TIMELINE
The following timeline provides a snapshot of key events and programs supported by The Dignity Project.
For more detailed information and news from us, please read our updates found on the Transparency page.
Funding Update
June 2025
The Dignity Project receives funds through Living Ripples in Australia. These much needed funds will support the TDP Thrive Community Kitchen breakfast program for another year and allow for the purchase of additional reuseable cloth sanitary pads.
New school year India
June 2025
New school years begins at Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho with staff and students returning after summer break. Thrive Community Kitchen resumes serving daily breakfast program.
Australian Government Charity Status
May 2025
The Dignity Project receives official government charity status from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. TDP is now a Deductible Gift Recipient meaning donations to our TDP in the Australian 2024-25 financial year and beyond are tax deductible.Â
First teacher training initiative India
May 2025
TDP runs first intensive teaching training program for 3 weeks for teachers from Wonderkids English Medium School. Training takes place in Delhi and Khajuraho and covers conversational English, digital literacy, phonics and teaching strategies and classroom practices.
ACNC charity status application lodged
April 2025
TDP lodges application with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission for official government charity status. Application supported by Russell Kennedy lawyers in Melbourne.
Meals Program Update
February 2025
Thrive Community Kitchen update – after five months 90% of students receiving a daily meal from the community kitchen have gained weight over the 5 months of data collection. Based on the current data, we anticipate most students will be close to or reach Indian average weight-for-age by the end of 2025.
TDP appoints Kitchen Manager at Thrive Community Kitchen India
February 2025
TDP appoints Miss Jigyasa Tirapathi as kitchen manager, Thrive Community Kitchen, Khajuaro to support our daily meals program and monitor quality and inventory onsite. Miss Tirapathi is a well-respected teacher from Wonderkids English Medium School and will manage the kitchen and continue her teaching responsibilities.
Site visit and project evaluation by TDP board members
January 2025
TDP Board members Kanwaljit Singh and Madelene Pearson conduct site visits and community engagement sessions in Khajuraho, Delhi and Naujheel in India. Their visits included evaluation of current projects, meeting with community members for feedback and looking for new community partnership opportunities.
2nd Annual school sports carnival in Khajuraho
October 2024
TDP hosts second-annual school sports carnival for Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho, supported by a visiting group from the Richmond Institute in Melbourne. As part of the day, 180 children participated in organised sports and activities. The event was attended by school families and community members and TDP’s Thrive Community Kitchen prepared lunch for 500 people on the day!
TDP 2nd Annual board meeting in Khajuraho
September 2024
TDP holds second annual board meeting in Khajuraho. All board members – Lincoln Harris, Madelene Pearson, Kanwaljit Singh and Rhan Harris – attended in person for strategic planning and program reviews.
New school uniforms for all students at Wonderkids Khajuraho
September 2024
TDP delivers new school uniforms for every child at Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho after receiving a generous donation from ReImagined and the Mendelsohn family in Melbourne.
Tree planting at Wonderkids in Khajuraho
August 2024
TDP board member leads tree planting workshop during site visit to Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho. 14 trees, the majority of which are fruit, planted to provide shade and produce for the school grounds.
Sanitary pad workshop at Banki tribal village
August 2024
TDP and partner NGO Baavan return to Banki tribal village outside Khajuraho for second reuseable cloth pad distribution session and women’s health workshop with tribal women.
Wonderkids moves to new school campus in Khajuraho
July 2024
Wonderkids English Medium School moves to new school campus in Khajuraho with dedicated sports ground and classrooms for all classes.
Thrive Community Kitchen meals update
June 2024
TDP has served 12,382 meals through its Thrive Community Kitchen in the first-six months of 2024 as part of its school-based breakfast program in Khajuraho.
TDP board meeting on educational priorities
February 2024
TDP Board hold special meeting to discuss educational priorities and values.
Women’s health workshop and community meeting in Banki
February 2024
TDP expands sanitary pad program to tribal village of Banki, 90km from Khajuraho, in partnership with Baavan NGO. Representatives from TDP and Baavan visit Banki for women’s health workshop and pad distribution session.
