Bengaluru: At just 17, Ishaan Srivastava has founded Solace, a nonprofit organisation that is rapidly gaining recognition for its volunteer-driven initiatives to support underprivileged communities across India. Guided by his motto, “I cannot help everyone, but everyone can help someone,” Srivastava has turned empathy into action.
In Bengaluru and Chennai, Solace has organised meal donation drives, serving more than 150 daily-wage workers. The organisation’s outreach expanded with Project Aanchal, conducted in collaboration with IIM Ranchi, through which nearly 750 kilograms of clothing were collected. Srivastava raised ₹30,000 through crowdfunding to transport the donations and personally travelled to Rasabeda village, where he carried 25-kg boxes uphill and distributed around 300 kilograms of clothing to local families.
Solace has also extended its work to Mumbai, partnering with the Wishing Well Foundation to deliver 200 kilograms of clothing and educational materials to orphanages. In addition, the nonprofit has joined hands with Animals Matter To Me (AMTM) to support animal welfare by donating food and supplies and volunteering at shelters.
Srivastava says the focus of Solace is on “impact rather than recognition.” His long-term vision is to create a nationwide network of volunteers who can form “ripples of kindness” and bring lasting change. “This journey is not about me,” he explained, “it’s about building bridges so that every willing hand can help someone. Everyone deserves a smile.
