THF Board of Trustees

About The Team and

Leadership

The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) trustees has the privilege to serve humanity and jointly share the responsibility of determining the organization's vision and mission, designed its strategic direction and shaping its values and character.

Board of Trustees 

Chinkholal Thangsing, THF Founder President and CEO is a recipient of the prestigious The Royal Order of Sahametrei awarded by the Royal Government of Cambodia in 2008 for distinguished humanitarian work in the field of HIVAIDS and public health in Cambodia and the prestigious Karmaveer Purushkaar awarded by Indian Confederation of NGOs in 2009. A Postgraduate Fellow of the Christian Academy of Medical Sciences has dedicated his personal resources and professional career for medical, social and humanitarian services for over the last twenty-five years. He provides, preach and advocates kindness and compassionate care especially for the underserved and unserved tirelessly building their confidence, restore their health, their hope and dignity. Dr Thangsing’s started the humanitarian touch in his medical practice since late 1980’s. He initiated HIVAIDS care services in 1990 after encountering the plight of many people battling HIV and dying of AIDS. He established and nurtured various non-profit organizations in India and Internationally. He established Agency for Community Care and Development and headed programs for various national and international organizations, heading the first AIDS care center in Delhi, Medical Director of Sahara, Sharan, Naz Foundation, Director HIV Project, Action India Trust, Director of HIV Programs of Project Concern International and formed AIDS Care Physician Alliance. His career expanded from treating patients and providing guidance on HIV prevention and treatment in India, Pakistan and other countries in Asia. He was the Chief, Asia Pacific Bureau of AIDS Healthcare Foundation overseeing the conception, birth and growth of the life saving programs in India, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Nepal and Thailand. He forged strong collaboration and create public private participation in the global fight against HIVAIDS and formed networks, linkages and joint programs working closely with National. He holds numerous professional positions multitasking and managed complex healthcare programs across multi sectoral, multi cultural palette with different disciplines as technical specialist, strategist, administrator, clinical expert, mentor, consultant, public health specialist, engaged in building skills and capacity of both staff and organizations working closely with ministries of health in the Asia Pacific region. He set up over forty HIV clinics and AIDS care centers, which deliver exceptional high quality care services. He is on various boards and committees of Indian and International organizations. Dr Thangsing travels and lectures extensively bringing in human face in the global fight for HIVAIDS globally and promote health, healing and hope in its fullness for all.

                                     

 Sandip Deb, THF Trustee is Chief Medical Officer, Central Government Health Services. Dr Deb graduated from the North Eastern Regional Medical College in Manipur and obtained a postgraduate degree in Radiation Medicine at RMC, Babha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, India and also trained in Disasters Management. He worked in various healthcare services as medical officer providing services for the Indian Armed forces in the interiors of northeastern states of India. He moved to New Delhi in the mid nineties and currently serves in the Central Government Health Services as Chief Medical Officer. He devotedly works for the welfare of the community committed his time for social cause. He lends a voice in the public sector for quality changes in the healthcare systems. He always made himself available for community and help provides charitable and humanitarian services for the poor and needy. He was trained in HIVAIDS and had undergone hands on training and TOT on the treatment care and management of HIVAIDS programs in 2005, in Los Angeles, US under the guidance and mentorship of Dr Charles Farthing, MD the President of Helping AIDS in resource poor areas (HARPA). The HIVAIDS training contributed significantly to enhancing his skills and commitment towards providing support to NGOs working in field of HIVAIDS. He dedicated and volunteers his professional skills to the services of the common man and for non-profit organizations services since 1998. He is a firm believer of health for all. He is softly outspoken promoting changes in public health while extending a continuous helping hand for social upliftment and community betterment He strive in his own modest way to bring health equity and justice for all section of society. He put his best foot forward to do well for others and aggressively spread the message of hope to the poor and the needy.

