Mumbai, Dec 26: For most of India, Christmas is a season of celebration. For thousands of children living on the streets, it is often just another day. The 100 Santa Project, an initiative of Sounds of Silence Foundation and CATKing Educare, was born from this reality  to ensure that joy, inclusion and dignity reach children who are otherwise unseen and unheard.

This Christmas, more than 100 volunteers dressed as Santa Claus will distribute toys, school backpacks, art supplies and festive treats to over 10,000 underprivileged, orphaned, visually impaired, hearing- and speech-impaired children across the country. The initiative spans cities including Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Noida, Bareilly, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Patna, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Gwalior, Anantapur, Varanasi, Indore, Saharanpur and Ranchi.

A Movement Built on Empathy

Launched by Sounds of Silence Foundation, India’s first technology-based NGO focused on empowering individuals who cannot hear or speak, The 100 Santa Project is a volunteer-driven movement that transforms Christmas into a day of belonging for children who rarely experience it.

Founded by Mr. Sumit Singh Gandhi, the foundation works at the intersection of technology and inclusion, developing solutions that help the hearing-impaired overcome communication barriers and connect meaningfully with the world.

“For a child who cannot hear or speak, the world often feels distant and inaccessible. Our work has always been about building bridges  between silence and expression, isolation and belonging,” Mr. Sumit Singh Gandhi, Founder, Sounds of Silence Foundation

From a Small Idea to a Nationwide Campaign

What began six years ago with 256 donations in just seven days has today evolved into one of India’s most heartfelt community-led Christmas initiatives. Last year alone, contributions crossed 10,000 donations, driven purely by volunteer belief, trust and collective goodwill.

Volunteers range from college students and working professionals to senior citizens, including a 73-year-old grandfather who dressed up as Santa to spread smiles.

“When our volunteers suggested expanding the project to as many locations as possible, I realised the spirit of Sounds of Silence had multiplied many times over,” Mr. Sumit Singh Gandhi

Inclusion Beyond Words

A special focus of the project is reaching children who are hearing- or speech-impaired. Volunteers are trained to communicate through gestures, expressions and patience, proving that connection does not always require words.

“Silence is not a limitation here, it becomes a shared language,” says a senior volunteer Punji.

Aashi Thakkar Project Lead Sounds of Silence for the last 6 Years

“There is no better feeling than seeing all kids excited to see us dress like Santa’s and be excited about their gifts. We pour our heart and soul for that smile and excitement we see on those kid’s face”

“The cheers and smiles the boys had when we entered made us feel proud of our initiative. It was the best start to our day.” recalls Vidhi, one of the volunteers.

Aarush shares his experience of being a Santa for the first time:

“Seeing them sing Christmas carols with such innocence and wonder filled our hearts completely.”

Another volunteer, Harsh, adds: “Their words ‘Thank you and Merry Christmas to my Santa’ echo in our hearts. We’ve been blessed.”

More Than Gifts, It’s About Belonging

When children receive their first dolls, toy cars, school bags, painting kits and craft supplies, their excitement becomes the real measure of success not in numbers, but in moments of connection.

“Sometimes, all a child needs is to feel acknowledged. If we can offer that even for a moment we’ve done something meaningful,” Mr. Sumit Singh Gandhi