A Dream Takes Root
For Ms. Manobi Deka, education has never been merely a profession — it has always been a mission. Since embarking on her teaching career in 1999, she nurtured a dream of making quality education accessible to children deprived of opportunities due to their social and economic circumstances. Her years of experience across diverse educational institutions only strengthened her conviction that education is the most powerful catalyst for social transformation.
The beginning of Ms. Manobi Deka's teaching journey in 1999.
Sparsh is Born
Driven by her vision, she founded SPARSH, a chain of preschools dedicated to holistic child development and value-based education. The first SPARSH centre was established in December 2007 on Mother Teresa Road, Guwahati, built on the enduring philosophy of "Man Making and Nation Building." It was envisioned not merely as a school, but as a nurturing space where children could grow into compassionate, confident, and responsible individuals.
Seeds of Social Impact
As SPARSH expanded, so did its commitment to social responsibility. The vision of serving underprivileged children through education was conceived as early as 2010. Under the guidance of Ms. Manobi Deka, the SPARSH team had already begun working with marginalised communities, conducting educational support activities and mentoring children years before the organisation was formally established.
Early educational support work with children and marginalised communities.
Yasashi Education Centre Opens
The Yasashi Education Centre began operating in Narangi Housing Colony in 2020, even before Yasashi Foundation was officially incorporated. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, it continued educating a handful of children with limited access to technology while providing mobile phones, food, and essential support. Recognising the need for a structured institution to expand this mission, the process of registering an NGO commenced.
The original centre at Narangi Housing Colony — humble beginnings with bamboo walls and boundless determination.
Yasashi Foundation is Incorporated
These efforts culminated in the incorporation of Yasashi Foundation, which was officially registered on 22 February 2021 as a Section 8 Company (CIN: U80301AS2021NPL021036), giving a formal identity to a mission that had already been transforming lives for more than a decade. The Foundation expanded rapidly, attracting volunteers, partners, and well-wishers committed to its mission.
The Yasashi Education Centre's early classroom, where the Foundation's mission took formal shape.
A New Home at Ghuligaon
After two years at Narangi Housing Colony, as the pandemic subsided, Yasashi Foundation relocated to a larger campus in Ghuligaon, Bonda. The new centre offered five classrooms, proper sanitation, and office space. Although enrolment initially remained low due to relocation, the Foundation arranged transportation support with donor assistance. Over the following years, student enrolment steadily increased.
The new campus at Ghuligaon — more space, more classrooms, more possibilities.
130 Students and Growing
Today, Yasashi Education Centre has evolved into a full-fledged non-formal school, providing quality education to 130 students from underserved communities. What began as a dream in a classroom has become a movement dedicated to empowering vulnerable children through education, ensuring that hope, opportunity, and learning reach those who need them the most.
