Akshay Sagar
Administrative Manager
Originating from Orissa, Akshay has completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights and has worked with the social sector, with international and national NGOs in different capacities, since the turn of the millennium.
As an Administrative Manager since 2009 at Dream A Dream, Akshay helps the program team to achieve the mission of the organization through its innovative & creative programs for the children. Akshay believes, " I am a human rights activist & committed to woman & child development. My sincere effort is to fight for their rights. I involve myself with the children by advocating different issues related to children such as child rights, child labor, child trafficking, child abuse, children at risk and most importantly child protection policy. My dream is to build a world of peace & justice."
Bobbymon George
Program Manager
Bobby has completed his Masters in Social Work as well as a Social Entrepreneurship Outlook Program and has been with Dream A Dream since 2006. As a Program Manager, Bobby blends his professional knowledge of Social Work and Passion for Sports to channelize holistic development of children.
He believes that "what matters most is that you're here now and ready to be the best you can be. You have a definite purpose, plus you have the desire and the means to express that purpose in many wonderful ways".
Bopanna Pattada
Manager, Dream Connect Program
As a result of his urge to tap all his skill sets, Bopanna has worked in various capacities – he began his career by managing a rubber estate. Subsequently his interest in writing took him to the world of advertising. His desire for people development found him working for the placement division of a computer training institute and then into training young adults and the corporate in personality development. More recently he was into recreation management, conducting fun activities for the corporate – enjoying facilitating the games and fun as much as the participants themselves. Sports, conducting theatre workshops and reading is what his free time is used for. Spending time with nature and animals help rejuvenate him.
While on the path of discovering himself, he has punctuated his life with plenty of question marks, a good deal of exclamatory marks and a fair share of commas.
Hariprasad
Transport Incharge
Hariprasad has been working with Dream A Dream as the Transport Incharge since 2009. He is originally from Andhra Pradesh and has been in Bangalore since 2001. Before joining Dream A Dream, he has worked with CPWD Chief Engineer and the Income Tax Commissioner and Officer.
Fondly known as Hari, he says "I am very much happy being a part of Dream A Dream as this job is giving me the kind of security and satisfaction that I always wanted in my life. I get to engage myself directly with the children. Now I have been blessed with a beautiful wife and two children. My family are very happy and feel honored that I am working with Dream A Dream."
Manjunath A
Field Coordinator
Manjunath is pursuing his graduation at St. Joseph's and has joined Dream A Dream as a Field Coordinator for the Dream Sports Program, recently. A sportsman, he has participated in the Pepsi Cups held at Chennai and Hyderabad and the All India Pepsi Cup for three consecutive years and is presently playing for the Gary cricketers under KSCA.
He has been a participant in Dream A Dream programs (Adventure Camp, Arts & Sports) since the last 6 years through our partner NGO, BOSCO Mane. One of his treasured moments at Dream A Dream is an adventure camp he attended in Shimoga, where he had to cross a river against huge waves and spend the night at the camp.
Sharing a dream he has, he "would like to channelize children's talents and exhibit them through Dream A Dream Programs."
Pavithra KL
Senior Coordinator - Programs
Over the past 2 years, Pavithra has worked full-time as a senior coordinator for programs at Dream A Dream, while pursuing her graduation. Her primary role is to coordinate and implement programs, managing the logistics concerned as well as supporting the planning, design and implementation of Dream Fundays and other engaging activities. Prior to this, Pavithra was a participant in Dream A Dream programs through our partner NGO, Makkala Jagriti.
"With the help of Vishal Talreja I have built the youth information kit and start working on a youth center - where youth can go for career planning session, helping them to write resume or CV, giving them various volunteer opportunities, helping them to find jobs and respecting their emotions and their needs ."
Pavithra believes that "dreams can come true if we work towards them. It may take hard work and lots of effort" but she is confident that she will be able to invest the same".
Pooja Rao
Anchor - Volunteer Management
With a Masters degree in Information Systems, Pooja joined the dream team in Mid-2009 with the desire "to make a difference in a child's life." She witnessed and volunteered at a theater workshop, where she saw that through the workshop, the children realized that they had the potential to do so many things in life other than just what was chalked out for them. This experience inspired her to join Dream A Dream full-time.
She says, "Every time a kid looks at me and smiles, the smile makes me forget everything else in the world."
Revanna. M
Field Coordinator
A seasoned Sportsman, Revanna has participated in 4 National level Swimming Championships and won a silver medal. He was also part of his College Athletics team. Hence naturally, After his under-graduation from Vivekananda College, he participated in Dream A Dream's programs including Adventure Camps and Arts Programs and now, of course, he champions the Dream Sports Program. Revanna comes to us from our Partner NGO, BOSCO Mane.
Recalling one of his memorable moments since he joined, he narrates, "During an adventure camp the group was crossing a river in coracles. One of the coracles could not stay with the group. Some friends and I helped them to come back to the group. That was a memorable moment for me". He "would like to harness children's talents through Dream A Dream programs."
Shalini Menon
Associate Manager, Dream Adventure Program
Shalini set out to be a PR consultant after graduating in English Literature from Delhi University in 2003. Five years later, she found herself in a Himachal campsite full of children and began her journey as an experiential educator. She has hiked several trekking routes in Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Ladakh, Sikkim and Western Ghats. In 2009, she trekked through the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal crossing Thorung La, the world's highest mountain pass at 17769 feet above sea level.
In 2008, Shalini graduated with Grade A in Basic Course in Mountaineering from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling. She is also certified in Wilderness Advanced First Aid and Adult & Child CPR from National Outdoor Leadership school (NOLS), Ranikhet, Uttranchal.
Shalini strongly believes that adventure is a very powerful medium as it combines challenge, fun and learning and can have a life changing impact on any person of any age. She sees her role as a great opportunity to bring the best life experiences to children through the Dream adventure Program.
Uttam Nanda
Junior Coordinator - Administration
Uttam supports the administrative department
as a Junior Coordinator. He has completed his PUC from Sambalpur University. Before joining Dream A Dream, he was working in a software
company as an administrative assistant. He comes to Dream A Dream with more than two years of work experience in the administration
department.
Uttam
wants to fulfill his dreams through this organization and his dream
is fulfilling the dreams of children, those we work with. He has a thirst for knowledge and always wants to learn new things. His hobbies are listening to music, outdoor adventures and loves meeting new people.
Vishal Talreja
Co-founder & Director
Post his graduation and three years in the corporate sector with
Xerox and Technology Holdings, Vishal co-founded Dream A Dream in 1999.
As the Director, he is involved in the vision achievement, strategic
direction and management of Dream A Dream.
Vishal is an Ashoka Fellow ( www.ashoka.org )
and also sits on Boards of many organizations including UnLtd India,
ITIHAS and Bangalore Cares. He has represented Dream A Dream at many
national and international forums such as an "Architect of the
Future" at the Waldzell Meetings - A Global Dialog on Inspiration at
Austria.
His most touching and
memorable moment has been, when a young child said that if not for
the guidance he got from Dream A Dream, he would have been out of the
streets. Dream A Dream helped him find his dream and the courage to
pursue it.
Vishal wants to set the highest benchmarks of
credibility, impact, transparency and accountability within Dream A
Dream thus building a successful, scalable and highly effective
organization.
