MissionHelp children and their families by caring for current medical needs and enhancing generational family health through education, nutritional assistance, and vocational support.
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History
Save Kids Trust’s Founder and Executive director, Dr. Sharwan Saini was born into a marginalized family in the Indian state of Rajasthan. He decided to become doctor at the age of 9, when he learned that his mother was severely ill but couldn’t seek medical attention because his family could not afford it. Dr. Sharwan overcame great personal challenges and institutional hurdles to graduate from secondary school in India and attend medical school in Russia.
After finishing medical school in 2002, Dr. Sharwan returned to Jaipur, India, the capital city of his home state of Rajasthan, where he worked in a private hospital. Near the hospital was an informal housing settlement that Dr. Sharwan started visiting after completing his hospital duties. He was moved by the large number of people suffering from tuberculosis and convinced the leadership of his private hospital to offer free tuberculosis treatments. Thus, began the work of Save Kids Trust as Dr. Sharwan’s life’s calling. Dr. Sharwan moved to New Delhi in 2003 to work in a different hospital. The early work of Save Kids Trust in New Delhi was exemplified by “pop-up” medical clinics for children in informal housing settlements. These medical clinics were one or two evening events where Dr. Sharwan and volunteers would set up tables and treat long lines of local residents for a wide variety of ailments. |
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Dr. Sharwan quickly recognized that a focus on childrens’ medical health alone was not sufficient to fully enable their well-being. He saw first-hand that the health and safety of the children required medical support for the child’s family and educational support for the children that would allow them to learn and grow in the local government schools. Motivated by that understanding, Dr. Sharwan started several after school programs for children in the same informal settlements as the “pop-up” clinics to teach basic skills like sitting quietly, raising hands, standing in lines, and basic hygiene. The steady presence of the after-school programs helped build trust in the communities which, in turn, attracted complete families to the medical clinics.
Save Kids Trust was officially recognized by the Indian government as a charitable trust in 2007. That same year, Dr. Sharwan married Dr. Rinku Saini and in 2011, they moved from New Delhi back to Jaipur. In the ensuing years, as Save Kids Trust focused its work in Jaipur, management of the educational and medical programs in New Delhi was shifted to other local and like-minded organizations.
It was in 2010 that Dr. Sharwan established the 20,000 in 2020 goal for Save Kids Trust to provide ongoing medical care to 20,000 people by 2020. Save Kids Trust opened its first full-time, “bricks and mortar” medical clinic in Jaipur in 2012, in the very same housing settlement where Dr. Sharwan first worked with tuberculosis patients “after hours” in 2002. Some of the children Dr. Sharwan had served in 2002 were now married and with children of their own, and they were overjoyed at his return and establishment of a full-time clinic.
More than 10,000 people are now served from that one clinic in Jaipur. Save Kids Trust has since opened two more clinics in Jaipur and the collective impact of the three clinics is a realization of the 20,000 in 2020 dream! Save Kids Trust in Jaipur now includes 11 staff members, including five doctors, all of whom receive honorariums for their volunteer work.
To build on the solid and impactful foundation formed over the last decade, and to reach as many people as possible in the next decade, Save Kids Trust USA, a 501(c)(3) corporation, was formed in 2020. Save Kids Trust USA will focus on partner and resource development to support the growth of Save Kids Trust India.
We hope you will join us as Save Kids Trust reaches out with healthcare and education to improve the lives of more kids in and near Jaipur, India.
Save Kids Trust was officially recognized by the Indian government as a charitable trust in 2007. That same year, Dr. Sharwan married Dr. Rinku Saini and in 2011, they moved from New Delhi back to Jaipur. In the ensuing years, as Save Kids Trust focused its work in Jaipur, management of the educational and medical programs in New Delhi was shifted to other local and like-minded organizations.
