Every child deserves a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. As a volunteer with I Light Global, I work with a passionate team devoted to protecting and advancing children’s rights. Together, we aim to build a world where every child can learn, grow, and achieve their full potential.

Children’s rights are not privileges. They are basic human rights that guarantee safety, education, health, and dignity. When these rights are protected, children gain the foundation they need to become responsible, capable adults who contribute meaningfully to society.

​Access to education without discrimination, Protection from exploitation and abuse, Access to healthcare and nutrition, Participation in decisions that shape their lives.

​Despite global efforts, many children continue to face difficult realities, millions lack access to proper education, Malnutrition remains a leading cause of preventable deaths, child labor robs many of their childhood, violence and neglect continue to threaten physical and mental well-being.

I Light Global focuses on practical and sustainable action. Our initiatives aim to:

• Advocate for stronger child protection policies.
• Collaborate with local communities to promote education and healthcare access.
• Raise awareness through campaigns and outreach programs.
• Encourage children to speak up and become active participants in change.
• Through workshops, awareness drives, and partnerships, we work to ensure that children’s voices are heard and respected.

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​Every step counts. You can contribute by:
​Volunteering your time and skills, supporting our ongoing projects, sharing our mission with your community, and speaking up for children’s rights in local and national discussions.
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Children are the future, and their future depends on the actions we take today. Join I Light Global in our mission to protect and empower children everywhere.
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When I joined I Light Global, one of the things that moved me most was seeing the photos and stories that teachers and volunteers share from their art lessons with migrant children. I haven’t been in the classroom myself, but I often look at the children’s drawings and each post feels something truly special. You can see joy, pride, and a quiet confidence shining in those young eyes. And that made me think deeply about how art helps children build self-esteem, how something as simple as a drawing can become a step toward believing in themselves again.

For many migrant children, life has not been simple. They’ve experienced big changes, uncertainty, and sometimes loss. In this context, art becomes more than just an activity; it becomes a safe and beautiful way to rebuild confidence. A blank page offers freedom, a space where they can make something that belongs completely to them. They choose the colors, the shapes, the story. No one tells them it’s wrong. That small freedom gently whispers, “You are capable. You can make something beautiful with your own hands.”

What moves me most is how art gives children visible proof of their ability. When they finish a drawing or painting, they can look at it and think, “I did this.” It might sound simple, but for a child who has felt powerless or overlooked, that realization is powerful. Step by step, line by line, they start to believe in their own ideas and in their own worth — not because someone gives it to them, but because they create it themselves. 

Art also teaches patience and pride. Children learn that good things take time, that something wonderful can grow if they stay with it. And when a teacher or volunteer notices their work, when someone looks closely, smiles, and says, “That’s beautiful,” or “Tell me about your picture,” you can see their faces change. Their eyes light up, their posture straightens, and they smile with pride. In that moment, they feel seen, valued, and proud of who they are.

​In all these shared moments from the art lessons, I see much more than paper and paint. I see confidence growing quietly, trust being rebuilt, and children learning that they have a voice and a spark that no one can take away. ​

Art may seem simple, but it holds a deep power. It helps children rediscover the courage to say, “I can.” It reminds them that their ideas matter, their efforts matter, and that they matter, too. 

​Introduction: I Light Global is a U.S.-based charity founded by Dr. Rajeev and renowned Indian artist Dalip Chandolia, beginning with art projects for children who were out of school. The initiative was initially met with skepticism, as using art to encourage children to return to education was a new and experimental idea.

When I first met with Dr. Rajeev and Tatiana at I Light Global, Dr. Rajeev explained that some people doubted the value of the art lessons offered to migrant children, not because the lessons or methods were lacking, but because they believed the children should focus on learning to read and count. Of course, reading and math are essential for any child’s education, but art also holds a special place in nurturing creativity and emotional growth. After witnessing firsthand the beautiful, caring, and inspiring work the volunteers and teachers were doing with the children, I was deeply moved. That experience inspired me to write this article.

Art, a way of connection between migrant children and the volunteers and teachers.

One of the greatest strengths of art is its simplicity, it demands only curiosity, time, and a space to create. For communities where opportunities are limited, for migrant children, art classes can be very important. They offer children a place to belong, a place of equality, a place where you can tell your story through art, a place to express yourself and to discover your desires, and most importantly a place to connect.

For us adults, volunteers and teachers, art becomes a beautiful way to listen, not through interrogation and correction, but through observation. A teacher who looks closely at a child’s drawing learns to read more than lines and colors; they learn to recognize emotion, imagination, and longing. At that moment, the adult is not an authority figure, but someone who says, “I see you” , “ I understand you” , “ I feel you”.

This kind of listening for us volunteers, strange people for them, is powerful and essential because it creates connection without pressure. A child who cannot find words for sadness might paint a storm, rain, to use a lot of cold colors, straight lines or not to use colors at all. One who dreams of safety might draw a house surrounded by trees. A child who dreams and is optimistic, uses a lot of warm and bright colors, sun and rainbow. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to 2 trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. And most importantly, through these moments of creation and connection, the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud. They confirm that the child’s inner world matters and that their emotions and desires are worthy of attention.

For many children, especially for migrant children, the volunteer who encourages their creativity becomes more than just their teacher, but a listener and a mentor who discovers the child’s inner world. Art classes at I Light Global, is more than just drawing, it is a quiet dialogue between us, the volunteers and the migrant children. And most importantly the children begin to trust that their voices matter, even when they are not spoken aloud.

After that, a teacher from Germany, Ms. Tatiana, joined the class through a video call. She asked the children questions in English, showed them pictures from a book, and talked about different animals. She asked them to identify the animals and encouraged them.

Later, I had brought chocolates for the children, and we happily ended the class session by distributing them. The children were very happy with this session.

I hope more volunteers will join us and connect to the needs of children. We can be contacted via email - ilightcmns@gmail.com.

The branch is under the caring support of Rekha Dogra

I Light Global currently operates across India and has around 20 branches.

The number keeps growing as soon as we get a sponsor for a new space (someone offers a room in the house, a cabinet in the office, or a space in the garden)
and a volunteer feeling inspired to make the life of underprivileged children better.

At I LIGHT GLOBAL it is all about the children! But with this set of posts we would like to also show appreciation to the adults with big hearts who make this project possible 👋

Their dedication to empowering local children is truly inspiring. It's great to see individuals taking proactive steps to address educational disparities in their community.
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​That's fantastic! It sounds like the Global Volunteers Day online event was
a huge success, with inspiring stories and insights shared by volunteers
from around the world, including Dr. Rajeev Nagpal, Tatiana, and Juan. The
creation of storybooks based on true life stories of volunteers and
children is a wonderful way to highlight the impact of volunteer work.

It's pleasing to hear that the event featured keynote speakers like Manju.
Kharbanda, Ram Onkar, and Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, who shared their experiences
and the positive impact of the NGO's work on children's lives. The enthusiasm and commitment of these speakers are sure to inspire others to get involved.

The fact that the speakers are planning to have similar discussions in the
future is a great sign of the event's success and the ongoing commitment to
making a difference. I commend the organizers and participants for their efforts in making this event successful!