Building Dreams began as a small volunteer group during our first year of engineering at Dehradun in 2014. At just 18 and 19 years old, we were a group of passionate students inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, determined to give back to society in whatever way we could during our college years.
Coming from Kalagachhia (a small village in West Bengal), I was on the path to becoming the first college graduate from my community. But life took an unexpected turn. Due to financial hardships back home, I had to drop out of engineering, a dream I had nurtured for years. While it was a painful decision, it also became a turning point.
That setback opened the door to something far more meaningful. It gave me the time and conviction to shape what we had started into something bigger. What began as a small initiative grew into Building Dreams Foundation—a movement dedicated to uplifting children, empowering communities, and creating lasting change. In 2017, the Building Dreams Foundation was registered as a Section 8 company.
While I couldn’t be the first graduate in my community, I’ve had the privilege to witness 15 first-generation college graduates from the slums and SC/ST community of Dehradun—students who made it because of our collective efforts. And that, in many ways, is a dream fulfilled. Isn’t it?
