Melodies for Hope: Benefit Concert in Framingham to Support Orphaned and Vulnerable Youth

I'm Girish Satpute and I'm here to talk about a future for every child. It's a charity I support. In India, there are around 400,000 kids in orphanages at any given point of time. Around 50,000 of them exit every year and after that, really, they have no place to go. So this is the charity which is helping those youths in transition, we call them care leavers, to find training jobs and finally settle in life. We are organizing a musical event led by internationally acclaimed musician Supriyo Dutta. This event is on October 3rd. It is at Kifi Tech. The event starts at 4 p.m. and will go through 7.30 p.m. Looking forward for everyone to join this musical event. Namaste and hello everyone. First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you in the United States for showering me with so much love, warmth and respect. With that gratitude in my heart, I am very happy to invite you all to a very special concert on Saturday, October 3rd. Many of you may already know about EFFECT and the wonderful work they do in preparing orphaned and vulnerable youth for adulthood, self-reliance and financial independence. This concert is basically a fundraising event in support of EFFECT and it will be much more than just an evening of music and entertainment. It is an opportunity for all of us to come together, join hands and contribute to a truly noble cause. I will be joined by some wonderful and celebrated musicians from the Boston area, Amit Kavtekar on tabla, Phil Scarf on saxophone, Mark Rossi on piano and Isabel on cello. My heartfelt thanks to EFFECT for making us a part of this meaningful initiative. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to LearnQuest, Sharaj and many other organizations and people who have supported this beautiful cause. So I warmly invite you all to share this event with your friends, family and join us and support this wonderful initiative. Let us come together through the universal language of music and make a meaningful difference. Thank you once again and I look forward to seeing you all on the October 3rd. The venue and place is given in the flyer. Do check it, do support, welcome you all. Thank you so much. We have specially curated a program based on Indian classical, semi-classical foundation, but it is supported by a lot of western ensemble like piano, we got cello, keyboard and things like that. So it's a very unique program specially created for EFFECT. Welcome to Indian Union News. Those of you who recently watched World Cup, there was a soccer team from Cape Verde, which did absolutely fantastic. One of the best teams in this World Cup series. Their population is only 500,000. Today we have a special guest, Girish Satpute, who is going to talk about similar number kids every year in India go to orphanage, almost equal to the population of Cape Verde. He is involved with a charity which helps out those orphanage and those orphans in India. We are going to talk to him about his involvement as well as what this charity does. Girish, welcome to our studio. Thank you, Kunal. Thank you for having me here. Sure. It's a pleasure to have a conversation with you. Excellent. And what is interesting, I have interviewed many charities and many organizations who do a great job with communities and social service. But this is for the first time, I'm going to talk to somebody who is really dedicated to this great cause of orphanage. Yeah. So first thing, tell us about this charity. Yeah. What it is, when it was founded. And before that, how did you get involved with this group? Yeah. So there's a lot of questions. So let me kind of take one at a time. So just before we go too far, the Cape Verde analogy, I think that's a fantastic analogy. So in India, if you look at the orphanages, there are around 400,000 kids in orphanages at any given point of time. And if you look at year over year, there are around 50,000 kids which exit the orphanages because they turn 18. So people are entering the orphanages and they're exiting the orphanages. And the adoption rate is minuscule. I think that hardly maybe 3,000 to 5,000 kids get adopted. So this particular charity, A Future for Every Child, is really working on the issue where when the orphans turn 18. So the Future for Every Child is a non-profit. It's a non-profit, 503 certified organization. If you donate to them, you can get tax protection. It is US-based. So let me kind of talk a little bit about this charity, where it started, and what their mission is, and things like that, so everyone knows what this charity does. The charity was founded in 2019 by technology professionals, if you will. They are out of California. Geeta Gopal and Madan Gopal are the founders, their husband and wife. They're also adoptive parents. So they discovered the issue that... So they have also adopted children, right? They have adopted children. So they are adoptive parents. We call them adoptive parents. So they adopted somebody from Pune. In the process, they discovered the issue where if you are in an orphanage and you don't get adopted when you turn 18, you have no other place to go but to exit the orphanage because by law, you have to exit the orphanages, and there's not a whole lot of support system after that. So when they discovered the problem, they founded this charity in 2019. The name of the charity is A Future for Every Child. So