4 Indian NGOs Selected Among 14 for Grants from Google.org Supported Sustainability Fund

Four Indian Non-profit organizations (NGOs) have been selected by a Google-backed fund for their AI-driven climate solutions. These organizations are part of the APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0, which is supported by a $5 million grant from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google. 

The selected organizations are:

1. INREM Foundation: Developing AI-enabled open digital solutions for community access to water contamination data.

2. CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF): Using machine learning and satellite imagery to protect lakes and their carbon sink function.

3. Institute for Financial Management and Research (WELL Labs): Creating advanced models for village-level water security insights.

4. Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust (MHT): Developing an AI-powered model to identify urban heat islands and suggest community-centric solutions.

This initiative aims to foster technology- and AI-driven solutions to address critical environmental and social challenges.

The APAC Sustainability Seed Fund is a significant initiative aimed at addressing climate change and promoting sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Initiated by Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) and supported by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), The APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0's current fund amount is $5 million i.e. for the second round (Seed Fund 2.0).

The fund aims to support innovative, technology-driven solutions that tackle pressing climate and sustainability challenges. It focuses on Renewable energy and decarbonization, Climate adaptation, Waste management and circular economy, Air quality, Water preservation, and Biodiversity protection.

The fund aims to help vulnerable and underserved communities in the Asia-Pacific region adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

India’s 1st NGO Focused on Girls’ Education to Get Listed on the Social Stock Exchange of the NSE

Educate Girls ‘rings the bell’ as India’s 1st NGO focused on girls’ education to get listed on the Social Stock Exchange

The event was hosted by the National Stock Exchange under the leadership of Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, Managing Director & CEO, National Stock Exchange (NSE), and attended by Dr. Harish Ahuja, Head, Sustainability, Products & Strategy Development (Carbon & Power Markets), Investor awareness/Service, Primary Markets Relationships, National Stock Exchange (NSE), and Gayatri Nair Lobo, CEO, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation

In a pioneering step towards bridging the gender gap in education in India, Educate Girls, a leading non-profit organisation, announced its listing on the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) of the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Marked by a bell-ringing ceremony, the event distinguished Educate Girls as the first organisation dedicated to girls' education to be listed on the SSE. Educate Girls is among the first 10 NGOs listed on this innovative platform, alongside SGBS Unnati Foundation, Ekalavya Foundation, and Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, who have also embraced the SSE to further their missions.

Preceding the listing was the successful issue of Educate Girls’ Zero-Coupon Zero-Principal (ZCZP) bonds. These ZCZP bonds aimed to raise funds to mobilise over 7,000 marginalised children for enrolment, retention, and enhance learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy in some of the most remote, rural, and educationally backward villages of Bahraich district, in northeastern Uttar Pradesh at the Indo-Nepal border.

The bell-ringing ceremony witnessed the participation of supporters of girls’ education. Notable supporters include EdelGive Foundation, Zerodha, and A.T.E. Chandra Foundation. The event was attended by Dr Harish Ahuja, Head, Sustainability, Products & Strategy Development (Carbon & Power Markets), Investor awareness/Service, Primary Markets Relationships, National Stock Exchange (NSE) who congratulated Educate Girls and the entire team. He appreciated the innovative use of technology and predictive algorithms by Educate Girls for social impact.

"A listing on the Social Stock Exchange is a significant milestone, not just for Educate Girls, but for every girl fighting for her right to education. With the SSE listing, we are setting a precedent that opens many doors for focused investments towards creating gender equality in education. We are immensely proud to be at the heart of carving out the path towards an equitable future,” said Safeena Husain, Founder and Board Member, Educate Girls.

“The SSE initiative is an innovative financial avenue endorsed by the Honourable Finance Minister, aimed at connecting social enterprises with impact investors. We are excited to be one of the first 10 NGOs to be listed in this initiative, which unlocks new possibilities for nation building. The introduction of Educate Girls into this network reflects a maturing ecosystem that values social returns on investment, setting a benchmark for future listings,” said Maharshi Vaishnav, CEO of Educate Girls.

As Educate Girls continues to champion the cause of accessible education for all girls, this listing on the SSE is a call to action for investors and policymakers to view education through a lens of sustainability and social impact. The success of this initiative is a testament to what can be
achieved when innovation is harnessed to serve humanity’s most pressing needs.

