Ankit Kanani

About Me

In my current avatar, I serve as CEO of Touching Lives - a Mumbai-based NGO providing education and mental-health support to children from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds.
After completing engineering in IT and starting my career with ZS Associates, I soon realized I was meant to do something different. In 2012, I joined Touching Lives. The journey began with managing communications and also teaching children as part of the grassroots work. Over the years, I worked across multiple roles, and in 2018, I took on the role of CEO.

Touching Lives is a space of learning, healing and transformation for all of us in the team. We work not only to educate children, but to nurture their inner journeys, helping them become conscious and self-aware individuals.

Alongside, I explore creative expressions through game design, sports, and my own spiritual path.

Appeal

Since 2003, Touching Lives has worked with children from vulnerable communities in Mumbai, integrating academic learning with mental health support, life-skills, and creative exploration.

When the pandemic forced our center to shut down, our work continued-through online sessions, public parks, and rented spaces. In 2025,we began rebuilding: Touching Lives Learning And Activity Center in Dahisar-Borivali, Mumbai. This space supports 350+ children annually, offering a consistent, empowering, and holistic environment.

The center is home to our core programs:
• Independent Learners Project: A multi-age afterschool program for children (ages 5–21) from slum communities, blending academics, life-skills, and emotional well-being.
• Care Program: One-on-one therapy, group healing, and inner work for children and parents.
• Mother’s Healing Circle: A nurturing space for self-care, self-worth, and generational healing.
• Team & Community Well-being: Reflective spaces for our team and partners.

We constantly strive to create a space where every child feels safe, seen, and supported-A place where they can say: “I am safe here.I am important.I can dream.”

Funds raised will support salaries of the team including teachers and therapists, educational resources, creative tools, rent of the Learning Center.

Together, let’s build a space where learning, healing, and creativity thrive.

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