Media, Presence and Awards

“Change begins with the courage to include everyone. The more we share this vision, the more profound our impact will be.”

-Unknown

Inclusion is not the work of a single individual or a task that can be completed in a day. It is a movement—a collective effort of like-minded individuals coming together to build a more inclusive and compassionate world. At Snehadhara Foundation and beyond, I have had the privilege of participating in numerous forums, conferences, and events dedicated to the cause of inclusion. These opportunities have allowed me to share insights and advocate for a more inclusive society. I am also honored to have received awards and accolades that reflect my experience and commitment to this vital work. 

 

Awards and Accolades to Dr Gitanjali and Snehadhara Foundation

  • Karnataka Women Achievers Award- Excellence in Social Service
  • Top 20 Best NGOs of the Year 2024, Indian Social Impact Awards
  • Rotary Exemplars Outstanding NGO of the year 
  • 3rd time support to take API to Sri Lanka by Millennium Alliance
  • Recognition by Azim Premji University for best practices of social change 
  • Indian Women Achievers Awards  
  • Super Achievers Award for outstanding contributions in the field of Disability 
  • 50 Most Social Innovators, World CSR Congress and Awards 
  • Dr Amarnath Award for Inclusion to Gitanjali G Govindarajan 
  • My Choice for Equality Global Ethics Forum and India Institute of Management 
  • TEDx by Dr Gitanjali at BITS Hyderabad
  •  Global Excellence Award for Digital education and inclusive education of special needs during a pandemic 
  • 3 year funding for ‘Kala Samvaad – Arts Practices for Inclusion’ to Nepal by Millennium Alliance
  • Rotary India Literacy Mission 
  • Creative Art Therapy Award by Sancheti Healthcare academy 
  • Global Progressive Institutes by LEAPS Summit, Qatar 
  • 3 year funding for top five innovations in the country for Education by Millennium Alliance
  • NGO Leadership Award to Gitanjali G Govindarajan
  • 45th International Association for Experiential Education (AEE) Conference in Montreal

Media and Presence

Dr Gitanjali wins the Karnataka Women Achievers Award (KWAA) in the “Excellence in Social Service”

Dr. Gitanjali G Govindrajan was awarded the prestigious Karnataka Women Achievers Award (KWAA) in the “Excellence in Social Service” category for 2024. 

The Karnataka Women Achievers Awards (KWAA), established in 2018, is Karnataka’s premier platform dedicated to recognizing and honoring exceptional women from across the state. Focused on merit and integrity, KWAA celebrates women who have made significant contributions to their industries and communities.

The award ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including the Chief Guest, Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, the Guest of Honour, Her Highness Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, and Spoorthi Vishwas, the Founder of IWAA & KWAA.
  
Watch the video from the award ceremony here.

Dr. Gitanjali at the Learn Conference 2024 by Sankalp Chennai

Dr. Gitanjali Govindrajan, Founder and Executive Director of Snehadhara Foundation, was a speaker at the LEARN 2024 Conference on 21st September 2024. This conference brought together global experts to discuss neurodiversity, inclusion, and the creation of equitable spaces. Dr. Gitanjali’s talk, titled “Harmony in Diversity: Embracing Neurodiversity through Artistic Expression,” provided a deep dive into the denotations and connotations of equity, neurodiversity, and inclusion. 

She emphasized how learning and education for neurodiverse individuals are intuitive, lifelong, and process-oriented, rather than merely outcome-driven. She encouraged each attendee to take steps toward embracing inclusive practices daily and to reflect on their relationship with the concepts of equity, inclusion, and neurodiversity.
  
Click here  to know more. 

Dr. Gitanjali article “The Radicalisation of Indifference” in Deccan Herald

Our Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Gitanjali G Govindrajan wrote an article in Deccan Herald, “The Radicalisation of Indifference,” shedding light on the growing apathy towards the suffering of marginalized communities and urging us all to stand up, speak out, and act. At Snehadhara, we believe in the transformative power of Arts Practices for Inclusion to rebuild lives. As we deepen our work in the relief camps, the article called on the reader to join the movement, share the story, and stay connected to this project. The article was published on 11th September 2024. 
  
