About Us

Origin and context from Tamil Nadu

SMF’s work began with after-school learning support for primary children in Chennai, where parents’ aspirations and children’s progress revealed the importance of strong, joyful early learning. At the same time, overlooked talent among educated housewives, despite their skills and aspirations, highlighted the need for dignified, flexible livelihoods.
These insights shaped SMF’s community-led, women-powered approach to education.

Our Vision

Mainstreaming marginalised women and children through innovative education pathways

Our Mission

  • To transform 300 local communities by 2028 by enabling housewives to become community edupreneurs through leadership-focused training, strengthening afterschool foundational learning for primary school children.
  • To improve learning outcomes for 5,000 students by 2028 by training 250 housewives as educators and enabling sustainable livelihoods through community-based FLN centres in partnership with primary schools.

Our Values

Community-led

Rooted in local contexts and shaped by community needs and voices together.

Equity

Expanding access to learning and livelihoods for those historically excluded.

Dignity

Ensuring education and livelihoods are respectful, purposeful and empowering.

Resilience

Strengthening the ability to learn, adapt and grow through change and challenges.

Community-led

Rooted in local contexts and shaped by community needs and voices together.

Equity

Expanding access to learning and livelihoods for those historically excluded.

Dignity

Ensuring education and livelihoods are respectful, purposeful and empowering.

Resilience

Strengthening the ability to learn, adapt and grow through change and challenges.

Our Approach to Change

Change is not delivered. It is built over time, with communities at the centre.

We start with people

Women and children rooted in their communities

Strengthen foundations early

Strong early learning builds confidence, capability and long-term outcomes.

Design for dignity

Flexible, education-led pathways that respect local realities and responsibilities.

Work within systems

Collaborating with schools, government systems, partners and volunteers to strengthen existing structures

We start with people

Women and children rooted in their communities

Strengthen foundations early

Strong early learning builds confidence, capability and long-term outcomes.

Design for dignity

Flexible, education-led pathways that respect local realities and responsibilities.

Work within systems

Collaborating with schools, government systems, partners and volunteers to strengthen existing structures

Our Team

Patrons
Board of Advisors & Trustees
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Core Team
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Supported by a wider team of trainers, educators, field coordinators and volunteers across the world.

Our Team

Patrons

Board of Advisors & Trustees

Slide
previous arrow
next arrow
Core Team
Slide
previous arrow
next arrow
Supported by a wider team of trainers, educators, field coordinators and volunteers across the world.
Recognition

Awards & Honours

Awarded for Women and Child Development 2022-24
Organization Laureate – Humanity Centered Design (HCD+) DNDA ‘25
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