                                                         

Sumit Osmand Shaw, THF Trustee is Creative Director, Singer, Producer - a young and exceptionally dedicated filmmaker, director and the founder of Baanyan Tree Productions house. He writes, composed songs, sings, directs and generates creative and innovative educational films for various non-governmental organizations and the governmental sector in India. He made huge contribution and offers his talents to many organizations. He had earlier headed BBC World Service Trust as its creative head in film and documentary productions. Sumit is a member of various bodies involved in film and documentary making. He is a member of Agenda Wannabe, Phonethics, Media Monks, Studio Mahatta in the span of last twelve years. Sumit is a recipient of many prestigious awards and laurels for his creative works. He was the winner of the India Tele Awards in 2004, Radio Mirchi Kaan Awards 2004. Asia Television Awards, Singapore in 2006. Cartoon on the Bay Pulcinella award in 2008. He is a visionary and has been a strong pillar in transforming of dreams into realities. His extensive involvement and experiences in the commercial sector of film making and advertising help in setting higher and newer standards for the social sector as well. His works included making of short documentaries, various public services announcements and work with renowned personalities such as like Amitabh Bachan, Anil Kapoor, Sushmita Sen, R. Madhavan, Hritikh Roshan, Shatrughan Sinha,  Rajpal Yadav, Verendra Sehwag. He is making a mark in the Bollywood industries and his passion and zeal for creative, life stirring messages is gradually expanding exponentially in the film industry.

THF Hope Projects

THF Abundant Life Projects is a humanitarian hope project designed to bring an abundant life to those we serve that offer an opportunity to better their lives, empower them and make them self-reliant. The Abundant Life Project is a livelihood, Income generation project (IGP) project to enable the poor and those in extreme need, HIVAIDS infected, affected family members, AIDS widows. The project will assist them to combine their domestic responsibilities with income generation. THF promote livelihoods and entrepreneurial initiatives and help by setting up support systems to market the products and set up shops and purchase local handloom and handicraft products, vegetables and food items and other products from the community. The enrolled members will generate an increase and better financial health, build their confidence, enhanced business skills and enable each of them to achieve their goals and aspirations. The current Abundant Life Projects are:

THF Micro-finance: The foundation’s microcredit program involves provision of small loans (between INR 2000 to INR 15000) provided to individuals and cooperatives, self help groups without any collateral at subsidized and low rates of interest. The microcredit and finance will be provided to both urban dwellers and those living in the hard-to-reach rural areas where The Touch of Hope Foundation operates. Microcredit and basic business training enable individuals to build small businesses, which motivate and empower them and provided a way to break free from the shackles of extreme poverty. The rise and increased in income give the clients to receive better care of themselves such as regular nutritious food, improved housing and support for education of their children and lead better lives.

THF Micro-enterprise: The THF will support small micro businesses from start-ups focused particularly with microenterprises ventures operated by women. The THF proposed to support represent a wide array of businesses such as agriculture-based ventures like providing pumps and kits for irrigation, cows for milk production, bees for honey, grain preparation and trading. Commercial ventures such as bakery, handloom and handicrafts, cooking stoves, small grocery shops, market stalls and transport services. THF will ensure the proper training of the borrowers to increase their business skills and assist them to run their own business by selling their products to generate income and opportunity to fulfill their dreams. The community members will be encourage to produce a range of goods such as hand embroidered scarves, bags, T-shirts, cushion covers, jewelry, and clothing for men, women and children which will be marketed through various means and outlets.

Dairy: THF will provide micro loan or in kind - a milch cow to members of affected family. According to the capacity and capability of the family and the availability of funds a support of more that one cow can be considered for a family. The self help groups and community members will help in selling of milk and its products.

Farm Product: THF will lobby and collaborate with farm owners where a special subsidized farm products at wholesale rates or lower will be provided to women enrolled under the THF Abundant Life Farm Project and market the products at local bazar, markets and selling them form house to house. The farm products such as Chilies, brinjals, ladyfingers, gourds, beans, onions, lemons, pineapple, passion fruits and other vegetables will be part of the project.

