CANASU DREAM FOUNDATION
Nurturing Dreams, Empowering Communities
At Canasu Dream Foundation, we know that sometimes all it takes to change the world is a small step in the right direction. Since our inception, we have been determined to make an impact. The core of our efforts is to bring fresh ideas and passion to the range of activities we are involved with. Through all of our endeavours, we hope to go by the conviction of our beliefs and the call of our hearts.
VISION
To work towards creating a stronger India with basic health, education and empowerment for every citizen.
MISSION
Improve the lives of women and children in local communities through education, health and economic empowerment.
EXPERIENCE CANASU
Hope Is Where the Heart Is
We are a social community that is focused on helping women and assisting them in
achieving their ambitions. We help them build and nurture their lives by providing skill sets that can help them accomplish their dreams and create an impact in their community. We also focus on providing training and hosting exhibitions which involve women learning to adapt to new opportunities. Canasu reaches out to communities around Bangalore and tries to emancipate women. We believe that if we strengthen the inner voice of women, they can nurture a community of achievers. To strengthen their inner voice, we need to strengthen
their minds so that their determination propels them further.
OUR BELIEF
Canasu is not just an organization that helps women entrepreneurs, it is a revolution to
support the dream of every woman to construct their future with perseverance. We strengthen their inner voice by driving away their fear of suppression and by bringing freedom into every sphere of their lives. We strongly believe that if we need to make the world a better place for tomorrow, women need to be architects of the future.
There are several women in communities who are suppressed and are not supported due to social inequality and societal shackles. Our aim is to educate them and free them from this caged thinking which is hampering their growth.
SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMMES
Helping the Community
We work with women to enhance their future prosperity by increasing their ability to successfully manage their own livelihood options and improve their security. Our activities also focus on empowering women so that they can generate their own income and become empowered in all aspects
(social, economical, political)
HEALTH & HYGIENE
One Step at a Time
Good health should be a priority, however this can be difficult for many women from the under-resourced communities and don’t take the time needed to stay on top of their health and wellbeing. Canasu organised many health camps focused on women and children to bring awareness and basic health education to all.
DREAM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
Building Leaders for Tomorrow
Education is one of the most critical areas of empowerment for women. It is also an area that offers some of the clearest examples of discrimination women suffer. Among children not attending school, there are twice as many girls as boys, and among illiterate adults there are twice as many women as men. We at Canasu offer scholarships for bright girls from marginalised communities.
OUR FOCUS
Making A Difference
Our Work
“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope”
OUR WORK, THEIR WORDS
"Canasu helped and guided me to get my mother operated. I have never come across such a dedicated team of young individuals who go beyond their limits to help the community. Many families like ours are forever indebted to the support provided to us for livelihoods, educational scholarships and health interventions. Our prayers are always with the team and wish them luck!"
- Muzaffar Ali, Health Camp Beneficiary
"Canasu has its heart in the right place and they have helped us during these tough times of COVID, they have supported us with dry ration, clothes and masks. The local administration had failed to support us because we are migrant population, and the help received by Canasu is appreciable and we are thankful for all the efforts."
- Gauri, COVID Relief Beneficiary
KEY PEOPLE
Get to Know Us
MOHAMMED SHOAIB
Founder and CEO
Holds a double Master's degree in Business Commerce and Social Work in Counselling. His areas of special interests include Professional Life Coaching, Career Coaching, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation. Shoaib is drawn towards creating a Transformational impact for clients and organisations he’s associated with.
He is a Certified Personal Development Coach and has undergone various trainings and courses in the field of Neuro Linguistic Programming, Transformational Coaching, Employee Coaching, Career Coaching, Public Speaking, Youth Counselling and Social Work.
He has worked with 9 organisations and started 3 himself, completed Service Activities for more than 2000 hours, mentored and provided life coaching for over a 250 individuals.
Fascinated by the impact life skills had on him and to make his journey more purposeful he left behind his career and founded The Altered Lens to help people facing similar dilemma and difficulty like he had in Identifying what they really want for themselves. The Altered Lens helps individuals and organisations bridge the gap between where they are now, and where they want to be.
Apart from this, he has grassroots experience working for brands like Teach For India, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Makkala Jagriti, Health & Glow, Lions Club International and Christ University.