It was in 2010 that Dr. Sharwan established the 20,000 in 2020 goal for Save Kids Trust to provide ongoing medical care to 20,000 people by 2020. Save Kids Trust opened its first full-time, “bricks and mortar” medical clinic in Jaipur in 2012, in the very same housing settlement where Dr. Sharwan first worked with tuberculosis patients “after hours” in 2002. Some of the children Dr. Sharwan had served in 2002 were now married and with children of their own, and they were overjoyed at his return and establishment of a full-time clinic.
More than 10,000 people are now served from that one clinic in Jaipur. Save Kids Trust has since opened two more clinics in Jaipur and the collective impact of the three clinics is a realization of the 20,000 in 2020 dream! Save Kids Trust in Jaipur now includes 11 staff members, including five doctors, all of whom receive honorariums for their volunteer work.
To build on the solid and impactful foundation formed over the last decade, and to reach as many people as possible in the next decade, Save Kids Trust USA, a 501(c)(3) corporation, was formed in 2020. Save Kids Trust USA will focus on partner and resource development to support the growth of Save Kids Trust India.
We hope you will join us as Save Kids Trust reaches out with healthcare and education to improve the lives of more kids in and near Jaipur, India.
Our Teams!
SKT India Team
Dr. Sharwan Saini
Executive Director, India Dr. Saini is the Founder and Executive Director of Save Kids Trust in India. He and his family live in Jaipur, India where he coordinates all Save Kids Trust clinics, staff, and projects. Dr. Sharwan is supported by his pediatrician wife, Dr. Rinku Saini, who also gives her time and skills to Save Kids Trust. |
Our three brick and mortar clinics are staffed with 1-2 Doctors, 1-2 Nurses, and one female Patient Care Liaison (who lives in the local community).
Street Clinics are staffed by clinic professionals and trained volunteers. Community Education workshops are staffed by Dr. Saini, Dr. Rinku, clinic professionals, and local & international expert volunteers. For more photos of our staff and volunteers, look through our SKT Stories! |
SKT USA Team
Donna ShivelyPresident, US Mrs. Shively’s background is in education where she obtained multiple advanced degrees, gained numerous years’ of classroom experience, led schools through accreditation, and headed private schools both in the US and India. Her experience in India launched her into the American non-profit world. |
Paul SinghBoard Member, US Mr. Singh holds dual citizenship in India and the United States. He is an education consultant with a degree in global leadership. His focus and passion is next-gen leadership development. He met Dr. Sharwan in India in 2009 and highly respects Save Kids Trust mission. |
Martin ShivelyBoard Member, US Mr. Shively has degrees in engineering and law and has more than 35 years of business experience, the most recent 21 years with Microsoft Corporation leading teams in various areas including intellectual property and immigration. He lived with his family and worked in New Delhi, India for 3 years, where he first had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Saini. |
Kurt WrightBoard Member, US Mr. Wright has spent the majority of his life as an engineer in the water & wastewater industry. Mr. Wright and his wife Stephanie have played an active role in their local church in positions of leadership and music. Mr. Wright first met the Saini’s during a mission trip to Cambodia in 2009 where they became lifelong friends. Mr. and Mrs. Wright desire to help the Saini’s with their ministry to the needy children of India. |
Steve DobsonBoard Member, UK Mr. Dobson worked in the after sales department of the construction machinery manufacturing industry and spent almost half of his working life overseas. This included 2 periods in India, firstly for 2 years in the late 1980’s and secondly for 5 years from 2006, where he met Dr Sharwan in Delhi. Steve and his wife, Anne, are involved in their local church and maintain an interest in overseas development work. |
Governance
Save Kids Trust India is the operational center of our work. As a Public Charitable Social Trust, Save Kids Trust is recognized by and registered with the Indian government.
Save Kids Trust USA is the funding and administrative hub of our work with a focus on resource and partnership development. Save Kids Trust USA is a registered 501(1)(c)(3): all donations are income-tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Save Kids Trust USA is the funding and administrative hub of our work with a focus on resource and partnership development. Save Kids Trust USA is a registered 501(1)(c)(3): all donations are income-tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
