Redefining education, Rekindling hope, Transforming lives

shraddha maanu Foundation

Building Thriving Communities Through Education

Women-led foundational education models aligned to SDG 4 & 5

Why Education & Women's Livelihoods Must Be Solved Together

Gender Equality

Invisible
Educated Women

209.34 Indian women don’t step out of their homes even once a day

Source: The/Nudge & World Bank

Only 4 in 10

women are part of India's labour force

Source: Data In India

High self-doubt

& low self-worth despite education

Strong aspiration

to become economically independent

Quality Education

Learning Gaps Begin Early

When children miss strong foundations in reading and numeracy, the gap widens every year

Only 23.4%

of grade 3 children can read a grade 2-level text

72%

cannot solve a basic subtraction problem

Learning gaps

persist across peri-urban & rural schools

Private Tuitions

Surge among children from disadvantaged families.

Why Education & Women's Livelihoods Must Be Solved Together

Gender Equality

Quality Education

Invisible Educated Women

209.34 million Indian women don’t step out of their homes even once a day

Source: The/Nudge & World Bank

Only 4 in 10

women are part of India's labour force

Source: Data For India

High self-doubt

& low self-worth despite education

Strong aspiration

to become economically independent

Learning Gaps Begin Early

When children miss strong foundations in reading and numeracy, the gap widens every year

Only 23.4%

of grade 3 children can read a grade 2-level text

72%

of grade 3 children cannot solve a basic subtraction problem

Learning gaps

persist across peri-urban & rural schools

Private Tuitions

Surge among children from disadvantaged families.

These two challenges are deeply connected and must be solved together.

Children supported with foundational learning

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Women trained as educators and edupreneurs

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Foundational learning centres

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Districts across Tamil Nadu

Children supported with foundational learning

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Women trained as educators and edupreneurs

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Foundational learning centres

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Districts across Tamil Nadu

Be part of this impact

About Us

Shraddha Maanu Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation based in Chennai, India. Since 2018, we have worked across rural and peri-urban communities in Tamil Nadu to strengthen foundational learning for children while creating education-led livelihoods for marginalised women.

Our work aligns with UN SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

The Insight

One solution. Shared Impact

Community led, women powered education model

Upasana

We train graduate women to become skilled educators using Multiple Intelligences pedagogy enabling them to teach in schools while building sustainable livelihoods.

Vipasana

Foundational literacy and numeracy programs that strengthen early learning in schools.

MutharPadi (Women)

We train and support women to run neighbourhood afterschool learning centres as edupreneurs.

MutharPadi (Children)

Community Afterschool Network

We build safe, structured learning spaces for children within their own communities.

Paalam

Where young people meet beyond differences

A student-led volunteering journey shaped by empathy, conversation and shared discovery.

Across cities, classrooms, and lived realities, Paalam creates space for children to truly discover one another.

Research shows that when children from varied socio-economic backgrounds interact, they listen, share, and grow—developing confidence, compassion and a deeper sense of belonging in a shared world.

Stories