Kherwadi Social
Welfare Association
"Women are the largest untapped reservoir of the talent in the world" – Hilary Clinton
At Avendus as a part of our CSR we believe that it is important to unlock the entrepreneurship potential of the women from marginalized backgrounds. Through our CSR initiatives we create mechanisms for economic empowerment and driving development. We work with NGO partners across states in Maharashtra and Karnataka and create an impact for shaping women entrepreneurship through career counseling, vocational training, and skills development.
We have empowered more than 15,000 women in the areas of handicrafts and agro-based industries.
Our NGO Partners
Vrutti – Livelihood Impact Partners
Swayam Shikshan
Prayog
Collective Goods Foundation
Our Projects
Project with Kherwadi Social Welfare Association
Kherwadi Social Welfare Association (KSWA) is a nonprofit organization in India. KSWA aims to uplift underprivileged youth in India. The organization was established in 1928. It otters different vocational training programs for underprivileged youth and women. Avendus has partnered with the Kherwadi Social Welfare Association to create women entrepreneurs, increase their income by providing livelihoods, and improve women's self-sustainability for personal and community development through skill development, social development, and financial and business development.
Project with Vrutti
It is a nonprofit organization that has been working in the social impact space for over 23 years as part of the Catalyst Group and has made a difference in the lives and livelihoods of over a million poor and marginalized individuals and households. Vrutti works through an ecosystem approach, integrating and delivering end-to-end services that empower small producers to graduate from poverty and uncertainty and become three times more profitable. Avendus has partnered with Vrutti to provide training on developing nano enterprises for beauty professionals for women in Maharashtra, Chennai, and Bangalore regions.
Project with Industree Foundation
The Industree Foundation works towards upskilling rural women artisans and helps them connect with national and global markets. Through their interventions, they have impacted over 500,000 producers in the last 20 years and have created markets worth USD 58 million. Avendus partnered with Industree Foundation to create an impact on women's entrepreneurship through the Bamboo Value chain in Karnataka region.
Project with Swayam Shikshan Prayog
Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) is an NGO based in Pune, India. It was co-founded by Prema Gopalan and Sheela Patel in 1998 and aims to support female entrepreneurs in areas such as agriculture, health, and sanitation. Its work has been recognized by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Avendus has partnered with SSP for their women entrepreneurship project in the Maharashtra region by supporting dairy and agri-entrepreneurship initiatives.
Project with Deshpande Foundation
Established in 1996 in Karnataka by Dr. Gururaj (Desh) and Jayshree Deshpande, the Deshpande Foundation aims to accelerate the creation of sustainable and scalable enterprises that have significant social and economic impact. The Foundation has large-scale projects in the United States and India. It promotes entrepreneurship and innovation at the grassroots level as catalysts for change. Avendus has supported the Deshpande Foundation for the food cluster project, providing dehydration machines in the Karnataka region.
Project with Collective Goods Foundation (An initiative of Samhita)
Collective Good Foundation (CGF) provides comprehensive project implementation solutions for the development sector. They work closely with companies, non-profits, and foundations to address some of the most challenging issues in healthcare, education, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), and women's empowerment. Avendus has partnered with CGF to empower women through a returnable grant model project in the Maharashtra region.