WHO ARE WE?

Reality Gives is the brainchild of Chris Way and Krishna Poojari. Chris hails from the UK but relocated to India in 2004 while Krishna is from Heranjalu, Karnataka but has been living in Mumbai for the past 13 years.

While the charity was only established in 2009, Chris and Krishna have been running Reality Tours & Travel, an ethical travel company, since 2005.

Reality Tours & Travel has always focused on showing the positive side of the slums, and Dharavi in particular, and using tour revenues they set up a Community Centre in 2007 to provide English and computer classes to the residents.

In 2009 Chris and Krishna decided to expand on their social work and established their own non-profit organisation that would focus on providing quality education to children from deprived backgrounds.

The charity Reality Gives was born based on the long talks they had with the community in Dharavi, and recognition that there was a need for additional kindergarten and schooling facilities in the area.

Chris, who has worked in a government school before in India, was introduced to Muktangan, an education-focused NGO who runs several schools in Mumbai. Their progressive, acclaimed model of teaching appealed to Chris and he was eager to replicate the Muktangan success in Dharavi.

With support from the residents, Krishna and Chris were able to open the first kindergarten in July 2009 in Dharavi.