India Development Services

Seminars

Over the years IDS has establishe a seminar series were cutting edge development ideas are shared and explored. These seminar not only serve as a conduit for knowledge but has provide a mechanism to network with activisit both here in the US and in Inda. Every year we choose a different foucs area.

“INDIA’S CHILDREN: PRESERVING THEIR RIGHTS, PROTECTING THEIR FUTURE”
Moderator: Jerome McDonnel (Chicago WBEZ, Worldview)

“Empowering Street Children” - Rita Panicker, Director of Butterflies, India
Former consultant to UNICEF, Ms. Rita Panicker is the Founder-Director of Butterflies, an organization working with street and working children and on issues of children's rights.
“Protecting Children From Violence and Abuse” - Nicole Menezes, CHILDLINE, India
In 1996, Mumbai launched CHILDLINE, the country's first toll-free helpline for street children in distress, and has grown into a national child protection service that operates in 83 cities.
“Nutrition as Foundation for Education” - Madhu Sridhar, CEO, Akshaya Patra Foundation, USA
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world's largest non-government midday meal program and feeds more than 966,000 underprivileged children daily in 5,600 schools in six states in India.
“Juvenile Justice in India” - Diane Geraghty, J.D., Director, CIVITAS Child Law Center, Loyola University Chicago
Diane Geraghty has served as a consultant to UNICEF in Thailand, Vietnam and West and Central Africa, and is an international expert at the UN Office of Drugs and Crime on the topic of access to justice for children and adults in the criminal justice system.
“Advancing Child Rights in India through Youth Development and Education” - Julia Pryce, Ph.D, Loyola University Chicago.
Dr. Pryce’s research primarily focuses on youth development and mentorship, including her work with LIFT ("Leading India's Future Today"), a non-profit youth development and educational organization.

Care of Footpath Film Screening

Aron Govil Productions Inc.’s Care of Foot Path is directed by a nine year old Indian boy Kishan Shrikanth who earned the title of the “World’s Youngest Director” from the Guinness Book of World Records. The movie also stars Jackie Shroff, Saurabh Shukla, and Taara. It is the story of an orphan slum boy who finds a way to live his dream of going to school against all odds. This slum boy is adopted by an older woman, and he is forced to make a living picking up rags. A chance encounter with some school going students who call him an uneducated brute, make him take up the challenge of becoming educated. His efforts to get into Indian school system are met with failures. This is a success story inspired by true life stories of great people like Thomas Alva Edison, Michael Faraday, and our ex-President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam