us, our families, careers and our
relationships. Society doesn’t figure into our priority list. Our contribution
is limited to joining a NSS group or some organization dealing with social
activities on our free days. But that is not going to serve the purpose of long
term sustainability. With such help the situation will be the same. We will
still see child beggars, labourers and people who are in terrible conditions.
The aim should be to get them out of the vicious circle of poverty and believe
in giving “Long-term Support”
and help them by mainstreaming them back into the society. Find out skills that
you have and can be helped in getting them back on their feet and figuring out
a way ahead. They need as much support and guidance as we can provide. Only
when we are successful in bringing them into the mainstream, will the balance
in the current lopsided society, be back.”
Call
her dreamer, doer, ambitious go-getter or a free-wandering itinerant
compassionate soul on a love journey of caring, sharing, healing, living... Gayatree
continues onward with hope, determination and undaunting relentless courage to
reach out and make an impact by spreading the love, radiating the joy and
promoting peace!
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