Handloom and Handicrafts: The Foundation encourages, engages and recruits women with basic weaving skills and those with experience in handloom and handicrafts production and to embark producing designer cloths and other materials for sale. THF will invest in getting materials for production and will provide them to registered workers who will work on the production of the goods. The foundation will the pay them the cost of labor at par with the local market rates and will market the products through various outlets which will then be reinvested to help more people received an opportunity to generate income.

Piggery: THF provide micro loans or in kind support in the form of piglets for piggery farming. The potential recipients of loans and those with experience and in confidence of running a small piggery farms will be provided the loan to help purchase piglets, cost to erect an enclosure for the pigs and feeds for a initial few start up months. A co-operative of women groups, self-help groups may be provided piglets to run piggery farms as a joint venture. The foundation will charge minimal interest at the year-end and will recover the cost of the piglet and pass on the opportunity to another client to rear pigs and continue the chain of income generation while gradually expanding the number of people provided assistance.

Self Help Groups: THF Abundant Life Project works with the poor by establishing self-help groups. The members of THF self help groups meet on a bi-weekly and monthly basis and are self manage by its members. Each group member contributes a small pre-determined amount of saving at each of the meetings. The pooled savings are then secure to provided an opportunity for the group members to avail loans with minimal interest from the internal lending pool. THF make available loans only to groups and not to individuals currently to address accountability and to ensure successful repayment of loans that will build confidence, self-reliance and since of achievement and empowerment amongst the team members.

Give us your support, fund a project or help us create newer ideas to generate job, incomes for the poor and the needy we daily serve. We need your creativity, suggestions and support to make life more beautiful and worth living.

Contact us with your ideas and support at:

hopeprojects@touchofhopefoundation.org

THF Board of Advisors

The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) Advisors has the privilege to serve humanity and jointly share the responsibility of providing guidance to the Foundation and steer, direct to pathway and channels which are strategic while shaping organizational values and character and in help achieving its goals.

Board of Advisors

National Board of Advisors

Jeroninio Almeida has amassed a wealth of experience and relationships over the years with his work in the corporate, media, government and NGO sector with over 19 years of cumulative experience. He is a freethinker, maverick “Serial Social entrepreneur” a social scientist motivated by feasible ideas. Jerry has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit and prides himself on being a start up specialist having founded successful start ups in his earlier life for Advertising, Movie marketing, Events, Direct marketing & BTL marketing advisories, dotcoms, venture capital, media and entertainment. Jerry transitioned from the profit sector after 14 long years to the NGO sector for the past 6 years which included facilitating social ventures, restructuring Action Aid from a funding agency to an implementation and campaigning agency and founding iCONGO Indian Confederation of NGOs to promote philanthropy for social justice through citizen action. Jerry currently serves the US India Business Alliance as Director and continues as a honorary champion with the NGOs and PPP he was associated with like iCONGO and PHFI both not for profit start up and also an honorary advisor personally to some organizations like War Wounded Foundation, Dalit Voluntary Association Foundation, Catholic Bishop Convention of India, WOTR, Aman Biradiri and Population First. Through iCONGO with SNS Foundation (CSR initiative of the 2000 million USD Anand Automotive Group) and with funding from USAID he has also conceptualized and incubated ITEAM - Institutionalized training, employment and advancement of marginalized - virtual Institutes and hubs to train the youth based on the process and criteria of industry with assured employment and advancement with top companies like Reliance, ISS Cleantec, Wal-Mart, Citibank, ICICI, HSBC, Future Group, Tata IndiCom. He firmly believes that there is a purpose to life, which is not just about creating wealth for oneself and our near and dear ones. Rather, it is to leave behind a legacy of a better world where there is social parity and equity for one and all.