really, their mission of this charity, they specifically focus on this issue that with orphans who are leaving the orphanages to help them get education and settle them in life. So kind of take them and transition into productive adulthood. I think that's what their mission is. So every year, those kids who may not have any place to go, nothing, they are 18, they are out of the orphanage. Yeah. So what happens after that? What do they do? Is there any study or anything? So this is very interesting, right? Because I'll tell you from my personal experience. So when you talk to even those orphanages, I went to Pune, I went to Indore last year and talked to even some of the directors of the orphanages. So they're saying that these kids are forced to leave after 18. And a lot of times, they lose track of it. They don't know where these people went because there's no permanent address. They don't have families and they don't have skills to get employed. So it's almost like majority of these kids just disappear in the system, right? And really, we can only guess what would have happened to them. So it's not a great situation. Now, I also wanted to clarify that number 400,000 orphans in India every year. Now, we see a lot of kids on the railway stations and buses stations and in the street. They look like they have no place to go. So this 400,000 number is all these kids who live in orphanages or includes all the entire population? No, these kids are the people who are in the orphanages. So in India, we have government institutions who if they find kids on the platform or somebody's parents died or somebody's abused and they need government support, social services. So they get referred to this institution. So they get admitted to this institution. So then the number will be much higher. The number is much higher. This is just the people who are officially documented. So they call it child care institutes, right? So this is where they are inside those institutes. These are the numbers we are talking about. Outside that, probably the number is much larger. So now, how did you get involved with this? So it's interesting. I think in Boston, so I'm in the music community and I saw a concert by one of my friends. And I was looking for some charities to support anyway. I was researching certain charities. Orphanages was one of the topics and all financially vulnerable kids was one of the topics. I always was interested in supporting that community. And I found that EFFECT has this unique mission that not too many charities are really focused on this problem. So if you think about… So EFFECT is every child has a future. Every child, yeah. Okay. A future for every child. Okay. So a future for every child. So they are really kind of operating in this niche area where they are helping. They're working with this childcare institute and engaging with this financially vulnerable kids as well as orphans. And they have a platform called Launchpad for Adulthood. So they will engage with the kids. They'll train them. They'll give them life skills. And once the kid is saying, okay, I want to work with you. They'll help them after that transition after 18 years to kind of get some kind of vocational training and placement and things like that. And once that is done, they'll actually support them for two years. So that was a very unique thing I saw when I learned a little bit more about the charity. And my conviction was, okay, this is the charity I would like to get involved more. And then as part of my due diligence, I actually went to India. I visited a couple of orphanages. I met the alumni who actually went through this program and got benefited. And the stories are really, you know, I think some stories are heartbreaking. Some stories are very heartwarming saying that a girl who and her younger sister ended in an orphanage. Through this program, she became a midwife. So now she's able to earn money. So she pulled her sister out of the orphanage and she's staying with her now. And her ambition was, I want to become VSC nurse now. And then later on, hey, I would like to come to U.S. also to pursue my nursing career. So those great stories when you hear. So my conviction has become stronger and stronger year over year. So that's kind of the unique cause. The work they are doing. The amount of overage this organization has. This is mostly volunteer-run organization. So I think there's a direct impact people are making. So it is also relatively a new organization starting 2019, you said, right? So do you have some data or numbers you can say that how they have impacted? Right. So I think if you look at it right now, they have impacted more than 2,000 kids. And keep in mind, like the number looks small. But the cost of every kid to go through these two-year schools and hand-holding them and lodging and boarding is around $1,200 a person. So far, they have supported around 2,000 kids throughout their journey since 2019. And I would say that most of the people who got employed or they enrolled in their program, they stay in the program. So I think there's a tremendous impact they have made. And they are in now nine states and trying to expand. Nine states in India. Nine states. And they are trying to expand. But it's a very measured growth approach because what effect does is it's a US-based charity. But they operate through some of the partners in India to execute the programs. So they are program