About Educate Girls

Educate Girls is a non-profit that collaborates with state governments and mobilises village communities for girls' education in India's rural and educationally backward areas in alignment with the ‘Right to Education Act’ and “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.” Since 2007, in partnership with state governments, Educate Girls has mobilised over 18 lakh girls for school enrolment in over 29,000 villages of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Website – www.EducateGirls.ngo

HCLTech Launches 10th Edition of Grant India to for NGOs to Unleash Their Potential and Create Sustainable Change in Communities

HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCLTech in India, has launched the 10th edition of HCLTech Grant India to provide a platform for NGOs to unleash their potential and create sustainable change in communities.

The 10th edition of HCLTech Grant India provides funding of ₹16.5 Crore (~$2.2 million) to nine NGOs, selected by an esteemed jury. The grant will be provided to pioneering projects in sustainable rural development across the themes of environment, health and education. The last date for submitting applications on hclfoundation.org/hcltech-grant is June 25, 2024.

“HCLTech Grant signifies our commitment to supporting grassroots organizations and empowering them to make a real difference in the lives of people across India. We look forward to reviewing the innovative projects by NGOs across India and supporting impactful initiatives through HCLTech Grant,” said Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech & Director, HCLFoundation.

So far, ₹146.95 crore (~$18 million) has been committed by HCLFoundation through HCLTech Grant. In the 9th edition of the grant, The Corbett Foundation (covering 16 villages in one district of Gujarat), Sangath (covering 4,060 villages in three districts of Madhya Pradesh) and Makkala Jagriti (covering 451 villages in one district of Karnataka) received ₹5 crore (appx. $609,000) each for their projects of four-year duration in environment, health and education, respectively.

Each year, HCLFoundation publishes The Fifth Estate - The HCLTech Grant Compendium, a comprehensive, photo-documented assessment of 30 shortlisted NGOs, highlighting the best practices in the areas of Environment, Health and Education. The selection of awardee NGOs is done through a rigorous seven-step screening process that involves reviewing applications and proposals, field audits and due diligence.

HCLFoundation delivers the corporate social responsibility agenda of HCLTech in India. The Foundation contributes to national and international development goals by investing in long-term sustainable programs and special initiatives with thematic focus on education, nurturing grassroots sports, health and sanitation, skill development and livelihood, environment and disaster risk reduction, and response management. To ensure equitable development, child protective strategies, inclusion and gender transformative approaches are at the core of all the programs of the Foundation. Till date, the HCLFoundation has invested over $150 million to positively impacted over 5.5 million lives. To learn more visit www.hclfoundation.org

A Unique Summit of 20 Students Led NGOs Held at T-Hub

Foundation Summit, a unique summit of Student Led NGOs held at T-Hub (there is no connection to T-Hub, except the venue). Twenty Youth Lead, in the age group of 16 to 21 years old participated. All must all of them are studying and also running these NGOs. 

The Kashmir Files producer Abhishek Agarwal, Shanta Thoutham from Telangana State Innovation Cell; Ritu Shah, Chairperson of FICCI Ladies Organisation(FLO), Ms Shubhra Maheshwari, Past Chairperson FLO, Mr Sumer Jain, MD of Four Wheel Travels and others graced.

Addressing the youth at the Vibhegia Summit, Abhishek Agrawal, producer of The Kahsmir Files said Teens too are socially aware. This is the new India, the young India, they like to come out and serve. The emerging society is full of challenges to overcome, and youth is the answer for a promising tomorrow, he said.

Despite being busy with the inaugural of the Secretariat, I am here for some takeaways, the youth are promising. We need more of these change-makers, they are the future of our world said Shanta Thoutham from Telangana State Innovation Cell.

Seen 20 student led startup founders

The 20 student-led non-profits include A Teenager's Interests; Bizz.connect; Miles and smiles; The Khayal Foundation; Whelve; Learning Space Foundation; MNR Organisation; M Group Realtors; Dhruvansh; Meraki Bizz Connect; Naari, women wellness initiative; Touch A Life Foundation; JMB Learning; Bina Singh Foundation; Hygeia and Vibhaag. 

The initiative named VIBHGEIA, the half-day FOUNDATION SUMMIT was organized by two leading student-led non-profitable foundations. It was rare to bring all these non-profit organizations together under one platform. It was an opportunity for all the other nonprofitable organizations to share their mission and impact the audience.

The event held in the evening. Twenty NGOs participated and also put up stalls. They set up their stalls, propagated their causes, and missions, and spread the messages. Three foundations were chosen from the networking session to speak. Awards were presented to the deserving few. 