Wonderkids school survey data
January 2024
TDP collates produces school families’ snapshot and report based on data collected from Wonderkids English Medium School full school survey.
TDP conducts school survey at Wonderkids
November 2023
TDP conducts whole school survey at Wonderkids English Medium School to understand family demographics and background, plus student health and well-being status. Board member Madelene Pearson spends 2 weeks teaching at the school.
TDP holds first annual board meeting in Khajuraho
September 2023
TDP first AGM held in Khajuraho with all board members present.
First school sports carnival in Khajuraho
September 2023
TDP holds first annual school sports carnival in Khajuraho. Approximately 150 students, plus staff and community members from Wonderkids English Medium School gather for a full day athletics carnival, sports and games. A full day of physical activity, lunch and great fun for all!
More cloth sanitary pads delivered
June 2023
Second batch of reuseable pads from Eco Femme in south India is delivered to Khajuraho.
TDP site visits and project evaluations India
February 2023
TDP Board members conduct site visit and program evaluation at Wonderkids in Khajuraho to assess English, sports and computer training programs.
Sanitary pad workshop and distribution
January 2023
Women’s health workshop and sanitary pad distribution meeting held in Khajuraho. Based on feedback, the composition of the sanitary pad packs being distributed will be changed and additional cloth pads provided to each woman.
Introduction of reuseable cloth sanitary pads
October 2022
TDP begins distribution of reusable cloth sanitary pads in Khajuraho using a cloth product made by Eco Femme in south India. Two teachers from Wonderkids school become trained facilitators to run community pad distribution sessions. 95 packs of reuseable pads distributed in first month of program in Khajuraho.
Breakfast introduced at Wonderkids school
September 2022
Breakfast program introduced at Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho, replacing the lunch program. This decision comes after community feedback and consultation sessions on the ground.
TDP constructs computer lab at Wonderkids
August 2022
New computer lab construction is complete and a dedicated computer teacher hired. Digital literacy classes begin at Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho for all students.
TDP visits Eco Femme, maker of cloth sanitary pads
August 2022
Board members Lincoln Harris and Kanwaljit Singh visit Eco Femme in Auroville, south India. Eco Femme is a local NGO are makers of organic cloth reuseable sanitary pads.
Sports classes added at Wonderkids
July 2022
Sports classes begin at Wonderkids English Medium School after a dedicated teacher is hired and trained in school-based games and activities.
Reuseable cloth pads trialled
April 2022
TDP runs trial of reuseable cloth pads in Khajuraho after a request from the female community to move away from disposable to cloth.
Site visits and project evaluations in India
March 2022
TDP boards members Kanwaljit Singh and Lincoln Harris visit Khajuraho for project visits and program evaluations.
Formalisation of projects under TDP banner
February 2022
The Dignity Project becomes formal structure for our ongoing community work in India, uniting decades of work and community engagement under one banner.
Post COVID support for school return
December 2021
TDP purchases school materials and shoes to help students at Wonderkids English Medium School return to learning after COVID lockdowns.
Financial support of Wonderkids begins
September 2021
TDP commences financial support for Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho
Sanitary pad program begins in Khajuraho
September 2021
TDP begins supplying disposable sanitary pads to adolescent girls and women in Khajuraho via Wonderkids.
Civil works at Wonderkids in Khajuraho
August 2021
TDP funds refurbishment and civil works at Wonderkids English Medium School site in Khajuraho to improving learning spaces. Among works conducted include a purpose-built computer lab and onsite kitchen to support the meals program.
Lunch program introduced
January 2021
TDP begins trial lunch program at Wonderkids English Medium School in Khajuraho to address gaps in nutrition among student cohort.
School books donated at Wonderkids
February 2017
TDP provides hundreds of English language books to Wonderkids school in Khajuraho to support teaching and learning. The books were donated by schools and families in Australia.