Empowering communities through holistic development across India since 1991.
Empowering communities through holistic development across India since 1991.
Empowering communities through holistic development across India since 1991.
Empowering communities through holistic development across India since 1991.
Established in 1991, we are a registered public charitable trust committed to helping disadvantaged communities become self-reliant and lead lives of dignity. Guided by our motto, Helping People Help Themselves, we work across education, health, climate action and community development to address critical dimensions of human development and well-being.
The Heart of the Hive: Gatikanta and Pratima’s Story
In Kuspangi village, Odisha, Gatikanta and Pratima Beura have turned beekeeping into a story of partnership and inspiration.
Pratima began her beekeeping journey three years ago with project support, and her husband stood by her from the start. What began as encouragement soon evolved into a shared passion. Gatikanta trained further, completed a five-day certification course from the Horticulture Department, and now serves as a Community Resource Person—mentoring new beekeepers and guiding local Bee Mitras.
Kavitha Arunachalam Veerankoil, Pattukottai Taluk, Thanjavur District
Kavitha’s life has always been shaped by the sea. Her husband fishes these waters, and for over a decade, she has worked to protect the mangrove forests that protect them back.
A dedicated participant in the restoration of the Muthupet forest, Kavitha has spent years collecting seeds, preparing nursery bags and planting saplings — alongside more than 150 community members who together have planted over half a million mangroves.
The Heart of the Hive: Gatikanta and Pratima’s Story
In Kuspangi village, Odisha, Gatikanta and Pratima Beura have turned beekeeping into a story of partnership and inspiration.
Pratima began her beekeeping journey three years ago with project support, and her husband stood by her from the start. What began as encouragement soon became shared passion. Gatikanta trained further, completed a five-day certification course from the Horticulture Department, and now serves as a Community Resource Person—mentoring new beekeepers and guiding local Bee Mitras.
Starting with two colonies, the couple expanded steadily, harvesting 5 kg of honey worth Rs. 5,000. This year, they focused on strengthening colonies for long-term growth rather than short-term harvests.
Their home has since become a hub of learning, where neighbors seek advice and watch the couple manage hives with skill and care. Together, they now train others in colony management, swarm capture, and feeding techniques.
For Gatikanta and Pratima, beekeeping has been a journey of partnership, purpose, and community inspiration in addition to enriching their livelihoods.
Kavitha Arunachalam Veerankoil, Pattukottai Taluk, Thanjavur Distric
Kavitha’s life has always been shaped by the sea. Her husband fishes these waters, and for over a decade, she has worked to protect the mangrove forests that protect them back.
A dedicated participant in the restoration of the Muthupet forest, Kavitha has spent years collecting seeds, preparing nursery bags and planting saplings — alongside more than 150 community members who together have planted over half a million mangroves.
When Cyclone Gaja devastated the coastline in 2018, the urgency of this work became impossible to ignore. Since 2023, with support from the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Concern India Foundation and HSBC, a large-scale effort to restore 100 hectares of degraded mangroves has been underway. Fish and crab populations have since recovered, directly reviving the livelihoods of fishing families like hers.
Kavitha has grown from worker to trainer — mentoring newcomers and passing on what she knows. Migratory birds have returned, the air feels fresher, and the community that once cut mangroves for firewood now actively conserves them.
“The forest protects us, and in return, we must protect it.”