The aim of this conference was to network, share, care, learn, collaborate, and make an impact to society unlike before said NGO Vibhaag Foundation’s, Founder, Ashmit Tainwala, and Bhuvit Hisariya founder of HYGEIA.

Ashmit and Bhuvit the organisers of the summit

Vibhaag Foundation is a student-run foundation led by Ashmit Tainwala. It raised funds in the past for a Charitable Clinic for Women and Children in a Slum area run by the Lions Club of Hyderabad Petals. Even the Medicines required to run the clinic for one year were arranged by a student-run NGO.

Bhuvit Hisariya, 17 years is a founder of HYGEIA and is a 12th class at Chirec. We work for better health for all. It is a one-year-old voluntary organization. Organized many health camps and impacted 1000 people. Moved by people suffering, I decided to be of some service to the society says Bhuvit.

Unifarm Collaborates With Deepalaya to Support Children With Differential Abilities From Urban Slum Communities

UniFarm in collaboration with Dapps announced a purpose-driven humanitarian alliance with Deepalaya, a Delhi-based NGO, to support slum children with special abilities. Through this partnership, UniFarm will provide materials like stationary, lunch boxes, winter clothes, etc to children from Deepalaya’s Sambhav centre that offers care and development facilities to differentially abled children from across 27 urban slum communities in Delhi.

In the first chapter of the association, the UniFarm team distributed 120 lunch boxes and stationery items to special children from Sambhav centre in Delhi. UniFarm will also ensure that the educational needs of these special children are fulfilled promptly. UniFarm plans to organize a series of socially responsible events across India to raise awareness around autism.

Commenting on the development, Tarusha Mittal, COO, and Cofounder of UniFarm and Dapps said “UniFarm is a socially responsible brand and our initiative to support children with special needs is extremely close to my heart. I strongly believe that new-age start-ups and their founders need to do their bit for the communities we serve. This is just a small beginning of a larger initiative to give back to society”.

Commenting on the development Dr. George John, Secretary & Chief Executive, Deepalaya, said “Children with differential abilities are special and have all the right for equal accessibility and opportunity. Strong emphasis and efforts are needed for their social inclusion and mainstreaming. Besides the Civil Society bodies, it’s the society at large that plays a vital role in creating a social change towards this cause. We urge all individuals to be socially sensitive and cautious towards all diversities.”

Autism is the world’s 3rd most common developmental disability which manifests at the age of three. Early detection of the illness enables the parents to start therapy sessions which are highly beneficial for the child’s recovery. As per a recent study, every 1 in 100 children below 10 years has autism in India, which means we need to prepare at a war level.

About UniFarm:

UniFarm is a collaborative wealth creation platform where the best projects in DeFi space come together to provide value to investors. With its diverse range of services offering group staking, IDO Launchpad, and liquidity pool farming, UniFarm allows investors to earn high APYs while automatically diversifying their returns.

About Deepalaya:

Deepalaya is the largest operational NGO in Delhi-NCR region, started in 1979 with 7 founding members with the objective of educating the underprivileged children.Over the years, our thematic areas grew to incorporate projects that helps destitute and marginalised community members including youth, women, specially abled, orphans, children on street etc. Today, the organisation actively operates projects in the area of Education, Vocational Training, Women Empowerment & Livelihood, Institutional Care, Differentially Abled, Environment Sustainability across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

GAIL, a Govt of India Undertaking and DWAB signs MoU

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between GAIL, a Govt of India Undertaking and Development & Welfare Association of the Blind (DWAB), a Hyderabad based NGO which runs a blind school at Nalgonda. The MoU was signed for the construction of classrooms in the Blind School. The MoU was signed and exchanged today at Nalgonda by Shri B. Balaji Bukhya, Senior Manager, CSR, GAIL Rajahmundry and P Chokka Rao, General Secretary of DWAB.

Balaji Bukhya Senior Manager CSR GAIL Rajahmundry and P Chokka Rao General Secretary of DWAB

GAIL (India) Ltd, a Govt of India Undertaking, extends rupees fifteen lakh financial support to a Hyderabad based Development & Welfare Association of the Blind (DWAB) which has a blind school at Nalgonda. The support is extended under CSR Project Support for DWAB for the construction of Rooms at the 25years old Blind School.

As per the agreement construction of class rooms will be taken up and completed by 31st March 2022. GAIL extends financial help and DWAB completes construction.

