Maria has extensive experience in working with communities in rural and urban areas in India. She has worked with SPARC over 19 years as a coordinator and professional consultant at Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers (SPARC)- a Non Governmental Organization that has been working since 1984 on issues of urban housing and infrastructure in partnership with two community-based organizations - the National Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) and Mahila Milan (MM). The supportive role includes:

• Coordinating and communicating with the field staff
• Assisting the community in carrying out the core 
• Assisting in implementation of projects
• Engaging with the communities, professionals and governments on different projects, studies and researches