Grants database

Nivedita Foundation (NF) is dedicated to building leadership capacity in communities experiencing marginalisation and to mobilising groups to help them access education and health services as well as their social and economic rights. They use a rights-based approach to develop women’s leadership and bring about structural change in favour of those experiencing exploitation, including women, tribal communities and other minoritised people. This grant supports phase two of NF’s fellowship programme for young people in the Sabariya and Sidar tribes, and build longer term community capacity.

Nirman promotes sustainable development through the empowerment of communities, restoration of ecosystems and decentralisation of natural resource governance. They work to enhance the livelihood, food, and nutritional security of Adivasi, with a particular focus on smallholder farmers and fishing communities. This grant supports Nirman in phase two of a project to consolidate a people-led approach to conservation and livelihood and continue raising awareness of forest rights, enhancing capacity of local leaders and securing legal rights to forest land.

Network for Youth Development & Healthy Environment (NYDHEE) is a social development organisation working across livelihood, water and sanitation, health and hygiene, education and nutrition, in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal. They aim to eradicate socio-economic inequities through a sustainable development approach with community groups and institutions. This grant supports NYDHEE’s work with families who have returned to eight villages following Covid-19 lockdown. Local community workers will support 200 families to create sustainable livelihoods through poultry and vegetable cultivation, and access underused government entitlements and resources.

Manipur North Economic Development Association works across gender, education, business and finance, legal and human rights, energy and environment, disability, child development, agriculture, nutrition, and wildlife. Their work includes livelihood programmes for families experiencing poverty, peace and community rehabilitation programmes, and raising awareness of disability rights. This grant supports the Green Wings for Youth project which aims to build socially conscious young entrepreneurs in Maram Tribe communities.

MAHAN (Meditation, Addiction, Health, AIDS, Nutrition) Trust provides preventive and curative medical facilities to tribe communities in Melghat. They attempt to create a positive impact in a region challenged by high infant mortality rates, poverty and malnutrition. This grant supports MAHAN to continue work to reduce blindness in tribe communities of Melghat and surrounding villages through awareness-raising and provision of local eye care services and treatment.

Khoj works with remote village and tribe communities in the forests of Melghat to facilitate effective planning and strengthen local village governance and resources. They protect and promote documentation of biodiversity in the region, support health and educational needs, and act as a bridge between work on-the-ground and policy advocacy. This grant supports Khoj in the third phase of work with Gram-Sabha members across multiple villages so that they can develop and implement Natural Resource Management plans in the Amravati district of Maharashtra.

Jana Sanskriti Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed (JS) uses forum theatre to address social issues that emerge from patriarchal traditions. They work with performers and the public. This grant supports the third phase of a project that will create a network of forum theatre teams in local communities to address issues such as child marriage, trafficking and girls dropping out of education.

InSIDE-North East is a non-profit organisation who work to support women, children and young people in North East India. They provide counselling, career guidance, coaching, skills training, workshops, sports for peace programmes, and a youth conference. Through their work they aim to bridge the gap between young people in the North East and other regions in order to build a better and more inclusive India. This grant supports the organisation to develop Gun2Pen, an education and livelihood support programme for young people experiencing disadvantage in conflict areas of Manipur.

Gramrajya Vikas Evam Prasikshan Sansthan (GVPS) is a rights-based organisation working for the empowerment of marginalised communities in Rajasthan. They work with a diverse range of partners at local, state and national levels in education, health and human rights among women, children, youth and urban communities. This grant supports GVPS to expand their work in government schools to ensure basic and quality education in the Bundi district of Rajasthan, with a focus on education for children from denotified tribe (DNT) communities.

Grameen and Samajik Vikas Sanstha (GSVS) aims to educate, organise and empower communities in Rajasthan by promoting development as a force for social justice, economic growth and self-reliance. This grant supports GSVS in the third and final phase of their project to improve working conditions and access to government entitlements for mine and construction workers in Central Rajasthan.

Graham Bell Centre for the Deaf (GBCD) works to build the confidence and capacity of disabled people, and to ensure that education, skills training, and livelihood opportunities are inclusive. This grant supports GBCD to continue identifying and empowering disabled children from early years to adulthood.

Conservation of Nature through Rural Awakening (CONARE) aims to facilitate socio-economic and cultural development of communities experiencing severe disadvantage. Their approaches centre around the holistic development of communities through collective action. This grant supports CONARE to set up the Chenchu Multi Activity Resource and Training Centre (C‑MART), increasing their reach to 500 families and creating a cohort of young Chenchu men and women to take on leadership roles and reduce the role of CONARE over the next two years.