In August 2012, on a rainy day, Vile Parle resident Sachi Maniar walked through the lanes of Dongri to reach the Umerkhadi Children’s Home as a volunteer — a step that would later set her on a path to changing the lives of nearly 12,000 children.
“When I, along with other volunteers, first entered the space, we saw approximately 400 to 500 children confined to a single room. They ranged in age from five to 18 and had a wide range of abilities and disabilities — some were blind, others physically disabled, and many had different needs. We used to visit as part of a programme called Sunday Fun Day, where we would paint the walls of the facility, screen a film, and simply spend time engaging with the children,” shares Sachi Maniar, founder-director of Ashiyana Communities Foundation.
What began as an initiative to make Sundays joyful for the children soon grew into something deeper. Over time, the team realised that these children were separated from their families and in need of ongoing support — and that the children's home itself required assistance. This realisation laid the foundation for what would become Ashiyana Communities Foundation.

Maniar’s vision has always been to create a safe and nurturing environment for children who are in the spaces of incarceration or in this institutional setup. Her goal is to foster meaningful relationships, support behavioural development, and provide ample opportunities for self-expression, personal growth, and emotional healing. By helping children connect with their inner voice and sense of identity, she hopes to prepare them for successful reintegration into society — equipped with the tools and support they need to thrive.
“It wasn’t about starting an organization or anything formal,” she shares. “It began as a simple initiative — we just wanted to make the place better. So we brought in volunteers, gathered resources, and focused on small, meaningful changes that could shift the environment.” They set up a small library, they started their work on repatriation and the work grew exponentially from there. “To be honest, we didn’t even realize we were starting an organization. It was just a volunteer effort that gradually grew — and continued that way for a few years.”
“One part of our vision is that we can have childcare institutions that become places of healing, reflection, transformation, that become places where children can thrive. And then can we have societies and communities that support children's second chances,” explains the 37-year-old. Their work is mainly divided into the work inside and outside the child care institution.
The organisation works on children’s mental health, psycho-social care in a trauma informed way. When the children leave the system—whether it's through bail, the closure of their case, or simply aging out at 18 without family support—their primary aim is to help them reintegrate into society. “To support this transition, we run an aftercare programme that includes mental health services, job readiness training, vocational skills development, education, and job placement, often in collaboration with partner organisations. In many ways, we become a steady anchor in their lives during this critical phase,” she says.
Gurpal Singh, actor, who has known Maniar for a few years, shares, “Sachi has been supporting children who have experienced trauma with exceptional sensitivity and empathy. Her work in transforming the lives of vulnerable children is truly remarkable — especially in helping those in conflict with the law reintegrate into society with dignity and care. She empowers them with the skills and confidence they need to rebuild their lives and create a future for themselves.”
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