Arpita Foundation was formed on 27th April 2019
It is a non-profit organisation located in Bangalore, Karnataka and provides professional guidance and counselling to callers from various parts of India to resolve personal and psychological problems. Arpita Foundation was founded by Patrick and was joined by Dr. Kalyani Keerthi Giridhara and maintain the day-to-day operations of the Foundation successfully.
One of the objectives of the Foundation is the Helpline Service predominantly to extend our helping hand to the callers who feel helpless, hopeless and worthless due to various reasons who were initially assisted by a small group of counsellors who have over a decade of experience in the field of counselling psychology. This growing force is now a team of dedicated and trained counsellors/volunteers who are certified Gate Keepers in Suicide Prevention.
We are associated with The Live Love Laugh Foundation, Vandrevala Foundation and the Psychiatry Department of M.S.Ramaiah Memorial Hospital. We are supported by doctors and mental health experts who are ready to step-in and take-over in case of need and referrals for further interventions.
In our efforts to meet our objectives, we are in partnership with The Times of India’s CSR program “Teach India Project” where English Language for vocational benefit is taught free of cost to persons who are between the age group of 18-35 years and who have discontinued school/college education for various reasons.
Our team comprises of Counselling Psychologists counsellors/volunteers who work between 9am to 9pm with 16 volunteers serving per day. Periodic refresher programmes are conducted to update their knowledge and to improve their counselling skills.
We have been receiving and attending to calls from all over the country for various reasons right from failed relationships, academic stress, job stress, addiction, clinical depression, suicidal thoughts and people who have a history of suicides in the family. The Trust has taken safety measures to protect the personal privacy of its counsellors/volunteers.
Arpita Foundation have started a underprivileged skilled development program (SAMRIDDHI) for women in Geriatric care, Autism care, Beautician, Tailoring and Mushroom cultivation with age no bar, the program duration is 4-6 months.
Our volunteers are comfortable to converse in the following languages: English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Konkani, Assamese, Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu spread over different days as per their roster.
Our team also comprises Life Skills coaches who have successfully conducted workshops and webinars on mental health awareness and other related topics at Educational Institutions, Corporates, Health sectors and residential groups of gated communities.
- To induce hope and positivity in life, through helplines using information technologies and telecom devices.
- To provide information, emotional support and counselling interventions to the callers seeking the same.
- To provide rehabilitation, training and therapy to the needy.
- To provide vocational training programmes.
- To engage in such activity or activities social, cultural, educational, moral or any other that contribute to the total development of the human personality.
- To conduct seminars, conferences, workshops, training and other programs for creating awareness on environment, maintenance of mental health, de-addiction, sexual harassment and divorce or any other social evils.
- To provide financial assistance to the deserving persons for medical treatment.
- To provide grants, scholarships, fellowships, prizes, medals, awards for excellence in studies, sports and scientific research.
- To encourage or spreading education especially among rural, poor and suffering, downtrodden, afflicted, orphaned etc irrespective of cast, creed, community, religion and sex.
- To work independently or jointly in collaboration with other trusts, societies, institutions, associations, governmental and non-governmental organisations, on any programme of relief or social service to the general public especially upliftment of under privileged women & children and including objectives listed above.
- To accept donations and contributions in cash or kind from State or Central governments or public institutions, persons, society or company, trust or association within India or abroad for the furtherance of the objective of the trust.
Our Trustees
Patrick Vaz
Manading Trustee- Degrees Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania with over 22 years in Design and Development of Truck Mounted Equipments.
- Experience Over 15 year's experience in volunteering and counselling of which about 8 years was at a suicide prevention helpline.
- ProgramsDiploma in Counselling Skills, Neuro-Linguistic Programming at an advanced level, and is a certified Gatekeeper in Suicide Prevention and is trained in Handling Anxiety Problems, certified Life skills, Health and Wellness coach (BUMHI) from NIMHANS.
- Training Cyber Bullying and Cyber Crimes, Relationship and Marital Counselling.
- Role Founder Member of Arpita Foundation and over sees day to day functioning of the Helpline along with the Administrative Trustee.
Dr. Kalyani Keerthi Giridhara
Administrative Trustee- Degrees B.Com, LLB, MA (Psychology) and Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
- Experience Over 15 years experience in volunteering and counselling. Coordinates with day to day functioning of the Helpline along with the Managing Trustee.
- ProgramsDiploma in Counselling Skills, is certified in Life skills, Health and Wellness (BUMHI) from NIMHANS, Play Therapist for the blind (Certified by Hadley’s School for the Blind, Illinois USA), Certified Gatekeeper for Suicide Prevention, Forensic Psychology and Offender Profiling.
- Training Cyber Bullying and Cyber Crimes. Over 10 years’ experience in volunteering and counselling of which about 8 years was at a suicide prevention helpline.
- Role Currently Clinical Psychologist at Arpita Foundation, Administrative Trustee/ Mentor/Coordinator for conducting seminars, workshops and internships for various programmes/ projects.