managers. So there are some local nonprofit organizations who we work through to execute our mission and the programs. So for that, we also need very trusted partners and program partners. Because we have a methodology. We collect data. And we want to make sure there's quality in execution and things like that. So now let's go back to the music part you were saying that you were looking for some music. Yeah, so this was, I don't know, Gita Atlesh. She's one of the local person who represented AFIC here. And she organized a music concert, Sudha Subramanian. So she's a good friend. So she's like, come to this concert. And that's how I come to know about it. And that was when? Which year was that? 2023. And then you also had the conference in 24, 25. So 24, we didn't do a whole lot. But 25, we hosted a musical event. That was Phil Scarf with Ragmala Alive. And that was in Chinmab Mission. And I think a lot of people are now aware of the charities when the name is kind of getting around. So we had around 200, 220 people coming. Very good. And as a musical program, you were coming for the same charity this year. Yeah, so this year, so last year it was October 4. This year is on October 3. That's Kifi Tech and Supriya Dutta. And a few local musicians are actually, we have a very specially curated program. And it's a great, great musical event. So that's scheduled on October 3 right now. So if you can tell a little bit more about what the audience can expect from the music program. So this is, so again, we are trying to stay away from pure classical. But it's still Hindustani classical based. But the ensemble or the support instrumentation is all Western. So we got keyboard, we got cello, we have piano in the mix. And then traditional Hindustani instruments like tabla and sarangi. And Supriya Dutta is actually. He's a fantastic. He's a fantastic vocalist. I think you know him. Of course, yes. And he performed at LearnQuest also. So he's curated the special program. Actually I did a few years with him too. Yeah, yeah. Face to face. Yeah, so he's a great artist. So we're looking forward to that. So it's kind of using some traditional. So if I'm not wrong, will that be his first or second performance here, right? So public performance was, I think he had one a long time ago in Mithas. Then he was at LearnQuest. LearnQuest. With the third one. Third one, yeah. Okay. Yeah, he's a fantastic singer. Absolutely. Wonderful teacher. Excellent. Yeah, yeah. I think in small community we know him well. Yes, yes, yes. And he was graceful to say, I'll curate something for you. This is a specially curated program. It's not like he's just coming and performing what he performs normally. So we created a special program for this event. Okay. And how did you get interested in music? How did I get into the music? So I was always interested in learning. So I think my association through LearnQuest, Padeep Shuklaji, I think he's a mutual friend of ours. Sure, sure. So he's probably, I would say, one of the person, you know, when I came to move to New Hampshire in 2008 and 2009. So I was looking to kind of start learning. And this is where, you know, my first interactions were. Padeepji was very kind. He says, come over. And people used to come and visit. So I'll attend workshops and this and that. Okay. Excellent. And all the rest of the event? The event is scheduled from 4 to 7.30. But the actual event starts at 5. 4 to 5 registrations because we give, you know, ticket numbers and all that. Sure, sure. So people should come over by 4 o'clock. Excellent. Good. And that will be all the money will go to the… So everything goes to, except the artist. Yeah. Artist compensation. Everything goes back to the charity. To charity. Excellent. Very good. So now let's come back to charity now. Yeah. So you said about, it costs about $1,200 for each. For a student. And they have done about 2,000. Is there any study about those kids who have come out, you know, after 18? Yeah. And if any one of those have been helped by this organization? Yeah. And if there is any track record that, okay, what… Yeah. I know you gave an example of this girl. Right. Any other… Right. So I think the… We can talk about a lot of individual examples. So… And I can give you… You know, in general, like… But in general, if you think about… Because this is my personal experience. I actually met close to 100 alumni. We call them alumni. Hmm. So the people who go through the effect programs. So once they graduate and they settle down, we call them alumni. Hmm. So we met… I met almost like 100 people. And the stat is, the people who go through this program, close… More than 80%, close to 82% are still gainfully employed. So they got education. They studied. We paid for their tuition, housing, and everything. Now they got a job. And they are still in the job. And they are very productively, gainfully employed and trying to build their life and careers. So, like, explain to a layman who is not familiar with this process. So you graduate from this program. Yeah. And then your organization gets involved with their life and all, right? Yeah. And in what way? They have their tuition. What are the other things they do? Yeah. So I think I'll say we are not involved towards the end. We are involved right from when they are ready to… Let's say somebody is in an orphanage, right? They are turning now 16, 17, or even, you know, 14, 15, right? So we are already