Read the full article here. 

At the TEDxBITSHyderabad

heART of the MATTER a therapy of love and compassion Gitanjali Sarangan TEDxBITSHyderabad was a talk challenging the mindset of a society that leaves very little room for tolerance, acceptance and understanding as she works with children and adults with special needs.

Christ University SDG Cell Inauguration

At Christ University Central Campus, giving a talk on “Youth Skills for Peace and Development” in celebration of UN World Youth Skills Day 2024, addressing over 100 students from various Christ University campuses during the inauguration of their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Cell. The event focused on the crucial role youth play in building peace and development through skill-building, and how this ties into the UN’s SDG goals. Topics covered included understanding conflict, conflict resolution, and the youth’s role in skill-building and being agents of change and innovators towards peace and development. 

Jyoti Nivas College Conference

Dr Gitanjali was a Speaker at the ‘Promoting Inclusion through Arts and Creative Expression: A Path to Better Mental Health- International Conference 2024’, organized by EKA Educational and Charitable Trust and Jyoti Nivas College. Dr Gitanjali spoke about Inclusion, what it means and what are the roles each of us have to play in the verb that is inclusion. She also took the group through a simple arts and movement experience which energized the group to participate as it portrayed inclusion in action. She spoke about how one needs to start with making a deliberate effort towards their participation in the process of Inclusion. 

At the India Inclusion Summit 2023

Dr Gitanjali facilitated a drum circle at the India Inclusion Summit 2023. The drum circle saw the group gravitate and become one as individuals with hearing impairment, visual impairment, speech impaired, wheelchair-bound and various diverse needs came together. All that was required was a sense of rhythm that the group naturally picked up. The invitation to the group and the experience curated was about feeling the rhythm, an experience that was universal for all. As the rhythm built and the beats grew, there was harmony in the oneness, a magical experience for all who were present.

Never-The-Less conference by Fourth Wave Foundation at IIM B

Dr Gitanjali was on the panel at the Never-The-Less Conference organized by Fourth Wave Foundation to discuss Inclusive Education in Disability, for “Parental and Community Engagement in Enabling Inclusive Education” with Dr B K S Vardhan Director, State Institute for School Leadership, Educational Planning & Management, Prof Alphonsa Joseph HOD – Psychology, Dr S R Chandrashekar Institute of Speech and Hearing, chaired by Madaiah Madegowda Professor Indian Institute of Health Management and Research. The panel discussed community awareness, family training and more. Dr Gitanjali enraptured the crowd towards diverse thought, emphasizing inclusion as a verb and encouraging individual action and ownership in bringing about inclusive education.

On the Cover of Mentor Magazine

Dr Gitanjali Govindrajan on the cover on Mentor Magazine by LXL Ideas on the occasion of World Disability Day! Talking about our journey of inclusive education at SF, speaking about the role that we all have to play as stakeholders in the system of inclusive education.

Featured on the Twitter Account for Southern Command Indian Army (@IaSouthern)

Snehadhara Foundation was recognized for its work with children with disabilities at the Umang Special Care Centre, Alwar by the Twitter account for the Southern Command of the Indian Army. Click here to see the post!

Talking about the journey of inclusion at I(m)nclusion

Anuradha Singh & Santosh Avvannavar in conversation with Ms.Gitanjali, founder of Snehadhara Foundation on Inclusion at I(m)nclusion. 

At the LEAPS Summit Qatar

Dr Gitanjali was at the LEAPS (Leading Educational Advancement through Progressive Schools) Summit hosted by Qatar Foundation, Doha. At the Round Table today with Vice Chairperson and CEO Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, she shared the story of Snehadhara Foundation’s innovation in education and in reimagining classrooms using the arts. Snehadhara was honoured to be one among the 6 global progressive institutions along with Lumiar Foundation, South America and UK; Hub School 21, France; NuVu, US; Kingsland Pre-Prep, UK and Agora School, Netherlands.