Mr P. Chokka Rao thanked Mr Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, MP, Ongole for recommending the same to GAIL for the help as well as the GAIL officials to travelling to Nalgonda and saving the effort for the physically challenged P. Chooka Rao from traveling to Rajahmundry for the same.

Nalgonda School for the blind is run by DWAB —Development and Welfare of the Blind which recently completed 25 years. The blind school is run on donations from the public. The school is well known for its role and in producing results. Recognising its efforts, several Governors, Chief Ministers, the President of India Mr Abdul Kalam; Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, State Human Rights Commission Chairman and members either visited the school or appreciated their efforts.

Chokka Rao, who himself is visually challenged, is a retired Gazetted Head Master and founded it on 4th January 1996. DWAB is running a secondary School called Nalgonda School for the Blind with residential facilities for the Visually Impaired students providing free education and boarding in a spacious four stories building of a 15000sft area. It runs classes from 1 to 10th class. Its journey began with just three students. It currently has 97 blind students. Recently, the School also started English medium from Classes 1 to 7. The organization could construct its building for school and hostel which can accommodate 300 Blind children [Boys & Girls] with all basic amenities. It is purely run based on donations. 24 batches of 10th class students passed out with 100% results. Well over 100 visually challenged from this school secured government jobs. About 600 students have gone for higher studies.

A lot of its students have got jobs in very good organizations and settled.

Wishes and Blessings NGO Organizes Fundraising Concert to Support Qawwals under Covid Relief

The virtual concert will be hosted on BookMyShow and has been supported by BookASmile, in association with BigFM.

New Delhi, July 26, 2021: In its commitment to reach out to those in need, Delhi-based NGO, Wishes and Blessings, is supporting the internationally renowned Qawwali troupe, Niazi Brothers, a troupe that has been drastically affected due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, by way of a fundraising musical concert.

The event, called Jashn-E-Qawwali, which is a celebration of the art of Qawwals, is scheduled for 31 July 2021, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The show will be streamed on BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination and its charity initiative BookASmile will graciously support the fundraiser by matching the amount raised through the sale of tickets (conditions apply). The official Radio Partner for the event is India's leading Radio Channel, 92.7 BigFM. The tickets to this show are on sale for Rs. 399/- only. This concert is a part of the efforts of Wishes and Blessings to provide relief to all those in need.

Lead Artist, Shahid Niazi (in black) with his troupe member, Niazi Brothers

 
Shahid Niazi was born into the renowned musical family of Rampur Gharana of Qawwali in the district of Rampur (U.P)- India. His father late Ustad Ghulam Abid Niazi who himself was a very famous Qawwali Singer and a highly reputed artist in his field, is still remembered till date with the same honour and respect. Mr. Shahid and his troupe, Niazi Brothers, exhibit an extraordinary talent for versatile singing such as Qawwali, Naat, Ghazals, Bhajan, Geet, Folk etc. They never forget to send a message of brotherhood and peace through their singing."

The Corona virus outbreak has affected many lives. One such section comprises of artists as well as artisans, who survive on events and concerts. Due to the lockdown, such events are not allowed, and they have no other means to support themselves. We were approached by the Niazi Brothers, and we at Wishes and Blessings never say no to help anyone in need, and hence it is our pleasure to organize a fundraising concert for this talented group of musicians." says Dr. Geetanjali Chopra, Founder, and President, Wishes and Blessings.

"We as artists were really struggling because of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. We reached out to Wishes and Blessings NGO for support, and they kindly agreed to come forward and help us by organizing this concert. We are glad that through this opportunity, we can be a voice for many artists who suffered in these dark times. We are grateful for this support!" says Shahid Niazi, Lead Artist, Niazi Brothers.

Farzana Cama Balpande, Head – BookASmile says, “With the entertainment industry being one of the worst hit, performing artists across the board have been adversely impacted and aiding them while holding up the survival of the arts has been a priority for us at BookASmile. We are only too glad to be able to lend our support to the Niazi Brothers in partnership with like-minded organisations like Wishes and Blessings".

The musical community has provided a safe space to all those suffering due to the pandemic. The NGO describes Jashn-E-Qawwali as an opportunity for the very same people to give back to those who have helped them. All funds raised will be utilized to aid the Niazi Brothers, the musician community residing in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh as well as to fund the overall Covid Relief Project executed by Wishes and Blessings.

