Hand in Hand India is a development organisation that works to alleviate poverty through a unique integrated community development approach. Referred to as the Five Pillar Programme, Hand in Hand India combines the key areas of women empowerment, child labour elimination, micro finance, health, environment and IT & governance, to address factors pertaining to poverty. It has implemented a unique and successful method in many parts of rural India, changing the lives of more than a million poor families.
Hand in Hand India’s philosophy from the very beginning has been to be the bridge between the Government and the community. The tripartite model of Government — NGO — Community has been a win-win situation for all.
They currently serve in 8 States in India and 7 countries across 3 continents. Their model has been successfully replicated in Afghanistan, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Programs
The Child Labour Elimination Programme or CLEP - was started with the aim of bringing children out of child/bonded labour, enrolling and retaining them in schools, giving them a chance to learn and regain their lost childhoods. Over the years, the Programme has identified thousands of out-of-school children, enrolled and retained them in regular schools, making education a reality for them.
Self-help group and Microfinance – Their unique Credit Plus Model was developed customising the microfinance programme to empower women with sustainable income-generation options. The programme mobilises rural women living below poverty line to form self-help groups. This is followed by building their capacity with robust training programmes, primarily on group management and financial education. Using the social capital of the group as the collateral, microfinance is provided to the members, specifically to create or strengthen enterprises. Going beyond mere provision of microfinance, the entrepreneurs are also helped with bank linkages and hand held to develop their enterprises through business promotion initiatives like the provision of backward and forward linkages, including market support. The aim is to make the ventures of these women sustainable to enable them to come out of the poverty trap and lead lives with hope and dignity.
Skills and Development Technology Center - By setting-up a Skills Development & Technology Centre (SDTC), we facilitate access to information, communication and technology in rural spheres. This is pivotal for the economic and social empowerment of the underprivileged in rural India.
Health – Hand in Hand’s India’s Health intervention focuses on promoting preventive health care by filling the knowledge gaps and by providing the rural population access to basic health care.
Natural Resource Management - Their Natural Resource Management programme strives to guide poor and landless farmers in villages to build on the existing resources as base and create livelihood options from them.
Solid Waste Management – Their Solid Waste Management or SWM intervention strives to facilitate local bodies to handle the garbage menace. One of the main focus areas of their SWM project is to substitute street collection of waste with a distinct waste collection process.
Village Uplift Programme - Our two-year Village Uplift Programme is designed to create and build self-reliant communities that bring about an integrated development in villages. Rural development programmes have often failed when local stakeholders are excluded from the developmental process. They partner with local stakeholders, including the Panchayat heads, villagers and other government and non-governmental organisations in implementing development initiatives in the areas of job creation, education, health, environment, and IT and governance. A community-based approach is a social imperative to achieve success and sustainability through the VUP.
Hand in Hand International
Hand in Hand International is a registered non-profit organisation based in London since 2006. Hand in Hand International is part of the Hand in Hand network, whose shared vision is to fight poverty through job and business creation. Hand in Hand was founded by Percy Barnevik and Dr Kalpana Sankar.
Hand in Hand’s mission is to work for economic and social empowerment of the poorest and most marginalized people by supporting the development of businesses and jobs. Since 2003, the Hand in Hand network has helped start and sustain 1.3 million businesses and has generated 1.9 million jobs. The goal is to create 10 million jobs. Hand in Hand works within the same field as BRAC, Opportunity International, CARE, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Aga Khan Foundation.
