Youth for Social Development (YDS) was set up in 2006 to address accountability, rights, empowerment and basic services of youth in 6 districts of Southern Odisha. They focus on promoting good governance and citizen participation that have direct impact on poor and vulnerable communities. The philanthropy grant will empower people by making them aware of their rights, and train them to seek and create monitoring mechanisms of public services.
The Youth Council for Development Alternatives (YCDA) was set up in 1993 and have been involved in promoting adolescent and child care through community-based efforts, building youth capacity, and implementing programmes to prevent food insecurity, migration, and child abandonment. They also work towards improving mental health within a community through health screenings and counselling. The grant aims to empower 10,000 adolescents between 11 and 19 years through a structured life skill-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curriculum focused on issues related to sexual and reproductive health and hygiene. Covering 100 upper primary and high schools, and 300 peripheral schools, it aims to create a supportive environment enabling adolescents to take positive decisions regarding their health and sexuality.
Vaagdhara is empowering 2000 small and marginal farmers in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh by spreading sustainable integrated farming systems that increase their earnings by 50%. Through live demonstrations, smart knowledge transfers, and access to government flagship programmes farmers are also experiencing stronger community development and leading better lives.
Vaani is providing 100 deaf children and their families in Tumakuru district, Karnataka, with specialised services-educational, health, nutritional and skills development. It also focuses on capacity building and networking with stakeholders.
Vacha started in 1987 as a resource centre for women. It runs resource centers focusing on interventions on women and girl-related issues in 14 slums. The Philanthropy's support is towards helping 660 girls access Girls’ Resource Centres and to prevent dropouts and bring them into mainstream education.
Vasantham is teaching persons with disabilities of all ages to be self-sustainable and support oneself through vocational and craftsmanship training. These income-generating activities include weaving, goat rearing, painting, and candle-making among others.
Vasundhara is working with Adivasis and forest-dependent communities in 100 villages across Odisha to make them aware of their rights to natural resources under the Forest Rights Act 2006, acquire land tenure and attain ecological security. It is also helping Adivasi women’s co-operatives market forest produce.
Video Volunteers is training 25 community mobilisers in Bihar to produce videos highlighting local issues and to mobilise the community to seek their rights and entitlements.
The Vidharbha Nature Conservation Society (VNCS) was established in 1986, VNCS is a Nagpur-based NGO working with Adivasis in Vidarbha, on community access and control to natural resources, exercise of rights provided under the Forest Rights Act, PESA, Biodiversity Act. The grant will help them in strengthening capacity of village institutions to manage forest resources in 10 villages; preparation of Biodiversity Management Plans and CFR Management Plans in 10 villages and facilitating implementation of village plans through convergence, by submission and approval of plans by line departments, mobilisation of funds from schemes.