Since our inception in 1996, GASS has been known in Bangalore Rural and Urban, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Kalburgi, Chamrajnagara and Kolar districts as a leading implementer of services for the Persons with disabilities (PWDs). Our focus on mental health and creating empowerment opportunities has impacted several thousand lives in a positive way.
Our programs, implemented through staff members and community volunteers are designed with empathy and service delivery as core values. Covering vital social development domains like Health, Education, Livelihoods and Environment, our work reaches vulnerable populace including Children, Women, Youth and Seniors from marginalized communities.
The various programs of GASS are supported by different funding partners. GASS has been a preferred partner for the Government of Karnataka for the protection of children and women in difficult situations. Child helpline, shelter for senior citizens and women short stay homes are supported by the government. We are equally recognized by leading corporate sector for reaching out to the marginalized through their CSR funds. GASS also enjoys international partnerships with renowned organizations for specific theme-based interventions. During the Covid19 pandemic we had the support from all sectors to reach out to the most vulnerable at the most remote areas.
GASS also serves as the center for global research, training and exposure for interns and students from various universities. We have regular interns/ students from Universities who pursue their field practice under the guidance of experienced staff.
Health
Working in Mental Health and community wellbeing has been our forte since inception. From operating PHC and Mobile Health clinics to implementing health screening, tertiary referrals, counselling, one-to-one Yoga therapy sessions and provision of medicines we ensure the wellbeing of people in our areas of operation. Our programs work on increasing awareness in communities about general and mental health. Since 2022, we have a special project for menstrual health promotion among rural women.
Education
We enable young children through education through a full-scale scholarship program that covers students’ fees from PUC to Masters while also mainstreaming children through a bridge school project. To enable learning in our areas of operation we have also invested in bettering infrastructure through the creation of school libraries.
Livelihood
Our work on livelihoods focuses on women and PWDs so as to empower them. Our Skill training program for women encompasses multiple local trade skills that lead to sustainable income. To enable this further, we have created SHGs and then organised them into cooperatives to facilitate the availability of capital. Through the Manasadhara centre and garment unit, we have ensured safe and sustainable livelihoods for PWDs and women through colour-making and leaf plate-making initiatives.
Our work on livelihoods focuses on women and PWDs so as to empower them. Our Skill training program for women encompasses multiple local trade skills that lead to sustainable income. To enable this further, we have created SHGs and then organised them into cooperatives to facilitate the availability of capital. Through the Manasadhara centre and garment unit, we have ensured safe and sustainable livelihoods for PWDs and women through colour-making and leaf plate-making initiatives.
Protection
Under the protection domain, we have established systems and infrastructure to support the needs of women, children and people with disabilities. These include managing helplines, and establishing homes for children and seniors alongside short stay homes for victimized women.
Our work on livelihoods focuses on women and PWDs so as to empower them. Our Skill training program for women encompasses multiple local trade skills that lead to sustainable income. To enable this further, we have created SHGs and then organised them into cooperatives to facilitate the availability of capital. Through the Manasadhara centre and garment unit, we have ensured safe and sustainable livelihoods for PWDs and women through colour-making and leaf plate-making initiatives.
Environment
We have taken up works like lake rejuvenation and tree plantation activities in our operational area alongside creating massive awareness through campaigns against plastic use and promoting sustainable living. We have also created rainwater harvesting units to ensure the availability of groundwater. Efforts are made to introduce renewable energy sources like solar energy in the project areas to reduce depletion of natural resources and use of clean energy. With the support of CSR funds we could install solar panels in schools and offices and introduce solar street lights in the village streets. Individual small entrepreneurs are facilitated solar powered tools.
We have taken up works like lake rejuvenation and tree plantation activities in our operational area alongside creating massive awareness through campaigns against plastic use and promoting sustainable living. We have also created rainwater harvesting units to ensure the availability of groundwater.