Hands & Hearts

Hands & Hearts: Bloom’s First Event

On 5 September 2025, I experienced one of the most meaningful days of my life. As the cofounder of Bloom, I had the privilege of being present at our very first event, Hands & Hearts, held at Father Agnel’s Ashram in Bandra. It was a day that truly brought our vision to life: creating opportunities for learning, expression and growth.

We spent the day with about fifty boys, all full of energy, curiosity and enthusiasm. They ranged from 5th Grade to 10th Grade, so to make the activities more engaging, we divided them into two groups: the younger batch (5th to 7th) and the older batch (8th to 10th).

For the younger group, we focused on interactive and creative sessions. We began with mathematics, turning basic problem-solving into a lively team competition. Their excitement was infectious, and they cheered for one another as if it were a sport. The English session was all about storytelling. The boys built imaginative stories together, and I loved how their creativity took flight. The highlight, though, was the arts activity, a best out of waste challenge. I still remember one little boy proudly showing me a house he had crafted from discarded materials. His smile said it all: learning and creativity do not need expensive resources, just imagination.

The older group had a slightly different experience. Their general knowledge session revolved around India’s Constitution and the recent G20 Summit, and I was amazed at how curious and informed they were. Their questions and insights showed just how eager they were to understand the world around them. For English, we organised a debate on superheroes versus real-life heroes. Listening to them passionately argue for the importance of everyday heroes gave me chills; it was clear that these boys already understood values that matter deeply in real life.

One of my favourite moments came when a boy drew the Bloom logo, a sunflower with “Bloom” written on the side, and proudly presented it to us. That simple act made me realise that our efforts were already making a connection, that Bloom was no longer just an idea but something these children felt a part of.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the incredible team that stood by me. We had six volunteers and nine core team members working together, guiding, encouraging and supporting the boys at every step. Watching everyone come together for this shared purpose was as inspiring as watching the children learn and create.

We ended the day with something truly memorable: a handprint tree. Each boy dipped their hands in paint and pressed them onto a large sheet, forming a colourful tree of unity. Looking at it, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. That tree was not just art; it was a symbol of community, growth and the journey we are all on together.

Hands & Hearts was more than just Bloom’s first event. For me, it was a reminder of why we started Bloom in the first place, to make sure every child has the chance to learn, express and dream. This was only the beginning, and I cannot wait to see how far we can grow together.