Movement for Alternatives and Youth Awareness (MAYA)

MAYA Health is an initiative by the organisation that focuses on women's entrepreneurship in the health sector. It trains local women, called Health Entrepreneurs (HEs), to act as a vital link between the healthcare system and rural-semi-urban communities. HEs conduct screenings for health issues, educate communities on non-communicable diseases, collaborate with local healthcare providers, and deliver preventive health products and services. Enabled by technology, they collect and analyze health information, providing regular updates to the community. The initiative also includes a Community Health Library, where HEs gather health-related stories and experiences, which are shared through a computer interface for community members to access and find solutions to health problems.

In its livelihood initiative, MAYA aims to empower individuals to achieve self-reliance and live with dignity. Over the past two decades, MAYA has actively supported the handicraft cluster in Channapatna, Karnataka, India. This region has a rich tradition of lac ware craft spanning over two centuries, making it an ideal area to create sustainable employment opportunities. The local population in Channapatna heavily relies on lac ware handcraft for their livelihood, with around 2,000 families depending on this craft for income. As part of this initiative, women artisans have played a crucial role in producing over 100,000 high-quality masks, ensuring the safety of our citizens while also sustaining their own livelihoods.

The Celebrating Life Initiative, led by MAYA in collaboration with Karnataka No For Tobacco, empowers youth and their guardians to prevent addiction to tobacco, drugs, and other substances. It addresses issues such as the gateway effect of tobacco, the lure of flavoured cigarettes, and the addictive nature of nicotine. The initiative works with education institutions, Government departments, and agencies to strengthen youth protection efforts through alliances, policy suggestions, and youth engagement. It sensitizes and equips youth, promotes tobacco-free campuses, organises awareness activities, and develops youth champions to voice concerns. It aims to create an ecosystem that safeguards youth from harmful addictions.