Empowering Rural India, Together

Swades Foundation is a community-driven non-profit working with a singular aim of lifting a million lives out of poverty every 5 years in rural India. Our motto – Swa Se Bane Des – asserts the belief that every person has the power to transform themselves, their country and the world.

We build ambition, ignite hope, and empower communities to take charge of their own journey through a unique holistic model of development, in Water and Sanitation, Health, Education, and Livelihoods.

At the heart of our mission is nurturing community leadership and ownership to ensure deep, sustainable, long-term empowerment. With over 11,000 community volunteers and 270+ full-time staff—predominantly working at the grassroots level—Swades Foundation has the execution capability to drive impactful change.

Our founders, Zarina & Ronnie Screwvala, interacting with the community in Gaydhond, Nashik.

Our Vision:

An empowered and poverty-free rural India where communities are capable of transforming their own lives.

Our Mission:

To lift a million people out of poverty in rural India every 5 years through a holistic approach to Health, Education, Water & Sanitation, and Economic Development - by creating a scalable, replicable and community-centric model of sustainable development.

Our Philosophy:

At the Swades Foundation, we believe that the partnership of rural India with corporates, young urban India, the Government and other foundations is the key to create a permanent and irreversible change for good.

Defining Moments

The Swades Journey

2012

Laid the foundation for Swades' rural empowerment efforts in Raigad

2013

Adopted a holistic model of development

2016

Evolved from a philanthropic 'push' to 'pull' strategy that encourages community participation

2017

Built 15,000 household toilets across Raigad

2018

Created the Village Development Committee (VDC) model to build community ownership

2020-21

Aided COVID relief and recovery efforts in rural Maharashtra with vaccination drives and supporting medical equipment

2022

Celebrated 75 Dream Villages to mark the 75th year of India's Independence

2023

5,000+ youth skilled; 20,000+ cataract surgeries; 30,000+ toilets constructed

Our Footprint

We are currently working across 7 blocks in Raigad (Mahad, Mangaon, Mhasla, Poladpur, Shrivardhan, Tala, and Sudhagad) and 4 blocks in Nashik (Igatpuri, Trimbakeshwar, Surgana, and Peth). We will soon be adding 6 new talukas across 4 districts - beginning with Jawhar and Mokhada in Palghar district

Empower livelihoods,
Transform lives

Support rural families in building secure, dignified livelihoods

Donate

Empower livelihoods,
Transform lives

Support rural families in building secure, dignified livelihoods

Donate

Our Believers

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