Friends of SBT

Genesis of Friends of Salaam Baalak Trust

Several of the founding members of this initiative are current or former volunteers of SBT-Delhi, who were determined that their support for SBT should not come to an end just because they finished their stint and are back to the UK.  The experience with the kids at various shelter homes in SBT-Delhi touched them, changed their perspective and motivated them to work towards adding meaning to their own lives. With the support of others who have  experience in  voluntary sector, and of the  Trustees and senior staff in SBT- Delhi, the idea for an official UK chapter came  as a gift to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SBT in October 2008 and thus FoSBT was formed in May 2009.

Aims and Objectives

Essentially, FoSBT aims to support the efforts of SBT in their commitment towards street and working children in Delhi.  SBT has the expertise and the committed staff, but often not the resources or the requisite support – which is where Friends should come in.

More specifically, FoSBT aims to:

• create a network or membership of Friends in the UK, former volunteers, who have visited SBT in Delhi or been on the City Walk. This will help connect enthusiastic supporters with SBT- Delhi and update them on latest activities.
• create awareness in schools, youth groups and other interested organisations on the issues faced by street and working children in India;
• where possible, form ongoing partnerships with these groups
• organise events which will raise funds for SBT- Delhi as well as  awareness on the issues concerning street children
• encourage volunteers from the UK to come to SBT in a way that will be mutually beneficial to both volunteers and SBT-Delhi.

The Trustees

• Nidhi Agarwal is a banker in London. Having studied in Delhi where she spent several months teaching Maths at Apna Ghar- shelter for boys, SBT Delhi. She was offered the remuneration as a teacher but refused to accept it as she found the experience highly rewarding. Her enthusiasm to do more for the Trust was instrumental in the formation of FoSBT.Nidhi has also been known to express itself in poetry published in SBT broacher.

• Veronica Gledhill Hall is a long-term friend of India and colleague of SBT founding Trustee Sanjoy Roy.  She is the operations director of a media company and is the founding Trustee of Jaisalmer in Jeopardy.

• Nick Thompson is a notary with a Firm in London.  He went on the City Walk in 2006 and was strongly impressed by what he saw. He came back to volunteer in early 2007 and now manages to escape from his documents whenever possible – for about four months a year – to live in Delhi and work with SBT- Delhi.