Ritu Bhal, a graduate in marketing and International trade management with an experience over 18 years of corporate experience in Business Management in Textiles (Apparel & Home). She has significant experience in working across various departments, securing and executing concurrent assignments. Ritu Possess exceptional relationship management skills and proven abilities in establishing and forging strategic business alliances. She is a proactive leader adept in executing challenging assignments. She has excellent skills and long term experience in product conceptualization and development, marketing and commercial launch of product. She is highly sociable and an exceptional strategic planner and a specialist in managing assignments within the time and cost parameters. Ms Bhal is an excellent and effective communicator with exceptional relationship management skills with the ability to relate to people at any level of business and management. She has been actively involve in social work providing her professional and personal talents to help bring relief and joy in the lives of those in dire needs in society.



Sam Mall, Founder and CEO, Media Track Co. a veteran in the field of advertising, sales and marketing. As senior leader in the field of mass communication for over 25 years he has accumulated rich experiences, which has aided the development of creative thinking and innovative ideas. His talent and skills in the marketing and advertising world have seen him at the helm of many corporate and media houses globally. He brings dynamic leadership and different perspective to various situations and offers a wide variety of practical solutions. He worked with well-known national papers and magazines such as Anand Baazar Patrika, Mid day, Sunday Observer, Magna Publications, Percept, CVO and had delivered, implement and competed many assignments abroad in South East Asian Countries. He headed Zee Television group as Senior Vice President Marketing. Sam established his own Film Production house “The Kurtain Raiser Productions” and an advertising agency aptly called the “Media Track” in Mumbai to pursue and show case his multi-disciplinary skills and capacity.


International Board of Advisors

Henry E Chang, President and CEO, Actavis Consulting Group, LLC, based in Brooklyn, New York, that specializes in guiding governments, corporations, institutions and NGOs to maximize the humanitarian, social and reputational impact of their initiatives on HIVAIDS, TB and malaria. He had accumulated over 25 years of knowledge and experience of working in the field of HIVAIDS in the United States (184-2007) and in Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America/Caribbean (1998-2009). Prior to establishing Actavis Consulting group, Henry Serve as Vice President of Impact Initiatives at the Global Business Coalition on HIVAIDS, TB and Malaria (GBC) where he is responsible in managing public private partnerships. Led by Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and international business leaders. Henry was the Chief of Global Affairs at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest non profit HIVAIDS medical services providers in the United States, where he was responsible in leading a global team of medical and management professionals in support of AHF treatment program in 19 countries globally. During his 13 years at AHF, Henry has held various positions including Director of Clinical Research (1996 – 1998) and member of the AHF Board of Directors (1998 – 2001). In 1998, Henry Joined DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company and served as US Director of Scientific and Community Relations and was subsequently promoted to Senior Director of Business Development and Strategic Planning, Global Virology Franchise. From 1995 to 1998, Henry served as a community advisory member of numerous clinical trial protocol teams of the Adults AIDS Clinical Trials Groups, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U.S. National Institute of Health. From 1991 to 1998, Henry served as community advisor to various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the development of HIV therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools. From 1988 to 1992, Henry work under the supervision of Dr. David Ho in the Retrovirology Laboratory at the UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as a clinical research fellow. He assisted in the development of a novel, quantity assay for determining HIV viral load in blood, semen, saliva and CSF. Henry has published extensively and spoken at national and international conferences on topics related to HIVAIDS service delivery in resource-constrained settings.


Jackie Mendelson, Founder Arabica Dabra Coffee Bean Co. an extremely accomplished businesswoman in the real estate sector based in Los Angeles, California. A humanitarian at heart, she has dedicated her time to bettering the lives of others around the world. She served as the Chief of Operations for an AIDS organization in the United States and oversaw the smooth running of its US and Global programs for over 12 years. She has travelled widely around the world and has seen, first hand, the plight of the poor, the needy and the dying. She promoted the provision of healthcare services to the rural and most remote regions of the world and advocates for life saving care to those in need. Seeing beyond the medical needs, she understands that promoting the quality of life through support of nutrition, encouraging income-generating activities to empower people and focusing on sustainability will lead to a healthy and rewarding life. 

