Join the Movement: Our Story & How to Get Involved
Welcome to Karmasthan, India's first social space dedicated to volunteering and inclusion right here in BTM Layout. Whether you want to volunteer, host a community event, or just drop by for a creative jam, we have a spot for you. Let’s create some magic together, shall we?
This is our declaration. We built India's first social space dedicated to volunteering and inclusion right here in Bengaluru. It’s a place to walk in, create, and belong, open on weekdays and weekends.
The name changed from Smileys to The Inclusion Movement to Karmasthan, but the heart is still 100% the same. This graphic shows our evolution, rooted in volunteering and inclusion, with our official logo.
The official announcement that Karmasthan is open for volunteering! This graphic invites our community to join us and see the calendar of our inaugural events, marking a new chapter for our movement.
A snapshot of our first weekend's activities. This schedule highlights our launch events, including the Deaf Bookwave and an Eco-Friendly Rakhi Making workshop, showcasing the diversity of our programs from day one.
The poster for our very first Book Circle. We invited the community to disconnect from their phones, talk about their favorite books, and even swap them. This is how we build connections, one event at a time.
About Join the Movement: Our Story & How to Get Involved
We used to get shooed out of public parks whenever we gathered, so we finally decided to build Karmasthan in BTM Layout to give everyone a permanent home. This 600 sq. ft. space is fully available for your next volunteer project, community meetup, or workshop, with no gatekeeping, just full josh and a place where you truly belong.
Our story started back in 2011 with a simple group called Smileys. We were just friends meeting on Sundays, armed with colors and books, wanting to give back. That journey eventually took us to 25+ special schools across the city, bringing dance and joy to kids with disabilities. But we realized the city was missing a fixed address for this kind of work. That is why Karmasthan exists today.
We moved from park benches to our current spot in BTM Layout to create India's first dedicated space for volunteering and inclusion. This isn't just a hall rental. It is a home for:
- Inclusive Workshops: From eco-friendly Rakhi making to sessions with the Deaf community, our walls are designed to adapt to any ability.
- Community Jams: Whether it is an open mic, a book circle, or a skill share, we provide the stage and the mic. You bring the energy.
- NGO Support: We know finding affordable venues is tough, so we keep our space accessible for foundations, teachers, and changemakers who need a base.
Everything here is moveable. Our aesthetic is bright, artistic, and entirely hand-painted by volunteers. You won't find stiff, corporate furniture here—just stackable chairs, floor cushions, and an atmosphere that invites you to pull up a seat and start something meaningful. We are open weekdays and weekends, and we are always looking for more hands to join our weekend volunteering crew. If you have an idea that brings people together, you have a home here.
Smileys
We started as a bunch of friends called Smileys in 2011, just wanting to spread a little joy. Today, we are Karmasthan—a community hub built on energy, inclusivity, and the simple belief that everyone deserves a space to belong. If you are looking to make an impact or host something meaningful in Bangalore, we would love to have you.
Looking for a different type of space?
You can search for specific types of community venues or volunteering opportunities across the city.
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