Sinhayana Foundation

Excerpts from an interview with Vinay Sharma, the Founder & CEO

What Made you start this NGO?

I used to run Dance studios in 2009 in Delhi, a bunch of Dance enthusiasts coming from financially weaker backgrounds requested me to give a free dance training as they could not afford to pay the fee. I liked how passionate they were and started teaching them without taking any fee as even I enjoyed teaching them. Back then I had not thought of any long term impact, but after a few years I had this realization that a very small contribution of sharing my knowledge had a life changing impact on them. They were making decent money for themselves as professional dancers/ choreographers and taking care of their families as well. This got me thinking that there are millions of children out there who have tremendous potential but are unable to pursue their passion, hurdled by the lack of resources. I believe there has to be a platform where money will not hold back any child's creative aspirations.

Why Dance as a cause?

Poverty is a massive problem and \Education is considered as the primary weapon to fight poverty. Unfortunately, just like music and theatre, dance is also not considered a mainstream part of the education system, but as a hobby or a luxury.

When students who have an aptitude towards arts do not get an opportunity or motivation to excel in it more, they are forced to follow the traditional patterns which do not allow them to use their skills and channel their energy. This energy build-up sometimes leads to negative outcomes, like stealing, drug abuse, and even mental crises.

Families belonging from lower socioeconomic conditions, prefer sending their children as child laborers or domestic workers to earn money, than ever thinking of sending them to learn art forms like dance, music, or theater.