Changing Mindset
About Adoption
Genesis
Where are India’s Children started as a digital campaign in 2018 July by three adoptive parents. The campaign culminated on November 14th, Children’s day by asking all the campaign registrants to send messages to Women and Child Development authorities with the challenges and solutions plaguing the child protection mechanism. 1200 good Samaritans spend 20 minutes that day and sent messages on November 14th, 2018. Our youngest volunteer was a 12-year-old who made a video.
To build on the momentum generated by the campaign, the founders got together to start WAIC as an NGO.
Our Vision
Every child in India is assured of the right to a family through long-term changes made to the adoption ecosystem. Every child in shelters is accounted for, and no child languishes in shelters unnecessarily.
Our Mission
To make every child in shelters visible through digitisation. Ensure timely evaluation for adoption eligibility, and drive sustainable change through policy reform, training, and public awareness.
WAIC was registered
in July 2019
as Child Welfare and
Action Foundation.
Journey So far
Our Core Values
Empathy
Empathy for the children, the government, CCI( Child Care Institutions) and every team member of WAIC is integral to our work. We seek to understand each stakeholder's perspective and needs.
Accountability
We are accountable for our actions, and work. Each WAIC team member is encouraged to understand and accept the consequences of their actions.
Humility
Being humble reminds us that we have just made a start. There is a long way to go to realise our vision of #Family4everychild.
Learning
We are continuously learning. We go into every activity, every task, with a premise of learning something new. As Socrates wisely said, smart people learn from everything and everyone, average ones from experience, stupid ones have all the answers.
Respect
We respect everyone and their opinions even if they are different from our own.
Integrity
Working with integrity is a major responsibility towards our organization and our stakeholders. At no point we compromise on this.
Our Board of Advisors
Sanjay Kanvinde
is the co-founder of Lavni Ventures. Prior to founding Lavni Ventures, he worked in the Energy Industry, where over different international assignments,
is the co-founder of Lavni Ventures. Prior to founding Lavni Ventures, he worked in the Energy Industry, where over different international assignments, he worked in the functional areas of Research & Development, Knowledge Management, Business Development, and Corporate IT Management. Sanjay is also an Angel Investor and mentor to several technology and social-innovation startups. He is actively involved in several charities and social organizations. Sanjay will help drive the fundraising and technology focus for WAIC.
Dr Premnath
is Head NCL Innovations at CSIR-NCL and Founder Director Venture Center (a National award-winning non-profit inventive enterprises and deep tech incubator).
is Head NCL Innovations at CSIR-NCL and Founder Director Venture Center (a National award-winning non-profit inventive enterprises and deep tech incubator). Dr Premnath is a technology developer, innovation and incubation manager, startup mentor and co-founder of 2 medtech startups. He has provided leadership for teams that have won National awards for technology development, intellectual property management and business incubation. Dr Premnath has also helped initiate and coordinate activities for the NGO Asha for Education (funding basic education for underprivileged children in India) in Boston and Pune. He is a chemical engineer and an alumnus of MIT in the US, IIT-Bombay (Distinguished Alumnus, 2022) and has been a Chevening Technology Enterprise Scholar in Cambridge, UK.
Mukund Rathi
has a Bachelors of Engineering (Civil) First Class with Distinction from Government College of Engineering, Pune. Topper in Maharashtra Public Service Commission exam 1993.
has a Bachelors of Engineering (Civil) First Class with Distinction from Government College of Engineering, Pune. Topper in Maharashtra Public Service Commission exam 1993. Worked in various key positions in Government of Maharashtra for 15 years in Urban and Rural areas as Dy Collector, Dy Commissioner Municipal Corporation. Also worked extensively in Yashawantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration, premier Institute for training of senior Government officers and policy making on various Government development areas. Worked in Japan (Okayama) for extensive Urban Management training offered by Government of Japan. After the stint in Government for 15 years, worked with the reputed Corporates at Senior Strategic Positions for 10 years in Mega Urban projects and Infrastructure Projects. Presently Founder Director - BEQ & BN Management Consultants. Associated as growth partners with reputed domestic and International Corporates.
