The following grassroots projects were undertaken and completed from 1999 onwards.

1 Project supported by Cadbury India and its partnership with Sambhav Community Initiative, 1999
One of BCF's first partnerships, this project started in 1999 and was inBhind near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. This programme was initiated in Gurikha village, which was located near the Cadbury factory, and was subsequently extended to cover additional adjoining villages. BCF initiated this project through Sambhav, a non-governmental organisation. Sambhav project has been instrumental in empowering women and girl children through the formation and capacity building of SHGs, the campaign against female foeticide, workshops on PNDT (Pre conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Act) Act, legal aid, women’s rights, a counseling centre for adolescents, etc. Cadbury India is funded through BCF a primary school for village children. BCF – Sambhav project supported the education initiative by holding regular parent-teacher meetings, setting up coaching centres, and regular cultural programmes for school children. The program also encouraged children to participate in rural sports and to make it a regular activity. The health and women's hygiene aspects were taken care of by organising health camps. Veterinary camps were conducted to help farmers with their animals from time to time. BCF India designed and encouraged building toilets in partnership with the village Panchayat. The Panchayat provided the labour for the manual work. Cleanliness and sanitation of the village were also encouraged through many programmes
and regular monitoring of the project right from its inception. BCF was instrumental in setting up a children’s library in 2005 in Gurikha village. It also organised legal aid workshops for women. The stakeholders of these activities were around 62,000 people residing in the village who participated and benefited directly and otherwise.

2. Project in partnership with Tribal Health Initiative, Rural Tamil Nadu (2005 onwards)
Tribal Health Initiative (THI), a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) duly registered under the Charitable Trust Act was set up in 1993, with its principal office at Sittilingi, Tamil Nadu. Run by Dr. Reji and Dr. Lalita, THI caters to the tribal population. THI has worked for over 25 years in Sittilingi Valley to bring down infant and maternal mortality and promote health training, access, and awareness to the tribal population comprising mainly SC/ST/OBC and Lambada tribes. With BCF, THI conducted a project for reducing infant mortality, reducing malnutrition of children under 5 years, immunisation, antenatal checkup, and maternal mortality over a 3 to 5-year period by enhancing health access and promoting preventive health care by covering a tribal population, who live below the poverty line. The Project titled, “Community Health Program”, the grant was utilised for various activities namely health worker training, auxiliary health training, establishing peripheral health clinics, tribal farming initiative, tribal craft initiative, and tribal educational initiative, over a ten-year period.
THI runs a hospital with 24 beds, and 23 OP clinics in Vellimalai along with other activities. All these initiatives function under an efficient staff predominantly comprising people from surrounding villages with the purpose of maximum utilisation of local resources. Value-added facilities were added namely Doppler, Endoscope facilities, etc for diagnosis. The pathological lab has been modernised along with adopting a proper way of biochemical waste disposal. In addition to this, the Old Age Scheme, frequent health training, and Kalrayan Hill Program were conducted. Millet Food Fest was organised to increase awareness of having good food habits along with motivating them to focus on organic farming. Now THI conducts organic farming to help the tribal populations manage malnutrition and protect the environment. Porgai – A Craft initiative program was also started to encourage the skills of local artisans for community development along with the progress in community health. Through these initiatives, THI has touched the lives of at least one lakh people, all tribal and living below the poverty line. There are no material deaths and IMR is better than the Kerala average!



3. Projects in partnership with Cancer Institute, Chennai (2005)

The Cancer Institute (WIA) founded in 1954, is an autonomous voluntary charity hospital and research centre along with the other components of the College of Oncologic Sciences and the Division of Preventive Oncology. In the Thiruvanmiyur Area, South Chennai, a project for cervix, breast, and oral cancer was conducted in 2003. BCF granted the continuity of this important project to provide maximum intervention offered to the public in this area. With the establishment of many field clinics along with health intervention offered by more medical officers, technicians, social workers, nurses, and drivers aided by ambulance, it covered the major population of women, especially those belonging to the low socioeconomic sections. The project benefitted around 25,000 people and around 70 – 75% of the targeted population immensely benefited and motivated them to lead a healthy life through preventative care, awareness, checkups, referral services, etc.

