Who We Are
Children leading change
Shaishav—meaning “childhood”— was founded in 1993, dedicated to empowering children from marginalised communities. With operations in marginalised communities of Bhavnagar and remote tribal villages of Narmada district of Gujarat, Shaishav works alongside children to create safe, child-rights centric spaces using play as a medium to meaningfully engage and empower them to take charge of their futures.
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Vision
A loving, safe, equitable, enabling, and self-driven childhood for every child.
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Mission
Co-create inclusive child friendly spaces and opportunities to unlock children’s potential for a liberated childhood and holistic development, ensuring a happy, healthy and sustainable society.
Our Story
Shaishav began it’s work with working children and slum communities in Bhavnagar—a small city in Gujarat, home to renowned educationists, yet also grappling with challenges in quality of education.
In 1995, Shaishav conducted a landmark survey that revealed an astounding 12,813 children working in 106 occupations in Bhavnagar city alone.
Removing children from child labour and reintegrating them into the formal education system became the starting point of Shaishav’s interventions. Over time, Shaishav further expanded into the remote tribal villages of Narmada district, expanding its scope to address a wide range of challenges, including quality of education, restrictions on freedom of expression,
child marriage, discrimination, abuse, and exploitation.
We always shared the belief that true, sustainable change must begin with society’s youngest members- children.
– Parul & Falgun Sheth, Founders
Programmes
Balsena
A membership-based, democratic children’s collective run and led by children, for children.
Aaranyak
An Alternative Education Model for Empowering Tribal Children of Narmada District, Gujarat
SETU
Shaishav’s Child Rights Training and Resource Centre (CRTRC)
Children’s Voices
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Yashpal’s Journey: A Dream That Took Flight
Yashpal’s parents moved to Bhavnagar from a small village, hoping to give their sons the opportunities they never had. At that time, Yashpal was far from the mature, focused young man he is today. In fact, like many teenagers, he was carefree and had a notorious reputation, with no clear direction in life. Other parents often warned their children to stay away from him…
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Sonal’s Journey: From Child Labourer to National Advocate and Community Leader
Sonal grew up in Mafat Nagar, an informal settlement in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, where children often had to grow up too fast. As the eldest child in a family with no steady income, Sonal began working at a young age, making plastic ropes to support her household…
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Kowshik’s Journey with Balsena
Kowshik, 17, grew up in Indiranagar Basti, Bhavnagar — a congested settlement with open sewage, alcoholism, gambling, and other social problems. His parents are daily wage labourers, and his father’s alcoholism left the family struggling. From a young age, Kowshik faced trauma and lacked support…
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Khushal’s Transformative Journey: From Shy Child to Bal Sena Leader and Aspiring Doctor
Khushal, an only child from a lower-middle-class slum community in Bhavnagar, joined Bal Sena more than 10 years ago at the tender age of 7.Reserved and introverted, he rarely ventured out of his house and had no friends………………
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Well Wishers Speak
“Shaishav has been a catalyst in India’s child participation movement. Its child-centred approach has empowered thousands to lead with dignity. A tree is known by its fruit — and Shaishav’s impact speaks for itself.”
“Shaishav is something to treasure for a lifetime — holding the essence of childhood and humanity. Parul and Falgun have kept alive the rare culture of truly listening to children. Child rights and adult responsibility go hand in hand — Shaishav embodies this truth.”
“Shaishav is not just an organization — it is an idea, a movement, a social necessity. For 25 years, Parul and Falgun have led it with sensitivity, integrity, and imagination. India needs a child-rights institution as pioneering and rooted as Shaishav.”
“For 25 years, Shaishav has given children and youth a powerful platform to express and grow. Their courage and commitment through every challenge is inspiring. May these young voices grow into tomorrow’s compassionate leaders.”
Our Impact
Shaishav has touched the lives of
children, creating safe spaces for expression, amplifying their voices, and equipping them with the skills and confidence to shape their own futures.
children empowered through Bal Sena
tribal children impacted through Aaranyak
children enrolled back in school until 2016
girls trained in self-defence
organisations partnered with for knowledge & skill sharing
*in programme areas of Bhavnagar
Current Donors
