Atmasantosh Foundation is a non-profit organisation promoting education, health and rural development
Our Mission
Guided by our mission to empower and enrich the community, we have three core objectives:
Encourage children from low-income communities to fulfill their dreams
Increase health and wellness literacy levels
Bridge the gap between rural and urban living standards
Our Story
Of India’s population is below the age of 25. That translates to over 649 million young dreams, hopes and ambitions. However, due to non-availability of resources and persistent poverty, many high achieving students feel discouraged and believe that there are limitations in what they can achieve.
Of India’s population is rural. This reveals that the potential of over 954 million people can be found in rural and semi-urban regions. However, lack of social and capital investment into these areas has culminated in under-development and poor living standards, making it impossible to effectively utilize this massive potential.
Of the world’s population lives in India. This transcribes to over 1.3 billion individuals aspiring to lead successful and content lives. However, substandard medical infrastructure and widespread health illiteracy have led to inferior socio-economic living standards and low global rankings for healthcare and human development.
Atmasantosh Foundation’s inception was inspired by the belief that financial and social conditions should not curb the overall development of a community. We are here to help every deserving student transform his/her dream into reality and to ensure that all individuals have the means to realize and fulfill their potential.
Our Approach
Providing financial aid and holistic development opportunities to students
We aim to support the bright but underprivileged youth of India who, through their motivation to learn and grow holistically, aspire not only to lead successful and enriched lives, but also to be upstanding members of society. Through our programs, we will not only reduce the students’ financial constraints but also nurture them by offering mentoring, counselling, employability and life skill training.
Organising programs focused on health and wellness awareness
We intend to develop the capacity of communities to support each other and establish effective mechanisms for healthcare provision. Our first-aid training workshops teach participants essential survival skills for emergencies while our mental health workshops focus on the importance of emotional well-being and self-care. Additional medical training and counselling will also be offered to participants on an as-needed basis.
Creating educational and employment opportunities in rural regions
We target underserved rural communities across India that have high prospects of socio-economic growth. Our programs are extensive, flexible and customized to meet the evolving and distinct needs of each region. Current projects include scholarships for all grade levels, skill-based trainings, medical camps and provision of infrastructural facilities.
Arranging programs focused on health and wellness awareness
We intend to develop the capacity of communities to support each other and establish effective mechanisms for healthcare provision. Our first-aid training workshops teach participants essential survival skills for emergencies while our mental health workshops focus on the importance of emotional well-being and self-care. Additional medical training and counselling will also be offered to participants on an as-needed basis.
Creating educational and employment opportunities in rural regions
We target underserved rural communities across India that have high prospects of socio-economic growth. Our programs are extensive, flexible and customized to meet the evolving and distinct needs of each region. Current projects include scholarships for all grade levels, skill-based trainings, medical camps and provision of infrastructural facilities.
Providing financial aid and holistic development opportunities to students
We aim to support the bright but underprivileged youth of India who, through their motivation to learn and grow holistically, aspire not only to lead successful and enriched lives, but also to be upstanding members of society. Through our programs, we will not only reduce the students’ financial constraints but also nurture them by offering mentoring, counselling, employability and life skill training.
Our Team
Richa has been passionate about working in the social sector from a very young age. So, when the opportunity arose for her to start an NGO, she seized it and Atmasantosh Foundation was born. Her love for children and strong belief that education is the panacea for most problems shaped the organisation’s vision to give wings to the dreams of India’s youth. As CEO, she leads through empowerment; everyone has direct access to her and the team has the opportunity to grow and take initiative.
Richa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Computing & Data Science from the New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business. She is an avid reader and enjoys event planning, writing, and outdoor activities such as skiing and camping.
Anusha is an Assistant Program Manager at Atmasantosh Foundation. She has 8+ years of experience working with various media houses and nonprofit organisations. Previously, Anusha worked at The Lighthouse Project, Mumbai and supported children and youth from under-resourced communities to develop social skills through one-on-one mentoring. Prior to that, she was at the Vidi Kamgar Kalyan Pratishthan in Nashik where she empowered bidi workers and their families to create better livelihood opportunities for themselves.
Anusha holds a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai and a Bachelor’s in Mass Media (BMM) from the Sophia College for Women, Mumbai. She believes every moment is the right one to work for something good, and loves to read, journal, listen to music, and travel.
Zubia, a Program Coordinator at the Atmasantosh Foundation, is an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the social impact sector with eight years of volunteer experience. In 2018, she received the prestigious title of Foremost Female Volunteer for her outstanding service. Zubia has initiated and led impactful campaigns, organised compelling street plays, and coordinated health camps during her tenure.
She holds a Master’s degree in Science from Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Science from R.D & S.H National College, Mumbai. Zubia’s mission is to drive positive change and contribute to a fair and compassionate society. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, sketching, and reading.
Tarannum joined Atmasantosh Foundation as a Program Coordinator. She is a passionate advocate to work for the social cause and bring social change. She has 6 years of experience working with various non-profit organisations. Her expertise includes working with differently-abled, transgenders, sex workers, and in the field of health and education. Previously, she worked on youth training, job placements and scholarships.
Tarannum holds a Masters degree in Social work from S.N.D.T Women’s University Churchgate and Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media (Journalism) from A.P College of Commerce and Economics. Outside of work, she loves reading books, writing poems, traveling, and cooking. She believes in being a helping hand and prioritizing humanity. She aims to build a platform that provides equal opportunities for everyone.