4. Projects in Partnership with Navjyoti Development Society (NDS), New Delhi, 2005

BCF partnered with NDS to conduct a project, “Nai Disha” imparting non-formal education to children. The Nai Disha program was started in August 2005, with the aim to bring significant changes in the life of every child living in the slums of Okhla Industrial Area, New Delhi. The project was titled, “Making Education a Reality for the Downtrodden”. The main objectives of the Nai Disha project were mainstreaming children, encouraging girls to come to the education centre, computer education, and involvement of parents in day-to-day activities of children. The project organised community activities by involving parents and teachers, legal awareness camps, PTA meetings, enrichment programs, Balwadi, remedial education, etc. As an outcome, a 95% success rate was recorded in all activities conducted particularly in terms of community mobilisation and following up with the children who have been mainstreamed during the year. The stakeholders are confident enough about continuing their children’s education. Around 12,000 children were covered under the education program.

5. Projects in partnership with Society to Help Rural Empowerment and Education (STHREE), Andhra Pradesh (2005)

The project “Knowledge-Based Therapeutics Recreation and HIV/AIDS Prevention/Awareness Programme” had been supported by GSK and a grant was administered through BCF in the year 2005. Under this project, specifically, yoga classes were conducted in various villages and taught different asanas and exercises. Even though these were difficult at the beginning, gradually everyone participated actively and understood that these types of asanas build their physical and mental well-being. 10,000 of the community members, distressed children, and women felt happy about the creative program conducted by STHREE. This is a ‘source’ origin area for traffickers. Yoga was used as an entry to build awareness of HIV/AIDs prevention.

6. Partnership with Analytical Learning and Management Building - ALAMB (2006), NCR

With the support of BCF, ALAMB conducted a project for providing non-formal education and vocational training beautician courses to children, primarily girls. The project is titled “Empowerment of Women & Girls through Education and Vocational Training”. To achieve the major objectives ALAMB has covered 1000 families. It started its activities as a non-formal education class for 150 children and vocational training on beautician courses for 60 adolescent girls. The project was instrumental in mobilising parents to send their children for classes and vocational training. Two vocational training centres were set up. From 2006, 150 children who are aged 5 – 14 years have received education in basic reading and writing and 148 girls have got training in beautician courses. The project also involved 300 women in a self-help group, 500 parents in parents’ teachers’ association, 300 children in Bal Club, and 25 persons involved in the School Management committee. 80 persons volunteered in Vikas Samiti to shoulder responsibility for their own development.

7. Partnership with People’s Council for Social Justice (PCSJ), Cochin, Kerala (2006)

With the support of BCF, PCSJ conducted a project for Palluruthy Relief Settlement (PRS) residents: destitute women and children with mental health challenges. The project was titled, “Agenda for Healthcare and Education for PRS Residents''. To achieve the objectives of the said project, the following activities are done: 1) women empowerment through the capacity building of the residents. 2) Outstation rehabilitation - lawyers working on mental health and judges of the high court came together to make the rehabilitation possible and as a result, several PRS residents were sent back to their native places. 3) Early detection - early intervention and basic rehabilitation to prevent the causes of disability. 4) dissemination of knowledge and social mobilisation regarding human rights through legal literacy camps, seminars, etc. to sensitise society. 5) Quality care, nursing services, and quality food were provided to improve the living standards and environment of PRS residents, along with recreation programs. This project had a tremendous impact on the life of the residents who have mental health challenges as they are “living in a home away from their home” with the benefits of community life. With the great support and efforts of the good management committee, the dedicated doctors, nurses, and caregivers along with regular monitoring of BCF, the project focused on the quality improvement of 5500 residents.

