Impact across the globe

Over the past 25 years, DREAMS has significantly impacted the lives of all participants, as demonstrated above. Here is the current status of the program.

1. Bangalore City (Local) Engaging over 600 mentees, 800 College Student Mentors, and 15  Senior Adult Volunteers since 2017. Collaborated with 10 schools across three Christ University campuses (Central, Yeshwanthpur and Bannerghatta), Jyothi Nivas College and SFS College

2. Outside the State (National) In 2018, the project was replicated outside Bangalore and established in six locations across Kerala, India. It expanded and developed through direct mentoring and facilitation by Christ University students, impacting more than 500 mentees, 400 College Student Mentors, and 40 Senior Adult Volunteers.

3. International Through international virtual facilitation, Christ University students helped universities initiate this program at the University of Louisiana, Monroe (USA), the Catholic University of Cologne (Germany), and the University of the Western Cape University (South Africa). This initiative has impacted over 300 mentees, 100 College Student Mentors, and 30 Senior Adult Volunteers leaders across these international universities.

4. Impact Studies and Review Reports: 

• More than 20 members from different universities and continents are involved in the research team who are continuously researching the impact of the program. More than 15 research studies have been already conducted on the DREAMS Intervention Program on its three primary stakeholders and published in different indexed journals. Read More  
• Participants ( Adolescents/mentees) and college student mentors have shown significant positive changes in their self-confidence, self-esteem, level of motivation, personal and social behavior, and academic performance. 
• Senior adult mentors reported feeling happier and finding life more meaningful while volunteering in the program.
• Our annual review, incorporating feedback from primary stakeholders (students, mentors, families) and secondary stakeholders (parents, teachers, local business partners), indicates a significant positive shift in students' attitudes towards enhanced emotional well-being, learning and community engagement. 

5.Leadership and Community Development:

• The Program focuses on fostering transformational, and authentic thought leaders among university students through leadership, mentoring, and community service initiatives.
• Empowered women, leading to greater social and economic independence within communities. More than 70% of the leaders (college students and senior adults) are women at the DIP. 
• The evaluation shows that 90% of parents report positive changes in their child’s behaviour, and mentees pursue higher education. Through these efforts, the program has fostered leadership, empowered communities, and contributed to social and economic resilience.

6. Sustainability:

• The program boasts the retention of more than 75% of the adolescent participants, 80%  of college student mentors, and more than 15% of mentees returning as college mentors.
• As the project is fully voluntary, non-funded and centred around the senior adults of each location the program becomes more intrinsically driven and thus self-sustainable.