About US
About Team Vision Foundation
Team Vision Foundation, initiated by a group of young individuals in July 2013, began its journey to support Visually Challenged Students by organizing readers & writers for their exams.
With its endeavors extending beyond academic support to the visually challenged, our organization works towards comprehensive and holistic empowerment through a range of activities like Internship programs, Personality Development workshops, Cultural Events and Treks. We have also established an audio library which has helped hundreds of enthusiastic readers gain access to their favorite reading material. Our organization aspires to create a future where every visually challenged person thrives in an independent and inclusive environment. We are registered as a Team Vision Foundation under The Societies Registration Act 1860.
With its endeavors extending beyond academic support to the visually challenged, our organization works towards comprehensive and holistic empowerment through a range of activities like Internship programs, Personality Development workshops, Cultural Events and Treks. We have also established an audio library which has helped hundreds of enthusiastic readers gain access to their favorite reading material. Our organization aspires to create a future where every visually challenged person thrives in an independent and inclusive environment. We are registered as a Team Vision Foundation under The Societies Registration Act 1860.
Our Vision
A future where every visually challenged individual is independent and experiences an inclusive environment.
Our Mission
- Create a safe space for every Visually Challenged Individual to explore their own abilities with a holistic approach.
- Inculcate awareness and sensitize people towards the world of Visually Challenged to build an inclusive environment.
- Develop academic resources for Visually Challenged Students to fulfill their educational requirements with a focus on skill-building and development through training and workshops.
- Generate awareness to prevent avoidable blindness and extend support towards a cure
- Utilize advanced technology to make the world accessible to the Visually Challenged.
Core Values
- Empathy – Acknowledging the worldview of a person by keeping in mind their real-life situations.
- Humility – Developing a patient, calm and humble approach to build an inclusive atmosphere.
- Authenticity – Bringing Congruence between thought and actions to serve the goal.
- Perseverance – Persistence in doing something that you believe in, despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
- Adaptability – Being open to learning and accepting new challenges on the way.
Meet our passionate team
Sandesh Bhingarde
Co-Founder and Chief Functionary
Sandesh’s tryst with Social Work began during his NSS volunteering days at his undergrad college. The interactions he had with his visually impaired peers moved him to work with them.
Post his graduation, he joined the prestigious India Fellowship (February 2018 cohort). As a fellow himself, he offered his full-time service at Shiksharth Trust. Located in the remote district of Sukma, Chattisgarh, Sandesh facilitated the “Back to School” Program which strived to provide quality education to the children of conflict-affected tribal areas. With a strong goal in mind and a myriad of dynamic ideas, Sandesh believes that every person should be empowered enough to stand up for themselves. He is a realist with a go-getter attitude. When not performing his duties as Chief functionary at Team Vision, Sandesh can be found doodling or backpacking around the country and garnering dynamic life experiences.
Post his graduation, he joined the prestigious India Fellowship (February 2018 cohort). As a fellow himself, he offered his full-time service at Shiksharth Trust. Located in the remote district of Sukma, Chattisgarh, Sandesh facilitated the “Back to School” Program which strived to provide quality education to the children of conflict-affected tribal areas. With a strong goal in mind and a myriad of dynamic ideas, Sandesh believes that every person should be empowered enough to stand up for themselves. He is a realist with a go-getter attitude. When not performing his duties as Chief functionary at Team Vision, Sandesh can be found doodling or backpacking around the country and garnering dynamic life experiences.
Pradnya Patel
Co-founder, Vice-President
Pradnya Patel, the Co-founder and Vice President of Team Vision Foundation, shares that she encountered numerous obstacles during her own academic years which acted as an impetus for her to resolve such impediments for the generations to come. However, she emphasizes that it is their aspiration to resolve such difficulties for the generations to come. Being visually challenged herself, strongly believes that it’s just a ‘visual challenge’ which can certainly be overcome with strong determination, consistent efforts, and a little support.
In addition to her role in Team Vision Foundation, Pradnya Patel is a remarkable individual with notable achievements. She holds the distinction of being a javelin throw gold medalist, a national-level swimmer, and a performing artist. Since 2012, she has been working as a business associate with a reputed bank in Mumbai.
