The Foundation takes its name from Ubuntu, a traditional African philosophy often translated as “I am because we are” — used in a deeper sense to mean the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.
2,000+Lives touched
2014Work began
2018Registered
5States
12Districts
It started with a question about governance, not charity
Jodhpur, Rajasthan · 2014
Ubantu Foundation in its current form grew out of years of community organisation and research carried out by its Founder in Jodhpur and Goa since 2014.
The genesis goes back to 2014, when the Director began working with district administration, local bodies, citizens, self-help groups and other stakeholders to devise strategies for meaningful citizen participation in urban governance in Jodhpur district, Rajasthan.
Through persistent effort he conceptualised and executed the Smart Colony – Smart Ward Initiative. In April 2016 the Government of Rajasthan appreciated it and recommended it to all municipalities as a success story. That September he was engaged as a Governance Expert by the Urban Development Department, Government of Goa, under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
A village enterprise, and two years of work
Goa · from July 2017
In July 2017 he learned of a woman running an enterprise making biodegradable sanitary pads in a village of Goa.
He worked with her for two years — upgrading the quality and design of the product, and developing promotion and marketing strategies. That work established the business as a viable livelihood model for women’s self-help groups in Goa, and it is the model the Foundation still builds on.
Training participants with candles they made — the livelihood model that began in a Goa village, now running in several states.
Two initiatives — Smart Colony – Smart Ward, and establishing biodegradable sanitary pad making as a livelihood model for self-help groups in Jodhpur and Goa — gave the Foundation its grounding. Both received appreciation from government and from reputed social organisations in Goa and Rajasthan.
Registered, and then scaled
October 2018 onwards
Ubantu Foundation was registered as a social organisation in October 2018 under the Companies Act, 2013, and holds the certifications required to receive CSR funds — CSR-1, 80G, 12A and NITI Aayog NGO Darpan.
Its first community project launched in Goa in 2019 with CSR support from Tulip Diagnostics. In 2021 and 2022 the Foundation worked with German Development Cooperation (GIZ India), providing consultancy support to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India and to the National Cooperative Union of India. GIZ also funded work with the Panchayati Raj Department of Uttar Pradesh documenting success stories under the MNREGA scheme.
Since then, CSR funding from Tower Vision (2024) and Ascend Telecom (2025) has supported livelihood and entrepreneurship work in Goa and Uttar Pradesh.
The cooperative model Ubantu works with is not only an Indian one. In June 2026 the Foundation’s Director attended the African Cooperative Conference and visited Fundação Universitária in Maputo at the invitation of Dr Nepeti Nicanor, meeting cooperative federations, civil society groups and startups from across Mozambique.
The purpose was practical: to map where India–Mozambique cooperation could work in livelihoods, incubation and technology transfer — agriculture, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, packaging and food processing. A follow-up meeting in July 2026 was co-hosted with a multi-state cooperative society from Kerala.
Ubantu Foundation works with tribal populations in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh and Baloda Bazar district, Chhattisgarh on skill development, livelihoods and women’s health.
Many women in these rural areas are already skilled in traditional artisanal work and are looking for a livelihood that can sustain their families, because their existing work in agriculture is not sufficient to do so. The Foundation has taken deliberate measures to include particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), persons with disabilities, SC and ST communities, and transgender individuals through awareness campaigns, vocational training, self-help groups and market linkages.
Vision. To promote happiness through social inclusion and enhanced quality of life for all.
Mission. To utilise the power of community capacity, cooperative entrepreneurship, sustainable technologies and innovative approaches, through an integrated approach, for the socio-economic development of the underprivileged sections of society.
The values behind the name
Core values
Interconnectedness. Individuals are not isolated but part of a larger network of relationships, where each person’s actions affect others.
Communal responsibility. A shared responsibility for the well-being of the community, encouraging people to care for and support one another.
Respect for human dignity. The inherent dignity and worth of all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance.
Forgiveness and reconciliation. Restorative justice over retribution, particularly in the context of conflict.
What we set out to do
Our objectives
To empower the needy through digital literacy, vocational training and social protection programmes. To promote gender equality by empowering women through training and livelihood development. To set up incubation centres for developing innovative approaches and design solutions in the larger interest of people.
To conduct research and provide technical support for the design and development of projects related to governance. To organise national and international-level policy dialogues and awards programmes. To launch and run awareness campaigns and community development initiatives.
To identify and pilot effective technologies and approaches for enhancing quality of life for all. To promote happiness through play-based activities and wellness programmes. To provide internship opportunities to students in the fields of governance and livelihoods.
Work with us
Volunteer your skills, partner with us on CSR, intern with us in the field, or simply ask a question — we would be glad to hear from you.
