Shikshalaya

Education is our flagship project, through which we have positively impacted the lives of over 18,050 students across four states in India. Shikshalaya, our free learning center, has been operational for four successful years. Beginning in 2014, we initially supported underprivileged children by funding their tuition fees and conducting informal classes in volunteers’ homes. By 2019, our first formal learning center was established in Najafgarh, New Delhi, India. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted by launching E-Shikshalaya.  Many families lacked access to digital devices, with either no smartphones or only one device used by the working family member. To address this, we distributed tablet phones to families, enabling children to continue their education. Today, our education centers in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh continue to thrive. Almost 750 students have passed out from our centers and are doing exceptionally well; some are employed, and one has even opened his own cyber center. Students who join our centers become part of the Raise India Foundation family, where we celebrate cultural events and festivals together. Our focus extends beyond academic development to encompass holistic growth. We offer personality development classes, yoga, physical education, and computer classes, aiming to nurture skilled individuals capable of reshaping their futures and impacting their families positively.

Chuppi Todo- Sharam Nahi Samman

"Menstruation is not a problem, poor menstrual hygiene is”Inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's call to action on India's 74th Independence Day, we launched the campaign "Chuppi Todo - Sharam Nahi Samman." This initiative seeks to address the alarming statistic that only 36% of women in India have access to sanitary pads, leaving millions to resort to unhygienic alternatives like husk or dirty clothes. Poor menstrual hygiene not only leads to infections but also contributes to the high rate of school dropouts among girls, denying them their right to education. At Raise India Foundation, we are committed to breaking the silence surrounding menstruation and providing support to women in need. Through our campaign, we distribute Dignity Kits to female construction workers at industrial sites across Delhi and the National Capital Region. These kits include essential hygiene and sanitary items tailored to the specific needs of women and girls in each community, including 15 sanitary pads, undergarments, detergent soap, bathing soap, and a towel. But our efforts extend beyond distribution. We conduct events and workshops that focus on menstrual hygiene and combatting the stigma associated with menstruation. In 2024, we have expanded our reach to slum areas, where we not only distributed Dignity Kits but also install pad vending machines and incinerators to promote proper sanitation practices.

Mission Little Heartbeats – Urgent Appeal to Save Baby Raj

Under Mission Little Heartbeats, Raise India Foundation continues to support children born with congenital heart diseases who require timely medical intervention. Our current case is that of a 4-month-old infant, Baby Raj Kushwaha, who urgently needs life-saving treatment.

Baby Raj is the only brother to five sisters and the youngest child in a financially fragile household. His father works as a labourer in the fields, earning barely enough to provide for basic needs. The family has been struggling for months as Raj’s health complications became increasingly visible, and today they are faced with a situation far beyond their capacity to handle.

Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Manesar have diagnosed Baby Raj with two critical congenital heart defects: a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) and a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). These conditions have already begun affecting his growth and breathing, leading to inadequate weight gain, constant discomfort, and the growing risk of heart failure if left untreated. The medical team has strongly recommended immediate surgery comprising VSD closure and PDA closure. This intervention cannot be delayed, as any further deterioration may become irreversible.

The estimated cost of the surgery is ?2,70,000. Raise India Foundation has been able to secure a ?20,000 discount through hospital coordination, bringing the required amount down to ?2,50,000. However, for a family surviving on irregular daily wages, arranging even a small fraction of this amount is impossible. They have placed their full hope and trust in our mission and in the generosity of individuals who step forward to support children like Raj.

At this critical moment, every contribution matters. Your support can directly help Baby Raj receive the medical treatment he urgently needs and give him the chance to grow, play, and live a healthy life. This is a plea to all those who believe in protecting the lives of children and supporting families who have nowhere else to turn.

Let us join hands to save Baby Raj. Your help today can give this infant a future that his parents are desperately praying for.

Warm regards,
Team Raise India Foundation