“Rich people are getting richer, whereas poor people are getting poorer.” I think we’ve all heard this phrase, right? The worst part is that it’s true as well, and we are doing nothing for poor people. But there must be someone doing their part for the less fortunate, right? Yes, Swades Foundation is emerging as the torch on the dark path for poor people. The organisation is not only working for the poor people, but also developing rural areas overall.
Swades Foundation Org is empowering poor people to take charge of their own journey, providing them with the opportunity to work, earn and lead a better life. They are igniting impactful changes with a single aim: that everyone has the power to transform their future and the world. However, how exactly are they doing this? And how far they’ve come? Do you want to know all the answers to your questions? Keep reading!
Introduction to Swades Foundation
Swades Foundation is an NGO (non-government organisation) that formally started its journey in 2013, founded by the entrepreneur couple, Ronnie and Zarina Screwala. However, the organisation laid the initial foundation in Raigad district, Maharashtra, in 2012. Swades, formerly known as the SHARE (Society to Heal, Aid, Restore & Educate). In 2013, SHARE restructured and became Swades Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation.
Swades NGO works to improve the quality of life of rural people every five years. They’ve lifted millions of people out of poverty through their strong vision and resilience. Swades has a team of 270+ determined people who are aligned to achieve the same goal: To empower the rural communities. Currently, the Swades Foundation NGO is led by Mangesh Wanges as CEO, whose spirit and integrity bind the team together.
Key Areas to Focus
Swades aims to help build the future of individuals as well as the whole community, as a whole. The organisation believes in ‘Unity’, working not for one but for the whole. Foundation uses a powerful approach that combines all the important aspects, including health, education, water & sanitation, and economic development.
Let’s further understand the goals of Swades ngo in these aspects.
- Health: Swades Foundation plans to connect villages with public and private hospitals. They are building a team called ‘Swades Mitras’ by training community health workers. The organisation focuses on programmes such as Pediatric Cardiac Care, Vision Care, and Anaemia Alleviation, as well as support for children with special needs.
- Education: They are taking the initiative to boost the literacy rate in rural areas. Reconstructing schools and bringing more teachers to educate children. The foundation also provides books, notebooks, pens, and pencils to children to encourage them to study and write their own future.
- Water & Sanitation: NGO to raise awareness about hygiene, and establish toilets in every household. Additionally, Swades ensures every home has potable water to drink while promoting irrigation facilities in rural areas for agriculture.
- Economic Development: Swades Foundation ngo also aims to achieve an annual household income of approximately ₹2 lakh with the help of diverse livelihoods. They are taking several initiatives to accomplish this aim. It includes programs like prioritising on-farm and off-farm facilities. Moreover, skills training to support rural entrepreneurship and empower rural women.
What is Swades Dream Village?
Have you heard about this village? This is not a real village; it is actually a dream village of many people living in rural areas. Before Swades begin to change and establish, they ask the rural community what their dream village looks like. That’s when the idea of Swades dream village came about, and the foundation made a push to turn their dream village into reality.
Do you want to know how they would describe their village? Well, almost the whole village’s people dream of having clean, drinkable water, access to toilets, quality education, affordable healthcare facilities, and livelihood opportunities. From there, the 5s of a Swades Dream Village were established.
Here are 5s of Swades Dream Village:
- Swacch aims to ensure every home has its own toilet and taps to drink clean water.
- Sundar aims to create a safe, clean environment with functional streetlights and well-maintained roads in the village.
- Swasth aims to make healthcare facilities, institutional delivery services, and prescribed vaccinations easily available in a timely manner.
- Sakshar aims to ensure that every child under 16 has access to quality education and that every school has access to water and toilet facilities.
- Samruddh aims for every household to earn an income of ₹2 lakh annually with the help of a variety of sources, such as on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm activities.
- Shrishti aims to improve the quality of life, promoting conscious living, encouraging waste management, solar energy adoption, and tree plantation.
Awards & Recognition
Swades Foundation ORG has been working for almost 11 years, aiming towards rural empowerment. However, it gained traction first when it received its first award of Best NGO in Water Harvesting in 2017. That’s when Swadesh and its mission became known to people. In the same year, they received another award for CSR Implementing Agency of the year.
With the continuous growth and determination, the organisation build ultimate trust and recognition across India and beyond. Swades Foundation achieved numerous awards afterwards, such as the India Today Safaigiri Award for ‘Toilet Titan’, Sabera Awards, and Special Commendation Award. They also receive the most prestigious award, the Mahatma Award for Social Impact, and the Forbes Leadership Award. The foundation is continuing to grow and promote sustainability and long-term empowerment, driving impactful change.
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Developing Rural Communities- Clean, Safe & Functional
Swadesh Foundation has done what most government bodies have been incapable of achieving over all these years. They transform the map of rural communities, making their roads clean and improved, bringing potable water, access to clean toilets, enhancing learning & education, and easily available and affordable healthcare facilities. With a strong mindset and resilience, Swades has achieved what their team has dreamed of. Every rural area has become or is becoming the picture of quality livelihoods.
