M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

Mission

The mission of the organization is to make people aware of Gandhian nonviolence which is as much about creating peace as it is about preventing conflict. Gandhi said all of us are violent but a majority of us don't know this since we commit violence in passive, indirect ways. Poverty is the worst form of violence and when we ignore it or encourage it through our greed then we are committing violence. The aim of the Institute is to teach and to devise constructive self-help programs.

Programs

1. Lectures/workshops/seminars at hundreds of universities and organizations in the US and around the world; 2. Inspired people to promote self-help economic projects in poor countries; 3. Directly involved in stopping all forms of human exploitation. 4. Leads a group of Americans on an annual visit to Gandhi's India to witness nonviolence in action; 5. Helps foster a relationship between tourists and organizations working for the poor.

Current Projects on GlobalGiving

Saving Children from Adult Exploitation:Operations

Saving Children from Adult Exploitation: Program

Saving Children from Adult Exploitation:Facilities

Personnel Overview

Arun Chavan - Director
Arun Chavan was a professor of English Literature at Kolhapur University when he saw the poverty and destitution that surrounded him. He decided to give up his job and devote his life to working for the poor. He founded the Verala Development Society and has been working for the past 40 years to bring about a socio-economic change in the area.

Ms. Anuradha Bhonsle - Principal
Ms. Bhonsle graduated from the Tata Institute for Social Work in Mumbai and worked as an apprentice to Arun Chavan at Verala Development Society. After understanding the needs of the area she branched out on her own creating a small organization called AVNI which is a Marathi language acroynm for Clothes, Food and Home for the poor children.

Tushar Gandhi - Manager
Tushar is Arun Gandhi's son who lives in Mumbai. Has been involved in eliminating poverty and ignorance for the past 20 years. Is the President of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in Mumbai, India.

Personnel Statistics

Arun M. Gandhi,
President
Founded in 1991
Employees: 3
Volunteers: 4

Financial Statistics

Budget (2006): $ 125,000
Budget (2005): $ 120,000
Maximum Budget: $ 150,000
Overhead: 20 %
Other funding sources: Public donations
Religious Affiliation: Secular