Action Village India - Registered Charity Organisation

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Action Village India - Registered Charity Organisation

UK based charity. Non-profit organisation working in rural India to improve healthcare and education in the poorest of areas.

Action Village India (AVI) is a UK registered charity founded and run by people inspired by India. For more than 25 years AVI has supported six partners in India who manage rural development projects.

“The Future of India lies in its villages.” Gandhi. Behind India’s rapid economic growth and emerging middle class is a story of growing inequalities. In the areas where our partners work, roads and

communications are poor, there are not enough schools and health services are patchy. Corruption and lack of knowledge leave people without access to their basic rights and the economic unit that is the rural village can be disrupted by the changes development brings, leaving people with no option but to migrate to slums in the overcrowded cities.

“Be the change you want to see.” Gandhi. In response to these changes AVI’s partners work to improve the quality of life for rural people in the Gandhian tradition of self-organisation and non-violent change. AVI's approach is: Indian answers to Indian problems. As an organisation we are committed to understanding the needs of rural India and its people at a time when India is changing and developing so quickly. Our strong partnerships allow us to access this knowledge and we do this in a spirit of friendship, fun and food!

12/06/2026

Meet Saroj, one of the talented artisans behind the handmade products we sell through KATHAA.

At just 20 years old, Saroj supports both herself and her mother through her work with Kumbaya, a social enterprise run by our partner Samaj Pragati Sahayog (SPS) in Madhya Pradesh. Following the loss of her father, the income she earns from stitching handmade products has become a vital lifeline for her family.

Saroj contracted polio as a child and left school after Year 5. After spending several years at home, she was determined to build a more independent future for herself. Nearly three years ago, she joined Kumbaya as a producer and has never looked back.

Every day, she travels to the Kumbaya workshop on her tricycle, where she works alongside other artisans creating the beautiful handmade textiles, homewares, and gifts that are sold through KATHAA. For Saroj, Kumbaya is more than a workplace - it is a community that has given her confidence, friendship, purpose, and the opportunity to earn her own income.

When you purchase from KATHAA, you are supporting skilled artisans like Saroj. Every item is handmade by producers who are using their talents to build more secure, independent, and dignified lives for themselves and their families.

At Action Village India, we are proud to work with MESH and partners such as SPS to support disabled individuals across India, where access to education, employment, and social support often falls short. By creating opportunities for meaningful work and fair incomes, initiatives like Kumbaya help ensure that disability is never a barrier to dignity, opportunity, or independence.

Behind every KATHAA product is a story of resilience, skill, and determination. Saroj's is just one of them.

08/06/2026

Want to champion social change, uplift marginalised communities, and look vibrant and stylish while doing it? We’ve got you covered.

Explore the Kathaa Shop and discover shopping that makes a difference.

www.kathaa.org.uk

05/06/2026

From vulnerability to security 🏠

With support from our partner organisation, CRUSADE, Revathi and her family now have something many of us take for granted: a safe and secure roof over their heads.

Revathi, 39, lives in rural Tamil Nadu with her parents, husband, and two children. She lives with profound hearing and speech impairments, and several members of her family also have disabilities. Daily life has never been easy, but things became even harder when heavy rains in 2023 destroyed their family home.

Although the government provided funding to help build a new concrete house, it was not enough to complete the construction. Progress was slow, and when it came time to finish the roof, the family simply could not afford the remaining costs.

For Revathi, the support she received through CRUSADE's self-help group came at a critical moment.

"Managing a large family with three disabled members is very difficult. When the rains destroyed our hut, we felt overwhelmed. The government support helped us start building a new house, but we could not finish it. When I shared my situation with the group, support was provided and we were finally able to complete the roof."

Today, Revathi and her family live under a strong concrete roof, bringing stability, safety, and dignity to their everyday lives.

Reflecting on her journey, she says:

"The group I was once hesitant to join helped us meet one of our most basic needs: a safe home. My family will always be thankful to CRUSADE for their support."

Stories like Revathi's remind us that community support can be transformative, helping families move from uncertainty and vulnerability towards security and hope.

04/06/2026

From training to independence ✨

With the support of our partner organisation, Mahila Shram Sewa Nyas (MSSN), Meena, from a small village in Madhya Pradesh, has transformed a long-held interest into a source of income and independence.

When the opportunity arose to join a beauty parlour training programme organised by MSSN, Meena immediately put her name forward. She had always been interested in beauty work but had never had the opportunity to develop her skills.

Over two months of training, she learned everything from eyebrow shaping and facials to basic makeup techniques, gaining both practical experience and the confidence to pursue her ambitions.

After completing the course, she took a leap of faith and opened a small beauty parlour from her home. At first, customers were few and far between, but through hard work and word of mouth, her business steadily grew.

Today, particularly during wedding and festival seasons, Meena has a regular stream of clients and earns around ₹4,000–5,000 each month. The additional income is helping to support her family and cover household expenses.

Reflecting on her journey, Meena says that the training gave her more than just a new skill – it gave her the opportunity to build something of her own.

Stories like Meena's are a reminder that when women are given access to training and opportunities, they can create lasting change for themselves, their families, and their communities.