In addition to her role in Team Vision Foundation, Pradnya Patel is a remarkable individual with notable achievements. She holds the distinction of being a javelin throw gold medalist, a national-level swimmer, and a performing artist. Since 2012, she has been working as a business associate with a reputed bank in Mumbai.
Rutuja Shinde
Secretary
Rutuja Shinde, filled with relentless discipline and natural leadership, is the Secretary of Team Vision Foundation.
Starting off just at the age of 16, she was the youngest volunteer to be involved in creation of Team Vision and has earned herself the title of ‘One Woman Army’ by handling crucial tasks like gathering volunteers, organizing treks and other cultural events. She also supervises the documentation and event management at Team Vision. While volunteering is her passion she is a professional German language teacher at a reputed international school.
Starting off just at the age of 16, she was the youngest volunteer to be involved in creation of Team Vision and has earned herself the title of ‘One Woman Army’ by handling crucial tasks like gathering volunteers, organizing treks and other cultural events. She also supervises the documentation and event management at Team Vision. While volunteering is her passion she is a professional German language teacher at a reputed international school.
Abhay Patil
Joint-Secretary
“I always enjoyed reading books but used to struggle with the limited availability of accessible resources. It then occurred to me that there must be plenty of people who face the same problem. So with that in mind, I came up with the idea of an Audio Library.”
A strong-headed and ingenious member, Abhay Patil, took the initiative to set up the Audio Library with the goal of making books accessible to the visually challenged. He has been successfully handling the Audio Library project since 2017. He works full-time as an associate in one of the top banks in Mumbai.
A strong-headed and ingenious member, Abhay Patil, took the initiative to set up the Audio Library with the goal of making books accessible to the visually challenged. He has been successfully handling the Audio Library project since 2017. He works full-time as an associate in one of the top banks in Mumbai.
Pavithra Ramaswamy
Treasurer
Pavithra Ramaswamy was inspired to volunteer for a good cause by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s ‘Vision 2020’ . She mentions, “Working with the Visually Challenged motivates me to work even harder, leave my comfort zones, accept challenges and be persistent in what I do.”
Pavithra has been working with Multinational Investment Bank since 2015, making her an apt Treasurer. She decidedly looks after the finance but with that, her empathetic vision extends to the problems of the Visually Challenged as well as Sighted Volunteers. Her analytical and critical thinking abilities, firmness, perseverance and active support push the gears in all Team Vision activity.
Pavithra has been working with Multinational Investment Bank since 2015, making her an apt Treasurer. She decidedly looks after the finance but with that, her empathetic vision extends to the problems of the Visually Challenged as well as Sighted Volunteers. Her analytical and critical thinking abilities, firmness, perseverance and active support push the gears in all Team Vision activity.
Shubham Mahajan
Audio Library coordinator
Shubham came to Mumbai with his enthusiasm to learn, explore and it. He is a man whose actions speak louder than words. He immersed himself in the Audio Library project of Team Vision Foundation and plays a key role in the selection of books, coordination with other audiobook libraries, and managing the coordinator’s team. He loves music and excels at playing Harmonium. Along with being the Project Manager of the Audio Library, he currently works at a bank.
Archana Deshpande
State coordinator – Maharashtra
Archana Deshpande works as a coordinator for the Pune-Nashik region and manages all requirements of the Visually Challenged students in this area as a core member of Team Vision.
Archana is an Engineer by profession and a homemaker by choice. She has an undeterred spirit and actively involves herself to support Team Vision’s activities. Archana is an inspiration herself, as she has grabbed every opportunity of being a writer for the visually challenged students that came her way and encouraged them to achieve their dreams.
Besides helping Pune and Nashik students with their exams, Archana also helps Team Vision cater to requirements from other cities like Aurangabad and Hyderabad. Arranging for eligible writers in different languages is another challenge that she takes upon with full grace. Besides English, Marathi, and Hindi, she has helped Team Vision source writers for German language exam projects. Archana loves to keep in touch with the students and gets great satisfaction when they share their career achievements with her.