She has started a coffee business in the United States, ArabicaDabra: "Tasty Magic”, that offers the great taste of freshly roasted 100% Arabica beans from exotic coffee growing regions like India, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia who depend on this export for sustainability. Proceeds from the net sales profit will go to purchasing cows, goats, bicycles and other resources to donate to those most in need.


Mai Natha Llyod, Actor, is one of the leading and much loved Thai actor and a household name on Thai TV world. She graduated from Silpakorn University (Arts faculty). Mai is a born actor and her career in the Television started in 1986 and she is going strong till today. She was in a recently released mainstream musical ‘After School’. As a born actor and in the field of acting for over 20 years now she has proven how versatile she is in the Thai show business. Her programs on television “Lets proved it” shot her to fame and made her a star over night. She had successful hosted a show on Travels “Sawaddee Muang Thai” a leading TV program on travel and places. She was totally involved and dedicatedly immersed herself in the film industry. She was in the movie Pid Fa Mai Pid Tua and her few of her famous TV series are such as “Si Pan Din”, Marn Ya RIsya, Rak SUd Tai TI Pry Fa’ to name a few. She had always been a do gooder and a member of a loving family dedicated that understand the needs of the less fortunate. She is a true believer in the ‘Art of Giving’ to the people and the community and would spend time whenever she can on charity for the poor and needy. She actively involved in generating funds and support for HIVAIDS work in Thailand. She has seen the sufferings of people with AIDS and vowed to do the best she can to supports the cause of HIV AIDS in Thailand. She lends her time, support to create more awareness amongst the film industry and had actively and courageously voiced the needs for assistance to people with HIVAIDS and help tremendously on the movement to reduce of stigma and discrimination of people with HIV globally and restore their faith and hope and above all their dignity.

Michael Sautman, specialist in nonprofit development programs. He began his career in international development after completing a master's degree program in international administration at The School for International Training in 1981. Starting at Oxfam America, he worked with a number of international NGOs during the 1980s. He chairs Global Family Village, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides caregiver training and healthcare services to orphans in Nepal.

Vin Samnang, is a Technical Specialist on HIVAIDS for National AIDS Authority (NAA) of the Royal Government of Cambodia. An MD from the University of Health faculty in Phnom Penh was of trained in General Medicine and Business Administration Management from National University of Management. Charlie was actively involved in the clinical management of HIVAIDS in Cambodia. He is associated with various care and support providers from the non-governmental organization sector. He headed programs providing HIVAIDS Care Center run by International NGO such as Mary Knoll International in Cambodia. He served the people working with organizations such as CSI – Cooperation Services International, New Hope for Cambodian Children (NHCC), as Medical Coordinator and Technical supervisor. He also worked as HIVAIDS Consultant for treatment, Samdech Raksmei Sobbhana Women Foundation care and support clinic and hospice and TB department of Russian Hospital. He had before joining the National AIDS Authority of Cambodia had headed the Clinical Care program of AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Thailand and was managing the operations of the Center of Hope in Thailand for over two years. He compassionately work and strive for the welfare of people with HIVAIDS and dedicate his life to bring visible change in the lives of the poor and the sick.

Our History

The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) was conceived in 1993 during the early days of the HIVAIDS epidemic in India, a humanitarian response to the myriads of needs faced by people infected and affected by the epidemic of HIVAIDS and the plight of the marginalized and vulnerable people in the community. The founder envisioned to bring crucial changes and create an impact on many people’s lives by bringing high quality healthcare services access, build and strengthen the skills and capacities of individuals, communities and organization and establish the people it serves as model responsible citizens. The Founder began to set in motion the mission or the organization by addressing the healthcare needs and cater to the needs of those marginalized and stigmatized groups especially the poor, vulnerable groups, IDUs, people infected and affected with HIV. Compassionate services providing medical outreach services, counseling, home visits, volunteer medical and nursing care services to the local drug de-addiction, rehabilitation services were started and services extend through home visits and organizing camps. The foundation focuses on providing high quality healthcare services, technical support and assistance to local and national organizations, professionals and individuals, education and self help activities, holistic development ideas, ensure availability of comprehensive care services delivered with kindness, generosity of the heart with compassion.

