Mission Statement
The Ladli Foundation is dedicated to promoting the One Earth-One Health approach by spearheading transformative social endeavors. Our goal is to provide fair access to healthcare, education, and essential life skills for the most marginalized communities. We are committed to safeguarding their fundamental human rights and fostering equality and gender sensitivity within society. Additionally, we strive to raise global awareness about the importance of scientifically validated Indian traditional practices in promoting sustainable living and advocating for their responsible utilization.
The genesis
Ladli Foundation USA is a 501 (C)(3) registered charity organization, incorporated in the 2021 as NJ non-profit organization. It is an International wing of Ladli Foundation Trust, India, a notable grassroots level organisation known for implementing highly impactful social innovations to uplift the most vulnerable population in urban & rural slums of India. Till now the organization has directly impacted over Two Million beneficiaries through its action-research initiatives for which It was conferred with the National Award by the Govt of India and granted the Special Consultative Status in Economic and Social Council since-2020.
In the United States, our focus is on leveraging our expertise in supporting the recovery and resilience for women survivors of gender-based violence and youth struggling with substance abuse. We envision implementing this by integrating scientifically proven Indian Traditional practices of sustainable living.
Additionally, we're intensively working to create an international community of changemakers and volunteers to habitate and empower the most vulnerable women in India through our effective outreach. Our long-term engagement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other international agencies and MNS’s has strengthened us with technical expertise in the most concerning thematic areas, including bridging the digital divide in education, routine immunization/other vaccinations, Prevention of HIV/other transferable diseases, and combating tuberculosis and malnutrition. We are also extensively working to foster gender sensitization, life skills training, and building safe and sustainable sanitation infrastructure in the drought and deserted locations.
Inception - Ladli Foundation
Driven by concerns of health, education & equality for vulnerable women as an integral and critical dimension of human rights, Ladli Foundation became a reality in 2012 as a grassroots social catalyst. It was founded by Devendra Kumar, a young self-made grassroots social worker, emerged from the depths of a crime-ridden slum where his parents abandoned him and his infant sister at the tender age of two. Growing up in poverty, at the age of 8 he commenced his journey as child labourer by selling balloons for his survival. However, his path was fraught with danger as he often fell victim to assaults by gangs of delinquents and drug addicts. These hardships drove him to seek safety, leading him to volunteer in Community Policing Initiatives with the Delhi Police in search of a secure shelter.
In 2010, his struggle to save his sister from child marriage and dowry by surviving amidst vulnerability motivated him to work for the most vulnerable population, for which he established the “Ladli Foundation.” Further, volunteering became a passion for him, and he took early financial retirement at the age of 35 to devote himself as a full-time volunteer to live his passion. This is how the power of volunteering has created a notable social reformer who has impacted the lives of millions, which he never envisioned.
Recent Highlights
With a remarkable impact on over 2.5 million direct beneficiaries, Ladli Foundation has been recognized for its outstanding contributions. Notably, the foundation's recent achievements include enabling digital education access for more than 157,000 marginalized students, yielding a remarkable impact valued at INR 600 Crore (approximately 75 million USD), all achieved independently without any external financial aid or grants. Furthermore, the Organization has implemented innovative solutions that successfully addressed malnutrition among 2.70 lakhs marginalized students in the schools of Delhi, contributing to combating malnutrition among 800,000 marginalized students and paving the way for sustainable positive change.
Currently, the organisation is tackling the most pressing social issues concerning health and education for the vulnerable populations residing in slums, striving for sustainable development in India with its active force of over 1.16 lakh youth interns & volunteers through an innovative Social Internship Program.