8. Project with UNICEF on the campaign against child sex selection (2006)

BCF worked with UNICEF to draw attention to the diminishing child-sex ratio and restore nature’s balance. BCF’s consultant, Dr. Sahu George, organised sustained media coverage at the national and regional levels so that the issue remains in focus in the country. Part of the project was to respond to global media coverage of missing girls, monitor new media like the internet for violation of the law, plan effective advocacy with the government of India, and initiate dialogue with well-known corporate leaders to ensure that new technologies of sex selection will not be marketed to cause detriment to the girl child.

9. Project in Partnership with ASSRA (Association for Social Service and Rehabilitation of the Aged), Jharkhand (2007)

With the support of BCF, ASSRA has conducted a project for providing informal education and health awareness in areas of Patamda Block of Eastern Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The project titled, “Education and Empowerment of Tribal Children”, aimed at providing 150 children between the age group of 4 – 13 years of Patamda Block with proper primary and secondary education. Many benefitted and got enrolled in higher classes. ASSRA conducted various vocational training under the name of “Earn while Learn” entailing less capital expenditure like candle making, coir craft, food processing, mushroom cultivation, block painting, beauty training, etc. Among this mushroom cultivation was popular. Each time new things were added under vocational training with the concept of “best out of waste”. Handmade card-making and designer and scented candles were added. ASSRA team in Delhi targeted the Diwali Bazar and received a very good response. Many health check-up camps were organised in all 4 said villages at regular intervals in which ASSRA students and villagers were treated and checked over the project period over 600 children benefitted from the intervention.

10. Project in Partnership with Society for Child Development (SCD), Delhi (2007)

The Society for Child Development (SCD) is an NPO, started in 1992, for the development of resources for children and reasons with mental disabilities (PWDs) who form the most vulnerable sections of our society. The vision of SCD is for every mentally challenged person to be viewed as an equal member of society by providing them equal access to opportunities and services such as education, healthcare, and employment and to help them lead a life with dignity. The project titled, “Empowering and Uniting Mothers of young adults with mental retardation” was for generating awareness among mothers towards the fulfillment of the needs of adolescents and young adults with mental retardation. The grant was utilised for various activities on this project. SCD used comprehensive and multi-faceted approaches to address the needs of persons with disabilities, providing immediate services to those in need of legal resources, jobs, and understanding of disabilities. The project impacted around 8000 lives.

11. Project in Partnership with HELP (Health, Education, Livelihood Program), Andhra Pradesh (2007)

HELP, a registered NPO, having its principal office at Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, works for the health, education, and livelihood needs of the children who live in red-light areas in Andhra Pradesh. With the support of BCF, HELP has agreed to conduct a project for supporting their residential school. The project was titled, “Support for the Residential school run for SGBT”. The main objective of HELP is to stop child sex work, trafficking, and second-generation sex work. To provide health and education for children of sex workers, HELP has started ASHA SADAN – a residential care centre. HELP ran two homes – one for college-going children at Kanaparthi and another one for children of women in sex work at Machavaram. The main objective of these shelter homes was to mainstream its inhabitants along with the basic needs of food and clothing. The project “ASHA SADAN” encouraged education and mental health interventions involving cultural programs, vocational training, and economic activities. Under this project titled AKANSHA, vocational training was provided including bakery, dress design, and maggam work (traditional hand-embroidery) to the children of rescued women which brought significant change in their confidence levels. Through this intervention, a minimum of 35,000 people benefited indirectly.

12. Project in Partnership with Udayan Care, New Delhi (2007)

Udayan Care is a registered charitable organisation, working since 1994, focused on working with disadvantaged children. It provides shelter to orphaned and abandoned children, a multipurpose centre to help align youth energy with purpose and responsibility through counselling, computer education, beautician course, tailoring, and many more vocational training courses. With the partnership of BCF, Udayan Care conducted a program to provide monetary and mentoring support to disadvantaged girl students to enable them to continue pursuing academic as well as vocational training in Delhi. The grant was utilised for this project titled “GSK Udayan Shalini Fellowship Programs”. This fellowship was given to students from weaker socio-economic sections, who excel in academics. Since 2006, this program has benefited over 200 girls, mentored by 120 accomplished people in 5 states to continue higher education and prevent dropouts.