engaging with these kids… Okay. …through other organizations when they are in the orphanages, telling them there is an option for you to study and go through this program, which is Launchpad for Life. Hmm. So… So this is where the first engagement is. And once… And it's voluntary, right? So once the kid says, Hey, I like this idea. I want to work with you. Please help me, right? Then you get enrolled in this program, and you'll be assigned a program manager. And then after that, we kind of… Based on your capability, right? Some people are capable of becoming engineers. Some people are not, right? So you may become an ITIA technician. So depending on what your capabilities are, we meet you there. We also help you find the vocational trainings or the institutions where they are suitable for you, education-wise, right? And then we'll find the housing for you. So throughout this period of two, three years, we are hand-holding you, right? And then also we'll help you trying to find a job. Most of the time, once you get education, there are a lot of avenues where you can find jobs, right? Hmm. Through your schools also. But once you find the job, and we'll still work with you. Like, how are you doing? You know, how is things? You know, how is your job going? Things like that. So we'll be in touch for almost another two years after you have a job, and then we disengage. So it's almost like… I would say it's a five-year cycle, right? It starts in the orphanages and ends when you are well-established in your life. So now, off the camera, you told me that you joined this group, and one of your goals is to scale it up. Yeah. So tell us about your scale-up program, and what is your goal, immediate goal? So I think, again, we had a board meeting, and we do want to kind of scale this. So I think we collect around $900,000 a year, right? And if you look at the problem, you look at 50,000 youths exiting every year, multiplied by 1.2. That's a $60 million problem. So we're just scratching the surface, right? So how do you collect more money or even expand infrastructure in India? So our plan is to really triple our size in three years. That's our plan. I think what I'm focused on right now is, A, grow the Boston area. Boston has a lot of wealthy people, and I'll encourage everyone in Boston who have sold their companies, who have, you know, they're CEOs of the companies, and there's a lot of philanthropy in Boston. So please look at this institution and see how you can educate yourself, and if you like the cause, please support it. So Boston, I think, is a big area, plus growing into other cities. So my, I think, one of the top strategies to organize, like, music concerts and engage people through that, and then we can have other events to kind of, you know, bring more and more people together. But first thing is educate people. Here's a charity. This is what it does, and this is a very unique cause, and this cause is very underserved, if you will. There are not too many big charities who are actually helping in this area. Excellent. So, Girish, why this charity for you? Yeah. So I think OpenStreets is, I was looking for, to do something to give back to the community, and I was researching a lot of charities, especially youths with education issues or financial vulnerabilities and things like that. So those are the areas I was kind of focused on, and I found this charity was very unique, and I'll tell you why it is unique. Everyone is focused on, you know, orphanages and the kids, you know, giving them food, shelter, and giving them money for education, this and that. Many people don't know what happens to these kids when they exit the orphanages. After 18, they're forced to get out of the orphanages, right? Now, so imagine a kid who has no family, no financial support, no education. How will they survive outside? So this is almost like an ignored problem, if you will, and a very crude analogy, you know, I'm from a financial services industry, so if you're making an investment, you want to monitor your account, how it is growing and where it is, and, you know, you have a lot of eyes on it, right? You just don't forget it. So this is what is happening. People are investing in these kids in their early days when they're in the orphanages, but they almost forget it when it's 18, and they don't know what happened to it. So this is where this charity is coming into play. They are actually working on this niche issue where the children who are exiting the orphanages, they are helping them to get training, vocational training, education, provide them lodging, boarding, so they can actually establish themselves as productive citizens and become productive, gainfully employed. Excellent, that's a great call. Now, before I let you go, I want to ask a little bit about you. You mentioned you are from the financial industry. So tell us about your professional journey a little bit. Yeah, so I took the retirement in 2022 with, you know, music was one part, and trying to do a little bit of a charity work was another part. But before that, I was with Fidelity Investment for 16 years. Oh, excellent. And before that, I was part of consulting organizations, and in fact, I was in Detroit running an automotive services industry at a global scale for almost like two years. And before that, I was in India working for TCS and things like that, yeah. Excellent. Girish, thank you so much for your time. Thank you, thank you.