THF provided an environment for positive change and bring to life an overall understanding of a totally compassionate being. The foundation strongly embraces youth empowerment and active peoples’ participation to secure and achieve its commitments. THF passionately advocates for positive change, growth and living life in all its fullness for all and builds hope for a better today and tomorrow.

THF firmly believed in establishing networks, linkages and strong partnerships to strengthen the impact of its efforts and work in tandem with organizations that value and share common interest of making community change.  We work with grassroots organizations that are passionate to make a difference and committed to develop and build strong and empowered, transformational healthy communities and responsible citizens. Walking the road less travelled by working for the underserved or served over the years and giving a voice to the voiceless from helping patients, families, advocacy drives in the community that extends beyond borders to other states.

THF deliver services with compassion and loving kindness to those in need and strive ceaselessly to rejuvenate the belief that hope is alive, and demonstrate the existence of true, pure selflessness people who desire real change and care for the welfare of humanity. THF is an oasis, a retreat, a provider of compassionate services, a safe haven for learning, building social and life skills that guarantee bright future, bringing hope amidst despair.

Who We Are

The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) is a non-profit non-governmental humanitarian charitable trust registered in New Delhi fully dedicated to serve humanity. We endeavor to break the cycle of hopelessness especially among the under serve and the unserved. The Foundation was created and established in close partnership with likeminded compassionate health and humanitarian services providers to deliver efficient and effective services to the community. We are deeply rooted in our knowledge and understanding of the need of the people we serve. We firmly believe that life is precious and people of all class, creed and culture deserves to have an equal opportunity to access healthcare, quality living conditions and hope. We are passionately committed to deliver services that to build hope, which is essential to lead productive, healthy and responsible lives. 

We serve to bring changes an impact the lives of many by building and strengthening the various skills and capacity of people and to establish them as responsible citizens and to provide high quality healthcare services, education and other self help activities, holistic development and ensure availability of services to provide comprehensive and positive change of the total being. We embrace youth empowerment and peoples’ participation to secure and achieve its commitments. The foundation advocates positive changes, growth and life in all its fullness for all. It builds hope for a better today and tomorrow. 

We believe in establishing partnership to strengthen the impact of its efforts and work in tandem with organizations that value and share common interest of making community change. The Foundation works with grassroots organizations, community based organizations that are passionate to make a difference and committed to develop strong and healthy communities and responsible citizens. It seeks to build communities fill with hope and transformational and empowered. The Touch of Hope Foundation provide an oasis, a retreat, a safe place for learning, building social and life skills that guarantee bright future, bringing hope amidst despair.

We pledge our lives to make a difference, create Positive changes, save lives and bring healing and give Hope!

The Touch of Hope Foundation is registered as a non profit charitable humanitarian Trust under the Office of the Sub Registrars of Trust/ Societies bearing Registration No. 5866, Additional Book No.4 Vol.3465 Page 126 to 140 of 11.12.2009. Generous donors, wonderful team of well-wishers, excellent committed volunteers helps us as we journey forward to make our vision and mission a reality.

Mission and Vision

Vision:

We envisioned to bring health, healing and hope to people who needed it most through compassionate care, loving kindness, innovatively creative medical and educational services and make positive difference and improved quality of many lives.

Mission:

We are committed to advance the provision of innovative, practical and high quality healthcare services, build capacities and skills, education through creative hands on mentorship and trainings. Reach out, extend and ensure delivery of vital humanitarian support services with compassion, loving-kindness and empowering ventures to people in dire need particularly to those infected and affected by the epidemic of HIV AIDS. Provide an avenue to generate better livelihood, a secure and healthier future especially for women, vulnerable children and other marginalized population who we come across in our lives.