The Wishes and Blessings Covid Relief Project was officially launched on day 1 of the lockdown i.e. 25th March 2020 and provided relief and aid in 7 states across India. Since then, the team has served over 20,00,000 meals, distributed 70,000+ dry ration kits, and provided 23,000+ hygiene kits to the beneficiaries. Wishes and Blessings had launched the WB Ambulances for Covid Relief Project in August 2020 wherein free transport was provided to the underprivileged to reach treatment centers and execute tests in quarantine zones. Currently, the Covid Relief Project is active in 4 states- Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, and aims at fulfilling immediate and long-term requirements of the needy and destitute affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

Wishes and Blessings

Wishes and Blessings is a registered NGO based in Delhi, with a presence in Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Set up under the aegis of Dr. Geetanjali Chopra in 2014, the organization cuts across the spectrum of gender and age to help those who need it. The NGO is a unique platform to connect donors and beneficiaries and bring together those blessed to help those who have unfulfilled wishes. They believe that happiness is not just an end, but a means to an end as well, and therefore do not have one focus area but 6 causes among which are education, nutrition, care for elders, relief, customizable charity, and the overall cause of happiness.

Free Ambulance Services For COVID+ Patients In Delhi by Wishes and Blessings NGO

Wishes and Blessings NGO Offers Free Ambulance Services For Needy COVID+ Patients In Delhi

The NGO is also providing medical essentials such as oximeters, paracetamol, masks and sanitisers to shelter homes and night shelters

New Delhi, May 13, 2021: Committed to aiding the needy and destitute, Delhi-based NGO Wishes and Blessings has launched free of cost transportation services for Covid-19 positive patients in need. The Ambulances will be providing services across Delhi to patients requiring transportation from their residences to the closest hospital/ treatment facility.

The NGO has launched 2 ambulances and will add more to the fleet based on the performance of the project and availability of funding. While one Ambulance is equipped with an oxygen cylinder, ready to use in case of an emergency, the other vehicle is a non-oxygen Ambulance. The service will be available 12 hours/day, all 7 days of the week. In the primary stage, Wishes and Blessings will be catering to calls from South and South West Delhi. Those wanting to avail the service may contact +91 85956 20046 (non-oxygen Ambulance) and +91 83688 86870 (oxygen Ambulance).

“During this crisis, one prime need of the hour is to ensure that Covid+ patients reach hospitals and get the treatment as promptly as possible, in order to receive timely medical intervention. Unfortunately, the destitute cannot afford to rent vehicles for safe transport to these facilities; there is a dearth of Ambulance services that the underprivileged can make use of, especially those that are equipped with oxygen support. Our services provide aid to exactly this demographic, completely free of cost,” says Dr. Geetanjali Chopra, Founder & President of Wishes and Blessings NGO.

In addition to providing free of cost Ambulance services, the NGO has started distributing medical essentials such as oximeters, paracetamol, masks and sanitisers to underprivileged and destitute residents of shelter homes and night shelters (rain-baseras) across Delhi, including Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi Gate, Munirka, Safdarjung and Okhla. “We are humbled to be able to offer aid directly to those on the ground. The rise of Covid cases is extremely worrying and the relief distributed ensures that there is regular monitoring of the beneficiaries, and immediate care and action can be taken if the residents fall ill,” adds Dr. Chopra.

The Wishes and Blessings Covid Relief Project was officially launched on day 1 of the lockdown i.e. 25th March 2020, and provided relief and aid in 7 states across India. Since then, the team has served over 20,00,000 meals, distributed 70,000+ dry ration kits and provided 23,000+ hygiene kits to the beneficiaries. Wishes and Blessings had launched the WB Ambulances for Covid Relief Project in August 2020 wherein free transport was provided to the underprivileged to reach treatment centres, as well as for executing tests in quarantine zones.

Currently, the Covid Relief Project is active in 6 states- Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, and aims at fulfilling immediate and long term requirements of the needy and destitute affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

Wishes and Blessings

Wishes and Blessings is a registered NGO based in Delhi, with a presence in Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Set up under the aegis of Dr. Geetanjali Chopra in 2014, the organization cuts across the spectrum of gender and age to help those who need it. The NGO is a unique platform to connect donors and beneficiaries, to bring together those who are blessed to help those who have unfulfilled wishes. They believe that happiness is not just an end, but a means to an end as well, and therefore do not have one focus area but 6 causes among which are education, nutrition, care for elders, relief, customizable charity and the overall cause of happiness.