Project based learning, vocational training or livelihood programs
Skilling programs that provide a strong complement to mainstream education and boosts eventual earnings capability.
Skilling Programs
India lags significantly behind many of its peers in skilling programs and enrollment. Indira Foundation supports skilling programs that provide a strong complement to mainstream education and boosts eventual earnings capability.
Three factors highlight the critical need for skilling programs. Most academic programs do not give students room to experiment or innovate on a practical level. Further, vocational learning has been traditionally viewed as inferior to academic streams and intended for underprivileged students. Lastly, there is a shortage of specialized livelihood programs targeted to benefit rural farmers and communities.
Maker Bhavan Foundation
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Founded in 2014, Maker Bhavan Foundation works with higher education institutions in India for immersive project-based learning experiences, academic-industry collaborations and incubation of innovative solutions.
Indira Foundation supports several MBF programs including Tinkerer Labs (TL) and Invention Factory. Currently, there are 10 TLs across India at the prestigious IIT (5) and BITS (2) campuses and two chemical engineering departments. Over 15,000 students have benefited from these TL programs and have spawned 6 start-ups. Invention Factory operation IIT campuses in Gandhinagar and Mumbai, where 87 students have filed 44 provisional patents in 3 years.
Social Impact and Reach
15,000+ STUDENTS BENEFITED WITH HANDS-ON INNOVATION; 87 PATENT FILINGS AND 6 START-UPS.
Social Impact and Reach
Empowered 1.2 million rural households with sustainable livelihoods and increased milk production across 8 states.
BAIF
LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM
Established in 1967, BAIF is a leading Indian nonprofit organization, working to ensure gainful self-employment for rural families, sustainable livelihoods, and improved quality of life. Its programs currently reach 4 million people, 100,000 villages in 17 states and aims to impact 10 million lives by 2030.
Indira Foundation is one of the key funders for over 2,000 BAIF Livestock Development Centers in 8 North Indian states . Our funding spans 8 years starting in 2025 aiming for self-sufficiency by 2035. The program will benefit over 1.2 million households via over 2.3 million annual artificial inseminations, producing 420,000 upgraded female calves with significantly higher milk production.
Other Funded Education Programs –
PAST AND PRESENT
The/Nudge Institute aims to address the challenge of poverty through is Livelihood Programs with direct intervention initiatives and Livelihood Ecosystem to enable a stronger ecosystem and livelihoods for India’s most marginalized.
Indira Foundation is one of its earlier supporters. We have funded vocational training and programs and an incubator for social entrepreneurship in the past.