He is also the Founder of Canasu Dream Foundation, a non-profit initiative and a Charter Member of Lions Club of Bangalore.
KUSHAL BABU
COO
Kushal comes with over a decade of experience in the financial industry and is currently working as a faculty of commerce. He says “To make a revolution, start by educating children.” with this belief in the future generation he always focuses on providing them support and working closely with communities to understand the struggles and help them to step up in the society.
Kushal is always excited about the idea that every child in the world can be the leader tomorrow and with this belief, he has made this his life purpose to mentor children and groom them with skills and assistance that can be helpful for them to grow and achieve this dream.
UMME SALVA
Financial Advisor
Being an Auditor, she comes with an experience of handling various clients across India. She is extremely passionate about her work and she keeps close track of developments at Canasu. Given her own journey, She understands the nature of potential and truly believes in Canasu’s cause of creating opportunity.
She leads the accounts team at Canasu.
NEERAJ DODDAMANE
Director, Strategy and Scale
Neeraj is a Chemical Engineer and a TEDx Curator, who worked as a Fellow at Teach for India for two years. He enjoys learning about school leadership and education technology. He is also, a Global Shaper and co-leads The Stronger Schools Project that aims at transforming public schools into units of change and Hope for communities.
His beliefs in collective action and sustainable solutions has led him to be a part of Canasu.
SALMA S
Content Lead
Holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and is currently pursuing Chartered Accountancy. Writing and social work is her passion. She currently works as an audit assistant at Hariharan and Co Chartered Accountants, Mysore.
She believes that writing has the power to inspire and motivate people and therefore writing for a social cause lends a sense of purpose. She sees Canasu as a forum to make a difference to the society, working for the shared vision of the team thriving to create a social order and uplift the weaker sections of the society.
ARSHIA CHATTERJEE
Guidance Counsellor
Arshia graduated with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Communication, and is completing her MSc in Psychology of Childhood Adversity. While working in the education space for three years, she realized her passion lies in engaging with adolescents and their families who experience and live through adversity. She believes that providing support for families and parents helps reduce social disadvantage for a child. She identifies with Canasu’s vision because she feels strongly about implementing change that passes down to the next generation and helps create equal opportunities for everyone in a community.
AROGYA MARY
Director of Projects
Sr. Arogya Mary believes that women should get equal opportunity and be independent.
She is the Headmistress of St. Josephs Convent, Whitefield. She has an experience of 25 years working with the communities in Whitefield. Her commitment to serve the people has made her a prominent figure across communities. As a part of Canasu Dream Foundation, She leads many women empowerment projects at St. Joseph’s Convent. Her bold attitude and confidence make her a dynamic leader.
ADVISORS
ANIMESH SINGH
B. Tech from IIT Delhi, MBA from IIM Calcutta; working as COO and Business Head for Health & Glow Ecommerce; was founding team member of Jabong
ANAMIKA VISWANATHAN
Anamika is a UK trained Business Psychologist with more than two decades of organisational and leadership experience in Business Psychology and Advertising. She advises organisations and helps professionals build on their strengths and forge successful career paths. Using Business Psychology coaching and assessment tools and techniques, Anamika coaches students, faculty, executives and leadership. She is currently associated with CHRIST (Deemed to be University) as Head - Consulting Practice and advises a student-powered Centre for Academic and Professional Support (CAPS).
OUR PARTNERS
We are grateful to Lions Club of Bangalore Phoenix to support our Community Programs
We are indebted to our Corporate Partner, CITRIX R&D India to support our Canasu Community Transformational Program
We have multiple initiatives across the city with Global Shapers Bangalore which is a network of Young Professionals
St.Joseph's Convent KHPS is our School partner for Community Interventions at Whitefiled
We have collaborated with Shifting orbits to have a focused approach towards our Dream Scholarship Program
RainTree School is our School Partner for Community initiatives in Bangalore South
In collaboration with Project Defy, We have started a Self Learning Space in Whitefield
greenBUG is one of our partners for sustainable livelihood initiatives in various communities across the city
We are forever indebted to these philanthropic individuals who fuel our mission
Steve Doyle | Elaine Moore | Liav Shamriz | Ruth Martin |
Clodagh grace | Karen OMórdha
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