Sushma Rajagopalan
is a Global Leader and CEO in the IT Industry, with over 25 years of successful track record in Transforming Companies by adopting effective strategies for Fast scale..
is a Global Leader and CEO in the IT Industry, with over 25 years of successful track record in Transforming Companies by adopting effective strategies for Fast scale, Enhancing the Future readiness quotient, Improving efficiency and profitability and Institutionalizing processes and measurements. She is currently a Partner at Rittenhouse Ventures - a growth stage venture capital firm in Philadelphia. Sushma will guide WAIC in visioning, strategic clarity, financial sustaianabiity, and branding.
Our Collaborators
Our Partners/Supporters
Founding Team
CEO & Co-founder
Director & Co-founder
Co-founder
Our Core Team
Senior Project Manager
Project Lead, Telangana
Project Associate, Telangana
Senior Project Associate, Maharashtra
Senior Project Associate, Telangana
HR Admin & Executive,
Maharashtra, Telangana & Karnataka
Senior Project Associate, Maharashtra
Project Associate, Maharashtra
Senior Project Associate, Maharashtra
Senior Finance Executive
Senior Project Associate, Maharashtra
Project Associate, Maharashtra
Chief Program Officer
Consultant Project Associate, Telangana
Consultant Project Associate, Telangana
Consultant Project Associate, Karnataka
Consultant Project Associate, Karnataka
Consultant Project Associate, Karnataka
Consultant Project Associate, Karnataka
Consultant Project Associate, Telangana
Project Manager, Karnataka
Our Volunteers
Parent through adoption, Malta
Natasha Gowans is a communications strategist with deep experience in global tech firms. She runs her own consultancy, StrategixPR, helping startups grow their reputation and reach.
A passionate advocate for social impact, she’s been providing communications and fundraising support for Where Are India’s Children since 2020. Based in Malta, Europe, Natasha is mother to two boys – one biological and one adopted from India.
Parent through adoption, Mumbai
Anushree has worked in the BFSI Space for over 18 years. She has worked with organisations such as Citibank, CRISIL, Edelweiss and Infosys. Currently working as a Portfolio Advisor with Axis Securities.
Anushree is a Postgraduate in Finance from the Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, and a proud mother of a warrior girl through adoption who walked into their lives in 2023.
Anushree provides support in Data Analysis, fundraising, and she is an advocate of Safe Surrender for WAIC.
Parent through adoption, Ireland/Malta
Saron Harford is a web & graphic designer, commercial artist, and founder of Tiger-Fruit design agency. She has been proud to provide web and graphic support to Where Are India’s Children since 2022.
Originally from Ireland and now living in Malta, Saron is the mother to two boys, the youngest of whom was adopted from Maharashtra in 2023.
Parent through adoption, Hyderabad
Sanjay is an adoptive parent and lives with his family in Hyderabad, India. Sanjay has worked at tech companies across the globe over the last 15 years with a focus on Operations, and recently moved back to India. Using the experience he has gained through the adoption process in India, Sanjay has been volunteering with WAIC to build educational resources to help prepare Prospective Adoptive Parents for the emotional, legal, and practical realities of adoption in India.
Parent through adoption, UK
Trushali Kotecha is an adoptive mother via the intercountry adoption route from India.
Her goal is to create awareness and ensure that children are surrendered safely, rather than abandoned.
Trushali is a Fundraising Volunteer for WAIC in the UK.
Senior Project Manager
Project Lead,
Telangana
Senior Project Associate,
Maharashtra
Senior Project Associate, Telangana
HR Admin & Executive
Maharashtra, Telangana & Karnataka
Senior Project Associate,
Maharashtra
Senior Project Associate,
Maharashtra
Senior Finance Executive
Senior Project Associate,
Maharashtra
Chief Program Officer