We improve lives and livelihoods for rural & tribal communities across India
Vanami Foundation partners with local communities, government schemes, and community-based organizations to scale up human welfare, child education, healthcare, large-scale tree plantations, and rural livelihood opportunities.
About Vanami Foundation
Vanami Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting underprivileged and marginalized communities in India, particularly in rural and tribal regions. Guided by our founding principle “Because Only Together We Can”, we collaborate with local communities, panchayats, and government schemes to forge sustainable, enduring change.
Our leadership—led by Founder Gautam Sakhre and Director Sonali Sakhre—works closely with administrative authorities, educational institutions, and village self-help groups to deliver impactful grassroots initiatives.
Founder Gautam Sakhre & Leadership in Action
Our Outreach & Impact
Focus Programs
Gram Panchayats
Households
Women Participants
Trees Planted
Community Driven
State Government Partnership Projects
High Impact Mega Watershed & MG-NREGA Project
EMRS & Forest Rights Act (FRA 2006) Partnership
Massive Banyan Tree Plantation & Eco-Restoration
Women SHG Enterprise & Agro-Forestry Clusters
Core Programs for Human Welfare
Education
Child Education & Guidance
Quality education lays the foundation for lifelong learning. We equip rural and underprivileged children with essential literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and social awareness to break the cycle of poverty.
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Health
Healthcare for the Needy
Ensuring medical access, preventative health check-ups, and maternal healthcare for underprivileged rural populations facing barriers of distance, lack of facilities, and high healthcare costs.
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Empowerment
Woman Empowerment & SHGs
Providing women with opportunities, leadership skills, and financial autonomy. We foster women's self-help groups, vocational training, and legal awareness to eliminate gender-based barriers.
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Environment
Tree Plantation & Conservation
Combating deforestation and climate change through mass native plantation drives, banyan tree propagation, soil moisture conservation, and green canopy expansion in village commons.
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Livelihoods
Rural Livelihood Enhancement
Strengthening agricultural productivity, handicraft value chains, agro-forestry, and rural micro-enterprises to create sustainable household income and reduce distress migration.
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Convergence
MG-NREGA Convergence
Integrating MGNREGA with government schemes to build high-value community assets: farm ponds, check dams, afforestation trenches, and sustainable irrigation structures.
Read MoreTribal Department Projects & Welfare
Bridging Gaps in Tribal Development
India is home to over 104 million tribal citizens across 705 Scheduled Tribes. Vanami Foundation actively champions tribal welfare projects aligned with national missions:
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Quality CBSE education, sports, and cultural preservation for tribal youth.
- Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY): Holistic development focused on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
- Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM): VAN DHAN Yojana self-help groups for non-timber forest produce.
- Forest Rights Act (FRA, 2006): Supporting community land titles and securing forest dwelling rights.
Environmental Health Priorities
Alongside tribal empowerment, our environmental wing actively conducts grassroots campaigns tackling:
Featured News & Field Stories
Competitive Exam Guidance Camp Held in Deori
Organized by Yuva Marathi Journalists Association, Vanami Foundation, and Helping Boys Group Deori. Dignitaries present included Additional SP Nityanand Jha, SDO Kavita Gaikwad, SDPO Vivek Patil, Project Officer Umesh Kashid, Police Inspector Praveen Dange, BDO Shubham Jadhav, Police Boys Association President Rahul Dubale, Forest Officer Sachin Dhatrak, Dr. Lalit Kukde, Dr. Gagan Gupta, and Founder Gautam Sakhre to mentor hundreds of aspiring rural students.
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Plantation Drive on Haldi Kumkum at Kalimati
At Gram Panchayat Kalimati (Goregaon), banyan tree saplings were planted in celebration of cultural harmony. Sarpanch Madhavi Dongre, Vanami Director Sonali Sakhre, Tatvrekha Rahangdale, and Sarita Raut led women and youth in planting sacred Banyan trees to protect biodiversity and rural green cover.
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Rural Entrepreneurship & Skill Workshops
Empowering rural youth and women with vocational skills, organic farming techniques, and direct market access to help establish self-sustaining enterprises across Gondia district.
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Halting Soil Pollution & Carbon Mitigation
Promoting regenerative organic agriculture, composting, and reduction of synthetic chemical pesticides to regenerate soil microbiomes and build community climate resilience.
Read Full ReportFeatured Videos & Documentaries
Vanami Foundation: Tree Plantation, Environment & Social Welfare Mission
Competitive Exam Coaching & Youth Empowerment in Deori
Sustainable Livelihoods & Self-Help Groups in Rural Maharashtra
MG-NREGA Convergence: Creating Long-term Community Water Assets
Voices from the Ground
Gautam Sakhre
Founder, Vanami Foundation
Sonali Sakhre
Director, Vanami Foundation
Madhavi Dongre
Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat Kalimati
Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little. Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
We Believe in Helping People
Your generous support helps us educate children, plant trees, provide healthcare, and build sustainable livelihoods for families in need.
Direct Bank Transfer & UPI Available. All donations eligible for tax exemption under 80G.