28/05/2026

From Limited Means to School Topper

Priya Kumati, a 15-year-old student from Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand, achieved an outstanding result in her Class 10 board examinations, scoring 73.8% and becoming the topper of Gyan Darshan School, Gurhet.

Coming from a family of daily wage labourers, Priya has faced significant financial challenges throughout her education. She was selected for support through the NBJK/Action Village India programme in 2021 while studying in Class 6, enabling her to continue her studies and thrive academically. Her twin sister, Sudhanshu, also performed strongly in the board examinations, scoring 66.8%.

Despite financial hardship and the uncertainty of daily wage work, their parents continue to prioritise their daughters’ education. With support from the Action Village India programme and guidance from local facilitators, both sisters have been able to remain in school and pursue their ambitions.

Priya hopes to study Sciences further and dreams of joining the Air Force, while Sudhanshu wishes to study Arts and become a teacher. Their journey reflects how academic support, timely intervention, and encouragement can help girls from marginalised communities build confidence and aspire towards professional careers.

27/05/2026

At just 16 years old, Sonia is balancing school, caring for her three younger siblings, and managing responsibilities far beyond her age. After losing her mother in 2021, life changed dramatically for her family in rural Jharkhand.

Despite financial hardship and difficult circumstances at home, Sonia has remained determined to continue her education. With support from our longstanding partner, NBJK, she receives help with tuition fees, study materials, and regular guidance from the project team - allowing her to stay in school and keep working towards her future.

Sonia dreams of becoming self-reliant, supporting her family, and one day helping other vulnerable families in her community. Her resilience is a powerful reminder of why access to education matters.

By supporting girls like Sonia, we help ensure that hardship does not force young women to abandon their education and aspirations.

22/05/2026

In Kajibhoisahi village in Odisha, many families can no longer rely on fishing in Chilika Lake due to declining fish stocks. With few local jobs available, workers are often forced to travel long distances in search of work — and many return empty-handed.

To help address this, our partner RCDC launched a community-led initiative called the “Shrama Bank” (Labour Bank). Formed by local daily wage labourers, the bank provides small emergency loans to families during periods of unemployment, helping them avoid debt, humiliation, and financial insecurity.

Starting with just 30 members and support from RCDC, the initiative is already helping families live with greater dignity and stability.

Mrs Rajani Bhoi shared:
“During times when my husband cannot find work or doesn’t receive his wages, I am able to withdraw some money from this bank. This has been like a blessing for us.”

Small community-led initiatives can make a huge difference. ❤️

21/05/2026

Not long to go until our annual Walk for Women event returns to Virginia Water - organised by the wonderful and endlessly inspiring Pallavi. It’s always such a special day, so be sure to check out the event details via the link below.

If you’re unable to attend, you can still support the cause by donating. As per usual, all funds raised will go directly to our grassroots partner organisations supporting women and girls facing economic and social hardship across India.

This year, we are also placing a particular focus on disabled women and female caregivers, whose contributions and challenges too often go unseen.

We hope to see you there!

Link in bio or below:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/walkforwomen2026

17/05/2026

For generations, craft traditions across India have been passed down by hand, skill by skill, story by story. From weaving and embroidery to block printing and textile work, these crafts are not only forms of artistic expression, but livelihoods, identities, and living cultural heritage.

Today, many traditional crafts are under threat. Mass production, changing markets, and economic pressures mean that countless handcraft skills are slowly disappearing. Protecting these traditions means valuing the people behind them and ensuring craftsmanship can continue to be passed on to future generations.

At Kathaa, we are proud to support artisans working in fair employment conditions and receiving fair wages for their work. Every purchase helps sustain traditional craftsmanship while also supporting wider charitable activities focused on rural livelihoods, women’s empowerment, education, and community development across India.

By choosing handmade, you are helping preserve skills, stories, and communities.

Explore the collection. Link in bio or below:
www.kathaa.org.uk

15/05/2026

Turning adversity into prosperity: Community Forestry in Padanpur Village

In Padanpur village, Odisha, a community facing economic hardship transformed challenges into opportunity through collective action, resilience, and determination.

Most men in the village work as wage labourers, while many women depend on Chilika Lake for their livelihoods through fishing and crab collection. Some women are also engaged in oat farming. Seeking to strengthen local livelihoods, two women’s Self-Help Groups partnered with RCDC Chilika in 2020 to plant 2,000 Casuarina saplings across two acres of land.

When the village faced setbacks, including the theft of a tube well and the drying up of plants due to water shortages, the women came together to find a solution. Through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), they developed a pond to provide a sustainable water source. Gradually, the plantation flourished and grew into a thriving community forest.

Although the forest later had to be sold due to difficulties monitoring the site, the initiative generated approximately £1,000, which was shared equally among 24 women from the two SHGs.

The income helped families improve their financial security. Women used the funds to repay loans and invest in small businesses including grocery shops, goat rearing, poultry farming, and other livelihood activities, helping strengthen household incomes across the community.

This inspiring story highlights the power of community-led action, women’s leadership, and sustainable rural development.

The women of Padanpur village expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all the staff of RCDC Chilika for their continued support and guidance.

Address

5 Balls Pond Road
London Borough Of Hackney
N14AX

Website

http://www.actionvillageindia.org.uk/

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