Programmes

Educational and awareness among children

Evening Learning Centres

Abhithi Foundation runs Evening Learning Centres to support rural poor children with after-school education. These centres aim to improve academic performance and reduce dropout rates particularly among girls by providing consistent guidance and a safe learning environment.

Active Centres in Villages Around Puducherry:
• Ramanathapuram
• Thondamanatham
• Thuthipattu
• Suthukeni
• Ransangulam
• Katterikuppam

Children Reached :
Over 250 children (both boys and girls)

What the Centres Offer:

• Academic support to improve learning outcomes
• A safe space that prevents child labour, early marriage, and other vulnerabilities
• Encouragement for continued education, especially for girls
• A nurturing environment for holistic development
These centres are more than just educational spaces—they are safe havens of hope and opportunity for children who need it the most.

Life Skills for Adolescent Girls

Abhithi Foundation empowers adolescent girls aged 10 to 19 by equipping them with life and career skills that prepare them for a confident and informed future.

Key Focus Areas:

• Self-awareness & confidence building
• Health and environmental literacy
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Decision-making & problem-solving
• Critical thinking & career readiness

Reach & Impact:

Over 2,000 adolescent girls from government and private schools and at the community level have benefitted from our life skills programs, helping them make informed choices, stay in school, and plan for a better future.
This initiative lays the foundation for empowered, resilient young women who can lead change in their communities.

Summer Camps for Adolescent Girls

Abhithi Foundation organizes regular summer camps for adolescent girls, creating a space for
educational motivation, creativity, and personal growth during school holidays.

Purpose:

To encourage girls to return to school after the summer vacation
To build confidence, leadership, and team spirit
To engage them in fun, educational, and skill-building activities

These camps play a key role in preventing dropouts and promoting continued education,
especially among girls from rural and underserved communities.

Leadership and Capacity Building for Adolescent Girls

Abhithi Foundation conducts regular village-level capacity building workshops for adolescent girls across its working areas. These programs aim to nurture young leaders who can advocate for themselves and others in their communities.

Formation of Young Women’s Groups:
In each village, dedicated young women’s groups have been formed to address critical issues faced by adolescent girls, including:
• Child marriage
• Domestic violence
• Child sexual abuse
• Gender discrimination

Topics Covered:
Participants are sensitised on:
• Gender and leadership
• Legal rights and protections
• Key legislations such as the POCSO Act, Nirbhaya Act, Domestic Violence Act, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

Knowledge of Helplines and Support Services:
Through these trainings, girls have become aware of available legal resources and helplines, enabling them to actively intervene and prevent incidents like child marriage and domestic abuse in their communities.
This initiative empowers adolescent girls to become agents of change, building a safer, more just society from the grassroots up.

Womens Health and Hygiene

Abhithi Foundation has been actively organizing various workshops and medical camps to promote women's health, with a strong focus on sexual and reproductive health rights. As part of this initiative, reusable sanitary pads were distributed at the village level, following awareness sessions on their health benefits and proper usage. The Foundation also commemorates Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th each year through community events and awareness campaigns to break taboos and encourage healthy menstrual practices.

Environmnetal Protection and climate awareness

As part of its commitment to environmental protection and climate awareness, Abhithi Foundation actively engages in organizing awareness campaigns and community-led tree plantation drives in its working villages. These initiatives aim to foster eco-consciousness and promote sustainable living practices among local residents.

Economic empowerment and livelihood initiatives for women:

Believing that economic independence is key to achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, Abhithi Foundation implements various economic empowerment programs. These include training in income-generating activities, financial literacy, and skill-building. Women are equipped with practical skills such as tailoring and beautician training to help them secure sustainable livelihoods and become self-reliant.

Disaster Response and Relief Support

Abhithi Foundation actively responds during disasters such as floods, cyclones, and pandemics like COVID-19 by providing essential relief support to vulnerable groups, including older women, women with disabilities, and women engaged in informal work. Sanitary napkins and masks were distributed to adolescent girls, along with support through a cash transfer program. The relief packages included rice, dal, wheat flour, soap, and toothpaste. With the support of friends and partner organizations, the Foundation was able to reach around 180 families in need.