Dharma Life Foundation

Dharma Life takes an active role in addressing the challenges of illiteracy and education in India. With a focus on digital empowerment, the organisation employs Dharma Life Entrepreneurs (DLEs) to engage in various school activities that encourage children's education and dreams. Recognizing India's high illiteracy rates and school dropouts, often due to inadequate infrastructure and poor quality of study environments, Dharma Life aims to make a difference. By equipping women in rural areas with digital literacy skills, particularly in mobile phone and internet usage, the organisation empowers them to unlock new opportunities and potential for personal growth.

Dharma Life addresses critical water, sanitation, and hygiene issues prevalent in India. With millions lacking access to safe water and proper sanitation, particularly affecting women and leading to high child mortality rates, Dharma Life takes action. Utilizing its network of rural entrepreneurs, the organisation raises awareness about clean drinking water and promotes the significance of water purifiers through behaviour-changing initiatives. Additionally, Dharma Life conducts engaging handwashing campaigns in rural schools, employing creative tools like songs and games to impart the importance of proper hand hygiene and correct techniques for washing hands.

Dharma Life focuses on creating sustainable livelihoods in rural India, where the majority of income is derived from agriculture and seasonal employment is common due to poor land productivity and inefficient resource use. To address this, Dharma Life employs its distinctive entrepreneurship approach, offering individuals the chance to both earn a living and bring about positive transformation in their villages. These Dharma Life Entrepreneurs generate income by leading behaviour change initiatives within their communities. Additionally, they earn through the sale of beneficial products like solar lamps, water purifiers, induction cookstoves, and sanitary napkins, among others, contributing to both economic prosperity and societal improvement.

Dharma Life is addressing the concerning state of hunger and malnutrition in India through a two-fold approach: raising awareness and enhancing access. Leveraging its network of Dharma Life Entrepreneurs, the organisation is spreading awareness within communities about the critical significance of adequate nutrition, particularly for children. Additionally, Dharma Life is utilizing this same network to distribute nutritional supplements and nutritious snacks to more than 50,000 villages, thereby taking tangible steps to combat this issue at both the grassroots and access levels.

Dharma Life is addressing the critical issue of energy access and clean cooking in rural India. Approximately 45 million rural households still lack access to electricity, forcing them to rely on outdated energy sources like kerosene and wood-fired stoves, leading to health and environmental hazards. Dharma Life's "Lighting up Young Minds" campaign tackles the challenge of inadequate lighting in villages by advocating for solar lights as a clean alternative. The campaign not only promotes solar lights but also empowers young children to champion behavioural changes in their communities. Moreover, Dharma Life's "Dharma Chef" cooking contest encourages the adoption of clean cooking solutions by allowing rural women to experience the benefits and convenience of induction cooktops, thereby promoting their sustained use and highlighting the positive impact on cooking practices and the environment.

Dharma Life is actively addressing the challenges of menstrual hygiene, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health in rural areas. With a focus on women's well-being, the organisation's Dharma Life Entrepreneurs engage in school and community activities, using creative approaches such as a modified version of the Snakes and Ladders game to break the stigma around menstrual hygiene. Through these initiatives, adolescent girls receive education on proper menstrual hygiene practices and are provided with sanitary kits to implement their learning. Dharma Life also extends its efforts to educate young couples in rural communities about family planning methods through the same network of rural entrepreneurs, contributing to improved awareness and access to essential reproductive health information and services.