The volunteer association Frame Project OdV was founded in 2013 with the aim of supporting children in need without distinction of religion, race, or culture. It also works to promote dialogue, social inclusion, mediation, and fruitful exchange between different cultures, with young people playing a central role.
In particular, over the years, it has supported the Good Samaritan Mission in Mumbai, founded in 1994 by Indian missionary Peter Paul Raj in the slum area of Vikhroli. The mission runs a residential facility of family homes that hosts street children, orphans, or semi-orphans, offering them a safe place to grow up, form bonds of affection, and receive essential education as part of a life project away from poverty and social hardship.
The Good Samaritan Mission manages three children’s ashrams in Mumbai, one in Kalambooly (Navi Mumbai), and one in Kalyan: Silvano Shanti Ashram, located in a rural area far from the city center (see image 1).
Context Analysis
Kalyan and the “Silvano Shanti Ashram”
Only 34 kilometers from Vikhroli, the Mumbai neighborhood that houses the historic homes of the Good Samaritan Mission, lies Silvano Shanti Ashram. Located near the city of Kalyan, the facility, surrounded by nature, overlooks the banks of the Ulhas River. Despite its calm and green surroundings, the area faces deep environmental and social challenges that directly affect the local community.
Environmental Context:
The Ulhas River, which also flows through the city of Kalyan, is in critical condition due to pollution from industrial discharges and domestic waste. Environmental degradation has led to increasing mobilization by residents, activists, and local associations concerned about water quality and the damage to the river ecosystem.
Social Context:
In this setting, Silvano Shanti Ashram was founded in 2004 as a shelter initially intended for adults with severe physical and mental disabilities. Over time, the facility resisted difficult conditions, even though humidity and heavy monsoon rains gradually damaged its foundations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the commitment of Peter Paul and the support of Frame Project and Italian donors, the ashram was renovated and adapted to host children. In 2022, one of the two original cottages was expanded, and a new building was constructed to house accommodations, bathrooms, and a meditation space. In 2024, fencing work was completed, including a perimeter wall and a drainage system for rainwater during the monsoon season.
Current Activities and Hosting of Children:
The ashram’s current goal is to host about 30 children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 16. At present, 15 children are living there, cared for by three adults who grew up in the mission’s homes in Vikhroli and now manage the daily life of the house: education, play, hygiene, cooking, and family visits. In the coming months, between 10 and 15 more children are expected to arrive, some of whom come from one of the three houses in Vikhroli that is slated for demolition: Bal Niwas. This structure will be torn down in November by order of the Indian government to make room for the construction of a 25-story luxury building.
Needs Assessment:
With the expansion of the Kalyan ashram and the expected arrival of more children, the issue of school transportation has become critical.
The vehicle currently in use was originally a small ambulance (see image 2).
In the absence of alternatives, it was temporarily adapted as a school bus. However, it has a very limited capacity and cannot transport all the children in a single trip. Moreover, it is not designed for school transport and is therefore unsafe for daily journeys.
The schools the children attend are about a 30-minute walk from the house. The route is dangerous, as it crosses a heavily trafficked road without sidewalks or proper signage.
The urgent goal is to purchase a 20-seater schoolbus, which will be dedicated to transporting children to and from school.
Beneficiaries:
The school bus will primarily serve the children and adolescents hosted at Silvano Shanti Ashram. It is expected that between 25 and 30 residents will directly benefit, considering that not all of them attend the same school and that class schedules are spread across different times of the day. Thanks to a rotation system, the number of seats will be sufficient, allowing transport to be organized efficiently while ensuring that all children can access education safely.
Beyond daily school transport, the vehicle will also be used for:
- medical visits to local hospitals and clinics;
- educational and recreational activities outside the city;
- excursions into nature for children living in the other Good Samaritan Mission facilities in Vikhroli, giving them the chance to spend days away from Mumbai’s smog and noise.
These outings represent a valuable opportunity for children growing up in densely populated urban contexts, contributing to their psychological and physical well-being and strengthening the community bonds among the mission’s various homes.
Fundraising
Frame Project OdV is therefore promoting a fundraising campaign to purchase the school bus, confident that the generosity and solidarity of donors will make it possible to reach the goal by Christmas.
The estimated cost of the vehicle is about 1,900,000 Indian rupees, equivalent to around 18,000 euros.
The vehicle chosen is a Force Traveller (see images 3 and 4), one of the most widely used models in India for passenger transport, often employed as a school bus.
As of October 2025, we have raised about 3,000 euros.
With your help, we can reach the goal!
Frame Project ODV, Bank transfer
IBAN: IT90T0840450240000000000738
A school bus for GSM’s children