13. Project in Partnership with Institute of Environmental Health (IEH), Vidarbha, Maharashtra (2009)

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (Institute of Environmental Health, IEH), a non-profit society, having its principal office at Khamla, Nagpur, works for the cause of the farmer’s widows. BCF & IEH conducted a project for the empowerment of Vidarbha farmer’s widows by providing vocational training, food crop support, and the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The project was titled, “Vidarbha Farmers Widows Empowerment Project”. Vidarbha being one of the highly populated and mineral-rich areas of Maharashtra had 70% of farmer suicides in the last decade. IEH started working on the rehabilitation of farm widows and decided to promote organic farming and allied sustainable activities related to rural public health and education under the said project. The main objectives were to provide direct financial help for education, health care, and marriage of daughters of farm widows, to provide food security, to provide vocational training through government I.I.T and local training centres, and to provide a financial incentive to promote organic farming, develop SHG groups to promote community farming and start allied cottage services, etc. through this project. IEH came forward to help the widows of farmers by providing them with credit facilities and creating a ‘Money Lenders Debt Redemption Fund’. The grant was aimed at rehabilitating farmers’ widows in the Yavatmal District of Vidarbha. Around 104 widows were taken care of by IEH with BCF support over a decade.

14. Project in Partnership with L.S.N Foundation (Lakshmi Shankar Narain Foundation), Andhra Pradesh (2009)

LSN Foundation started a project in Hyderabad for improving the quality of life of the homeless by tying up basic entitlements required by the homeless for leading a life with dignity. The other goal of this project was to build community-based organisations for the homeless which will continue all the project initiatives on a sustainable and long-term basis in Telangana. The project titled, “Pilot Project for Providing Entitlements to the Homeless” had as its main objectives, having the security of life by staying in a safe shelter at night, provision of food, linking up children of the homeless with institutions for care and education, providing health care and counseling, helping them to get enrolled on the voter’s list, photo identity card, and ration card. 150 homeless men participated and
benefitted from the services of BNC (basic need campaign). Night shelters were provided with banking facilities; SBI (state bank of India) showed a keen interest in helping those people introduced to the banking system. Various special activities like festival celebrations, exposure visits, media coverage, and computer training programs were also conducted. In addition, a concept of “Ability Mela” was conducted which was to match the skills of PWD (Persons With Disability) candidates to job opportunities in the organised sectors and to prepare a CV bank of PWD candidates that employers can access. On average 65 men take services from the shelter daily.

15. Partnership with Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN): Support to homeless women, children, and families in Delhi, 2009

In 2009 HLRN mobilised the homeless citizens in Delhi to collectively lobby for their rights, particularly those of identification, shelter, and employment. HLRN is a member of ShahriAdhikaar Manch (SAM) and supports community-based projects. One time grant was given to start the advocacy activities led by homeless citizens as well as to register a community-based organisation led by the Homeless.

16. Project in Partnership with Uday Society for Development (USD), Haryana (2009)

Uday Society for Development, a registered Charitable Trust works for the upliftment and overall development of the poor in slum areas of Faridabad. With the support of BCF, USD conducted a project for providing non-formal education to children in the slums of Faridabad. The project is titled, “Education for Children in Slums of Faridabad''. This project provided literacy support to underprivileged children from the Faridabad slum area. As education is one of the prime necessities for development, USD has taken up this as a core initiative to address the educational needs of children. Through these NFE centres, USD provided opportunities for children to revisit the experience as well as enroll them in the formal education system. Apart from NFE, USD also provided better health services by organising medical camps for free medical check-ups for the children and their family members. Around 900 children benefited from this project over a five-year period.

