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YEFI Launched: Democratising Grassroots Entrepreneurship in India

TERRE DES HOMMES (TDH) Germany Marks 50 Years of Child Rights Work in India with Youth-Led Celebrations in Pune

By Impactlens Correspondent Terre Des Hommes Germany marked 50 years of impactful work in India with a two-day celebration held on 3rd and 4th January 2026 at the J P Naik Education & Development Centre, Pune, Maharashtra. The event was organised in partnership with Centre for Youth Development and Activities

YEFI Launched: Democratising Grassroots Entrepreneurship in India

Pune, November 22, 2025 On the occasion of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), celebrated across more than 200 countries, India marked a transformative moment with the launch of the YouthAid Entrepreneurs’ Federation of India (YEFI)—a pioneering national platform dedicated exclusively to empowering grassroots entrepreneurs. The launch event, hosted in Pune, showcased

A Young Innovator in the Making

By Najiya Shaikh, Program Officer Supported by EMpower Sanskruti Kamble, a grade 9 student, is pursuing her education at Agarwal School, Bhosari, Pune. She has always been curious to learn and explore new things. Science has been her favorite subject, she often wondered how the fan worked, why rainbows appeared

Empowering Young Mothers Through Nutrition and Care

By Anamika Dey, Project Coordinator, Supported By Kcorp Charitable Foundation Maternal health and nutrition play a critical role in determining the well-being of both mother and child. In rural and tribal communities, early marriage, low literacy levels and lack of health awareness often contribute to malnutrition and poor maternal outcomes.

Promoting hygiene among young learners through creative soap-making

By Sushil Zadode, Project Coordinator, Nagpur Supported by Persistent Foundation Handwashing with soap is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect individuals, particularly the younger ones, from diseases such as diarrhea, cough, cold and skin infections. It removes dirt, bacteria, and viruses that water alone cannot. Regular

Rainwater Harvesting: Securing Water and Learning in Schools

By Vikas Mhaske, Program Manager, CYDA Across India, many schools face water shortages. This lack of water harms children’s health and affects their learning and growth. Studies and global monitoring reports indicate that inadequate water and sanitation in schools lead to lower attendance and poorer academic performance (World Health Organisation,

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Recent Stories

A Brother’s Stand: Against Child Marriage

Shekhar Ulhas Parse, Pune, Maharashtra The biggest turning point in my life came when I gathered the courage to stop my mother from marrying off my younger sister. I didn’t want her to become a child bride. Because of my decision, her life was protected and she continued her education.

Youth Network: My School of Life

Akshay, Giridih, Jharkhand After completing my tenth grade, I began dreaming about my future. However, my father’s death in 2019 forced me to go away from home, working in hotels in cities like Surat and Hyderabad. One day, while returning home after my intermediate exams, I met staff members of

From Child Bride to an Aspiring Doctor

Pratima Baliram Jadhav Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra I have come a long way from being a child bride who faced violence and separation to now dreaming of becoming a doctor. I was married at 16 because, in my village, girls have very few opportunities to study or work. My married life was

India’s CSR Evolution: NGOs Driving Accountability and Responsible Corporate Impact

Jinu Sam is a development professional and CSR practitioner and writes about NGOs and corporates to strengthen accountability, ethical partnerships, and measurable social impact across India. Introduction Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India has emerged as a distinctive feature of corporate governance. The Companies Act, 2013 mandated that eligible companies

Malpur Village Builds Its Own Learning Space

By Chetana Patil, Program Executive, Nandurbar Education is not limited to reading books or passing examinations. It is the foundation on which confidence, dignity, and opportunities are built. Even today, when transformation and development are widely discussed, many children continue to be deprived of education and the chance to lead

Water Security Strengthening Farming and Livelihoods in Rural Maharashtra

By Suryakant Chavan, Watershed Expert, Sangola Diksal village in the Sangola block of Solapur district is located in one of the most drought-prone regions of Maharashtra. The area receives low and highly unpredictable rainfall, making agriculture extremely uncertain. Most farmers depend entirely on the monsoon for cultivation and grow crops

CYDA Celebrates 27 Years of Youth-Centred and Inclusive Development

By Impactlens correspondent Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) celebrated its 27th anniversary on 16 January 2025 at YMCA, Ganesh Peth, Pune. The event brought together youth, community beneficiaries, board members, CSR partners, well-wishers, and staff. The celebration reflected CYDA’s long journey of working with marginalised communities and reaffirmed

Gender, Power, and Everyday Inequality

On the occasion of the 195th birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, ImpactLens correspondent Soumyashree Mohanty journeys through rural Maharashtra to examine how gender, power, and inequality continue to shape everyday lives. Moving beyond statistics and theory, her narrative captures voices from the ground-of women negotiating tradition and resistance-revealing how Phule’s

Inclusive Hackathon: A Platform for Equality and Dignity

Marginalised communities, especially women and LGBTQIA+ individuals often have very few spaces where they can come together without fear, judgement, or social labels. Limited interaction and deep-rooted stereotypes continue to create distance and misunderstanding. Creating shared platforms where people can meet as equals is important because inclusion grows through lived

Strengthening Education Through Experiential Learning for Teachers

The nature of education is gradually shifting from rote-based instruction to learning that is meaningful, practical, and rooted in real-life experiences. Today, it is no longer enough for students to memorise concepts; they need to understand, visualise, and apply them. This shift in the education pattern is especially important for