2025-2026
Quarterly Newsletter
Edition 2
Welcome to the second edition of the Empower Foundation quarterly newsletter!
Every programme comes to life through the people at its heart: a young person taking the first step towards employment, a woman building a livelihood through her skills, a driver learning how to stay safe on the road, or a community coming together for a shared cause.
In this edition, we bring you stories from across our programmes in skilling, livelihoods, health, and community development. These stories reflect the determination of our participants, the commitment of our teams, and the support of our partners.
We hope this newsletter gives you a closer look at the small but meaningful steps that are helping people build safer, healthier, and more secure futures.
Happy reading!
This quarter we reached:
Updates from the Field
Integrated Road Safety, Health & Financial Literacy
Safe roads begin with informed and healthy drivers. In collaboration with the Indian Police Foundation, we implemented an integrated programme for truck drivers and attendants at the IOCL Bottling Plant in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The initiative combined road safety, financial literacy, and preventive healthcare to address the everyday challenges faced by the trucking community.
Over 100 truck drivers and attendants participated in road safety and financial literacy sessions, and received preventive health and eye check-ups. We also organised over 30+ medical consultations and over 30 pairs of spectacles to those identified with vision-related needs, supporting both improved well-being and safer driving practices.
Strengthening Communities Through Safety and Sustainability
To celebrate Road Safety month in January, road safety awareness sessions were conducted for students and community members across six locations in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, reaching 465 participants. Through discussions and audio visual tools, participants learned about traffic rules, safe driving behaviour and everyday precautions on the road.
As part of Fire service week, a fire safety awareness session was organised in collaboration with local panchayat officials. Participants learned about fire prevention practices, emergency response protocols, and the correct use of fire extinguishers through a live demonstration, helping them build confidence in responding to emergencies.
And, to mark Earth Day, a cleanliness drive was organised at the Andher Pada Check Dam for community members. The activity encouraged responsible waste management and highlighted the importance of community participation in maintaining clean and sustainable public spaces. Together, the two initiatives engaged 74 participants, bringing the community together to promote safety and sustainability.
Beyond Skills and Livelihoods, Well-Being Matters Too
Maintaining good physical and mental health is essential for overall well-being. To mark the International Day of Yoga 2026, yoga sessions were organised for mechanics across training centres in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, as well as the Community Resource Centre in Dadra and Nagar Haveli in Silvassa, reaching nearly 150 participants, including youth and women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
The sessions introduced participants to simple yoga postures, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices that highlighted the importance of caring for both body and mind. At the Community Resource Centre, the session was conducted in collaboration with doctors from NAMO College, who shared practical insights into the benefits of yoga for physical and well-being.
Journeys of change
Building Confidence Through Practical Learning
Sahil, a young mechanic from Dharuhera, Rewari, had purchased an OBD tool hoping it would improve his work. However, without the knowledge to use it correctly, the tool remained unused in his workshop for a long time.
During a market visit, the team provided hands-on guidance and demonstrated how to use the OBD tool effectively. The practical session helped Sahil gain the confidence to start using the tool in his daily work. Today, he not only uses it regularly to diagnose vehicles but also supports fellow mechanics by sharing his knowledge. Encouraged by the experience, Sahil is eager to attend advanced training sessions to further strengthen his skills.
A Step Towards a Healthcare Career
Nainsi, a 22-year-old from Khanpur Meena village in Dholpur, Rajasthan, aspired to build a career in healthcare. However, financial constraints prevented her from pursuing higher education after completing Class 12. Determined to become financially independent, she enrolled in the General Duty Assistant (GDA) training programme.
During the course, Nainsi initially struggled with English and medical terminology but gradually built her confidence through consistent learning and practical training. After successfully completing the programme, she secured a job at CK Birla Hospital in Jaipur, earning ₹15,000 per month. Today, she applies her skills in patient care while working towards her dream of pursuing nursing and contributing to better healthcare services in her village.
Inside Empower
New team Members
This quarter three new team members joined the organisation across roles including fundraising, communications, and training, strengthening programme delivery across locations.
Pranita Varade
Sartaj Aziz
Ambareen Anwar
Town Hall 2026: Reset, Reflect, Rise
In April, the team came together for the quarterly town hall 2026 under the theme “Reset, Reflect, Rise”. The event provided an opportunity to look back on the achievements of 2025-2026, celebrate team contributions, and share the vision for the year ahead.
The session highlighted several key milestones, including completing 13 Years of transforming lives through skilling and community development, delivering upskilling programmes reaching over 30,000 workers across five states, and expanding into new partnerships and geographies.
Looking ahead, the leadership shared strategic priorities for 2026-27, focusing on technology adoption, strengthening fundraising efforts, expanding women’s economic participation initiatives, and scaling impact across programmes. The town hall concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and a shared commitment to driving meaningful change in the communities we serve.
From Skills to Sustainable Livelihoods
For women from tribal Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Silvassa, learning new skills has opened the door to new opportunities. Through training in tailoring, fabric craft, and product design, they are now creating a beautiful range of handcrafted products that combine traditional craftsmanship with thoughtful design. Each product reflects their creativity, dedication, and growing confidence, while every purchase contributes towards strengthening women's livelihoods and supporting the continued growth of Self-Help Groups.
Laptop Sleeve
Lunch Bags
Cable Organisers
Scan the QR code to browse the complete collection of handcrafetd products