17. Projects in partnership with Hyderabad Council for Human Welfare, (HCHW), 2009

BCF along with HCHW agreed to conduct a project to improve the quality of life of beggars by providing the basic requirement for leading a life with dignity. The other aim of this work was to provide basic medical and institutional care to continue a long-term basis. The project was titled, “Rehabilitation of Beggars in Hyderabad with Special Focus on Women and Children”. The grant was utilised for various activities on this project. Medical help like HIV testing, and TB testing, along with other treatments, various skills training, old age homes, state home for women, residential care centres for children, ration cards, electoral cards, etc. were provided to the beggars under the said project. The project has provided a unique opportunity to work with beggars. Even with constraints/limitations faced while working with beggars, the project could impact around 100 lives.

18. Project in Partnership with St. Stephen's Hospital (SSH), Tis Hazari, Delhi (2010)

St. Stephen's Hospital (SSH), is a 650 bedded, 115-year-old, non-profit hospital. It is also an MNGO (Mother NGO) to support the homeless in the city. With the support of BCF, a project for mobilising and empowering the homeless to collectively lobby for their rights, with the focus on identification, employment, and housing for the homeless was started in 2010 with the community health department. The project was titled, “Support to Homeless Women, Children and Families in Delhi” for six years. The project strived to create an efficient and responsive system to meet the needs of homeless people, provide community mobilisation, facilitate disabled certificates and railway concession forms for homeless with a disability, and mobilised group members to use the shelter facilities. Every year fresh initiatives were taken up in different quarters like care of pregnant women and post-natal care, people with disabilities, etc. Apart from these activities, another important activity was rescuing several homeless people in distress, providing treatment at government hospitals, and shifting them to shelter homes. Pregnant women were given health check-ups in different hospitals, and children below 14 years were assisted in treatment at different hospitals. Formal and non-formal education classes were held for these children. Some homeless persons have been placed in jobs such as caretakers, cooks, sweepers, factories, call centres, etc. The elderly and disabled were shifted to shelters, Ashrams, etc. Throughout the six years, the project benefitted 75000 people as per reports of impact.

19. Project in Partnership with Wayanad Girijana Seva Trust (WGST), Kerala (2011)

Wayanad Girijana Seva Trust, a charitable registered institution having its principal office in Wayanad District, Kerala, started working in 2002. Its prime objective is contributing to the process of education with a focus on Re-schooling the school drop-outs among the children from the impoverished tribal communities in the Wayanad district. With the support of BCF, WGST conducted a project for providing food to residential tribal children. The project is titled, “Food for Tribal Children of Vivekananda Residential Tribal Vidyalaya, Wayanad, and Kerala” for six years.
Wayanad district has a dense tribal population. The children who belong to these communities were not able to pursue their education due to poverty. The mission of this project was to leverage literacy among them by providing alternate schooling with free living and studying amenities. Mid-day meals were provided to the children to fulfill this vision of the project by procuring rice, groceries, and vegetables. An organic vegetable garden was formed by school students under the supervision of a teacher and with the help of the local agriculture department they obtained high-quality seeds and saplings of papaya, pineapple, etc., and used organic fertilisers for cultivation. Skill-oriented coaching in cutting and tailoring was provided to girl students along with regular education. Close to 12,000 students benefited from the project over a six-year period. Exposure visits to different places and different schools were conducted to enhance the learning levels of students.

20. Project in Partnership with Akash Maindwal Foundation (AMF), Uttar Pradesh (2012)

Akash Maindwal Foundation with the support of BCF implemented a project for providing informal education in areas of Vaishali. The project is titled, “Education and Empowerment of Children”.Most girls do not get an education after class 8 because there was no girls’ school in the vicinity. They either got married or started working as maids in nearby societies as first-generation learners. AMF appointed good tutors for teaching street children, good books were provided along with stationery, clothes, blankets, school bags, umbrellas, food, etc. As part of the course, a few programs like magic shows, games, and visits to different places, cities, etc. were arranged for them. Awareness programs/camps for employment were conducted at regular intervals for the benefit of needy and poor students. Regular counseling sessions are conducted to ensure that studies should be the main aim in life to earn a livelihood. AMF also helps youth to get job placements according to their talent and capabilities and has reached out to around 100 students from lower-income households whose parents work as house help, security guards, laundry, etc.

