India: Program for Community Development and Environment Projects
In 2024, the Humana People to People Foundation continued its long-standing support for developing communities for the rural and urban poor by granting US$100,000 to Humana People to People India’s Community Development and Environment projects, which work in 10 states in India.
Sustainable community development requires integrated measures, time, the involvement of the people concerned, political support, and adequate funding. Inclusive growth must be accomplished to boost economic growth and reduce poverty and inequalities.
People and communities across the globe need support to build strength, help to organize in local democratic structures, and get the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to make changes together. The local Action Groups are the main structure in the Community Development programs. The Action Group coordinates and creates spaces for people to engage with each other and take action. In these spaces, a cascade of actions takes shape: sharing knowledge, skills training, support to entrepreneurship, women empowerment, protection of child rights, climate actions, and support to the orphans and disabled, to mention a few examples.
The Community Development projects in India work with people, especially women, deprived of access to resources and education, denied participation in decision-making, etc. The women are assisted with learning new skills like tailoring, beautician, computer technology, financial and functional literacy, entrepreneurship, and starting income-generating activities. Many of the projects promote the establishment of nutritional gardens and include other environmental activities like establishing facilities for water purification, solar lights, and family bio-gas plants besides health and hygiene components, including forming of women health clubs, organizing health camps and health clinics.
In 2024, the projects reached more than 400,000 people with different activities. Some of the activities were: 18,060 community members were offered free access to medical care. Environmental sustainability was integrated into the program. 175 kitchen gardens were established and maintained with the following results: 958 families were assisted to access safe drinking water, 11,719 trees were planted, and 80 bio- gas plants were built. Additionally, 2,049 farmers became aware of sustainable agricultural practices to conserve water and maximize yield with minimal irrigation. Four new projects, with significant components of working with women, were added to the existing ones as the Community Development projects expanded to new areas.