How it all started
It all began with a dream held close since childhood. Growing up in India, Shiva wanted to change the world, deeply moved by the plight of homeless children and envisioning an orphanage. While early attempts were met with skepticism by her family and her limited resources, her passion found a renewed spark when she connected with Arin. Together, they channeled their efforts into helping the less fortunate in Kolkata. However, life's demands soon required their philanthropic pursuits to be put on hold as they focused on careers and settling down. After marrying Arin, Shiva eventually migrated to Canada.
Even across continents, Shiva's commitment never wavered. She continued to dedicate her time to various local charities and supported organizations globally, all the while nurturing her original dream. Her unwavering devotion, sincerity, and profound desire to help were eventually recognized, opening the door to a truly transformative opportunity: connecting her with the remote village of Thakurganj, Pathamari in Nepal.
This farming community was isolated, lacking even the most basic necessities like clean water, sanitation, electricity, a school, or healthcare. The only access was a challenging 45-minute trek from the nearest town. But for Shiva, it was a call to action. In 2014, she and Arin visited Pathamari, their hearts touched by the warm welcome, the village's natural beauty, and the community's simple way of life. This profound experience ignited a fierce determination. They started a small school with just 10 children, undeterred by the inevitable hurdles.
Their efforts quickly gained the enthusiastic support of friends and family who wanted to help. A friend immediately sponsored another 10 children, and together, they funded the construction of a new school building. With the steadfast support of friends and community, Shiva continued to expand the school, which now serves 35 students. They’ve added a school extension and, most importantly, brought clean drinking water to the entire community through three deep well projects. Shiva's relentless work has since seen "Born to Live" evolve from a small Not-for-Profit to a registered Canadian Charitable Organization.
Born to Live is a powerful testament of a dream come true! We now work with children in both Medinipur, India, and Pathamari, Nepal. Our hope is to continue to provide opportunities to underprivileged children, support their education and bring about positive change in a child’s life. We believe that education can transform lives and promote change by breaking cycles of poverty, creating opportunities for successful futures. We invite you to join and support us in our journey.