21. Project in Partnership with Deepalaya, Haryana (2012)

Deepalaya, an NPO, works with the economically and socially deprived, the differently abled, and other communities. With the support of BCF, Deepalaya implemented programs that provide a safe and familial environment to the children at risk. The project was titled, “Community Development Project''. There were separate boys' and girls’ hostels. At the weekend, different activities were organised for the children to help them to develop their hidden talents and enhance life skills like team spirit, leadership, etc. Different festivals like Raksha Bandhan, Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas were celebrated along with co-curricular activities like picnics, cultural activities, and sports activities conducted for the holistic development of students. A special unit of Deepalaya caters to the needs of children with various disabilities from the slums of South Delhi. Each year the project benefitted 125 children, till 2017. Through this project, all efforts were made to provide children with a dignified future and enable a self-reliant spirit.



22. Project in Partnership with Youth of Kodaganallur Endeavour (YOKE), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu (2013)

As a BCF partner, YOKE works for providing informal education and health awareness in areas of Kodaganallur. The project is titled, “Support to Rural underprivileged youth for Sports, English, Computer Education, and Health Training”. YOKE through this project tried to improve living standards through better education, employment, health, and the environment. The motive was to bridge the rural-urban gap by providing opportunities to the people through different activities under the said project. ‘A green initiative’ was conducted regularly. Health camps were organised and helped to create sensitivity to one’s health and underlined the need for routine monitoring. Dental care facilities were also organised to address common areas of deficiencies. Meanwhile, yoga training was conducted to create holistic wellness in the younger generation. Sports activities were promoted and infrastructure was created for regular practice and exercise which have proved a boon to many aspiring and talented players in the said village and around. 400 children and adults benefitted from this project. The library facility is being used by students and adults, and cultural programs are held.



23. Projects in partnership with Sri Aurobindo Society (2014), Pondicherry

Sri Aurobindo Society started in 1960 by Sri Aurobindo and ‘The Mother’ is a global not-for-profit NPO, that seeks to bring dynamic spirituality into material life and all its activities. With the support of BCF, it continued a project to support higher education for deserving SC/ST students who are below the poverty line. Under the scholarship program, the scholarship amount distributed was to the students by village presidents. Through this many village children especially from SC/ST and their parents gained confidence that students can pursue their higher education with this activity. With the support of BCF, the Society sponsored the higher education of 80 students among which 80% are from scheduled caste and 20% are, and encourages children of lower classes to study well.

24. Projects in partnership with Jananeethi (2015), Kerala

With the support of BCF, Jananeethi conducted a project towards facilitating “Justice as a healing factor”. Through this project, Jananeethi envisaged facilitating a process of accessing justice by people from all walks of life particularly vulnerable groups like women, children, the sick, the economically poor, etc., with the objectives of 1) psycho-legal care and support to victims of violence and abuse, 2) awareness building for weak and vulnerable communities and 3) networking and advocacy. The project tried to achieve the idea of “Justice in your door steps”. Psycho legal care program reached around 1220 people. For awareness building, 35 training sessions were conducted with around 40 participants on average in each session. Other than this, advocacy and networking activities were also conducted for rural areas around Thrissur.



25. Projects in partnership with Counter Media Trust, Mumbai (2020 - 2021)

The People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) is a multimedia digital journalism website run by Counter Media Trust. This is a living, breathing archive, founded in December 2014, completely dedicated to covering rural lives. BCF conducted a unique project with PARI which aims to do a livelihood mapping of ordinary, everyday rural Indians from every corner of the country, with information on who they are, what they do, and what they have to say. With the support of BCF, Counter Media Trust has agreed to implement PARI’s Rural Livelihood project by giving 25 photographers mini-assignments of around two months each with the focus of capturing people doing rural livelihoods which may discontinue because of the rapid urbanization India is going through. This unique project captures artisans and workers who survive in rural activities which were an integral part of society in older times but face real threats. These people manage minimum income. The project was envisaged to commemorate BCF’s Silver Jubilee in 2023.

