The Vriksh Initiative by Sahaj Foundation
Empowering Early-Stage Social Leaders working with communities across India
Mohamad Meer Hamja
Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangthan
Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India
Ensuring the land rights and access to traditional resources of the Van Gujjar community through education and awareness programs.
Community Development, Education, Advocacy
T Sundarasekar Thangaraj
Avaram Food Forest Trust
Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Promoting organic farming and sustainability practices among farmers in Tamilnadu.
Regenerative Farming and Forestry
Shalu Saharan
Living Consciouslyy Foundation
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Ensuring access to mental and emotional health, spiritual and personal growth opportunities for everyone.
Mental and Emotional Health
Yashok Sivasubramaniam
Ecological Restoration and Conservation Space
Tamil Nadu, India
Working with communities to preserve the indigenous tribal wisdom and conserve forests in India.
Regenerative Farming and Forestry, Education
Saba Khan
Pahal Shiksha Gramin Vikas Evaam Samajik Jankalyan Samiti
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Establishing libraries and resource centers in deprived and marginalized communities of Bhopal.
Education, Youth Empowerment, Women Empowerment
Anumuthu Chinnaraj
Goodwill Mission Trust- Project Snehan
Puducherry, India
Serving homeless, disabled, old and sick people living on the streets in Puducherry, India.
Elderly Care
Nikhil Gajanan Ambekar,
Foundation for Participatory Development Communication and Research (PDCR)
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Working with adolescents and youth to equip them with media literacy competencies and active citizenship.
Media Literacy, Education, Youth Empowerment
Shivani Kumari
Wild-India
Jamui, Bihar, India
Working towards betterment of environment and people, while bringing opportunity for green livelihood to rural marginalized, especially women.
Regenerative Farming and Forestry, Women Empowerment
Avneesh Kumar
Project Kunji
Delhi, India
Supporting ex-prisoners, and their families, for their integration in society by helping them with employment, mental health, education and other related needs.
Marginalised Prisoners Support
Surinder and Kalyani
Vipas Foundation
Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India
Empowering youth through skill education, therapy and yoga, and supporting women through physical and mental health and livelihood.
Youth Empowerment, Women Empowerment, Livelihood, Education
Rahul Singh
Access to legal aid through tech (ALT)
Delhi, India
Providing free legal counseling to marginalized prisoners and their families in Delhi and Dehradun.
Marginalised Prisoners Support
OUR OFFERINGS AND IMPACT
THE VRIKSH FELLOWSHIP
The fellowship aims to financially support early-stage Social Leaders who are working for the benefit of economically or socially disadvantaged section of Indian Society, residing anywhere in slums, rural or tribal areas of the country. The financial support includes a monthly support of Rs 12,000 for the chosen leaders’ personal daily sustenance for a minimum period of 2 years.
CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS
We are in the process of designing capacity building programs for our fellows for their individual as-well-as organizational development as per their vision, values and principles.
In addition, as our present focus area is Sustainability and Climate Change, we are committed to deepen our fellows' understanding of the field while they continue to do their work with the communities.
ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2022
We have come a long way since we launched our pilot (Disha Parivartan Fellowship) in 2019.
So far, we have worked with 13 fellows in 7 different domains working in 8 states of the country.
We have also engaged 12 funders (mostly individual philanthropists) who have not only chosen to contribute financially, but have also shared their time and experience with the fellows.
Do explore our Annual Impact Report 2022 for more insights.
OUR TEAM
Ashish Arora
Team Lead
Bir, Himachal Pradesh, India
Manoj Sharma
Team Member, Trustee
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Vyjayanthi Chander
Team Member
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Raju Chander
Team Member
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Kishore Nath
Mentor
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Sunil Chavan
Mentor
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India