26. Projects in partnership with Grey Shades INC, Chandigarh (2021 - 2022)

Grey Shades is an organisation committed to working with the elderly for their physical, social, and emotional well-being. In today’s fast-paced times, it strives to empower the elderly populace to prepare them for an enriching post-retirement life, with a mission to provide a happy and positive space for them to express, explore and experiment. Grey Shades realised the depth of the problems during the pandemic and helped the senior citizens through various activities like delivering essentials to the doorstep, providing counseling services to stay positive during difficult times, doing creative activities, learning about the new normal time, etc. BCF supported Grey Shades in March 2021 for the COVID-19 crisis with a small donation. Later in 2022, BCF gave another small grant to coordinate the activities of rehabilitation post-COVID-19.



27. Aahan Foundation – The Empowerment Centre Project, Ranchi (2022 - 2023 ongoing)

Aahan Works in rural India to reduce gender inequality by empowering girl children, who are generally neglected and are a victim of abuse and domestic violence. With the help of BCF, Aahan created an Empowerment Centre for girls in Sonapatra Village in Barwadag Panchayat in Ranchi district. This centre aims to provide education to at least 25 girls in three villages. The duration of the project is from April 2022 to March 2023 and extended to another year till March 2024. Girls will be trained free of cost. Centres are run by local girls. Since the girls are nearby and the centre is run by known girls, parents are willing to send their daughters to the centre. The curriculum is designed to suit their needs and imparted. The girls visit their homes so that they can help out their parents at home too. Once empowered these girls will inspire more children to join and ultimately bring some social change to the village. There will be a change in the mindset of “I am weak and helpless” to “I am confident and I can”.Aahan aims to empower girls through this project supported by BCF.

28. Partnership with SPYM for Women’s Collective and Digital Literacy (2019 - 2022)

Around 2018 BCF initiated a women’s collective, in partnership with Society for Promotion Among Youth and Masses (SPYM) comprising homeless women from women’s shelters. This was done to develop their agency and leadership to contribute to their advancement and the amelioration of their community. This initiative was supported by an individual donor, Mr. Arjun Lamba through HelpAge India. Out of a group of around 50 women, 10 were selected. A stipend was given to each of them and they went through a series of training in leadership, team building, conflict resolution, English language speaking, etc. Today, most of them are gainfully employed as shelter coordinators, caretakers, and heritage walk leaders.

29. Projects in partnership with Digiswasthya, Uttar Pradesh (2021 - 2023 ongoing)

Digiswasthya Foundation was registered under the Companies Act, 2013, in June 2021 which aims to bridge the gap between the rural population and urban healthcare services by providing a medium. BCF and ETP contributed to Digiswasthya’s efforts and supported Digiswasthya during the COVID-19 pandemic to carry out its activities. They set up consultation services especially cancer screening for patients who cannot afford to go to hospitals and get themselves treated.

30. Partnership with ETP Services Pvt. Ltd. (2022 - 2023 ongoing)

ETP Services has given a CSR grant to BCF to be given for causes that are making an impact on the ground. BCF utilised for establishing Community Information Resource Centres, (digital learning centres) for Homeless women and children in Homeless shelters. This will enable homeless women to learn basic working skills in the digital area and apply for their entitlements. Computer classes are held for shelter resident children daily with two trained teachers. Inaugurated in May 2022, the centre runs at Nizamuddin currently until 2024.

31. One-time grant

BCF has supported NPOs such as HEAL, PEACE, REVUE, and Shantigiri during the pandemic and thereafter small events with Kerala Museum (book release/heritage walks), and Biennale Foundation, among others.

*Projects from 25 to 31 have been directly supported by BCF in addition to others.