VACHA Trust

Adolescents living in the vast slum communities of Mumbai face limited classroom space in public middle and high schools, educational quality in government run schools is low at all levels, and scarce opportunities exist to participate in community life. Vacha Trust provides comprehensive programming for at-risk youth to supplement their schooling and that is designed to help them grow, contribute, and assimilate well in Mumbai’s increasingly diverse and juxtaposed cultures, languages and income levels.

EMpower’s sixth grant to the Vacha Trust supports the expansion of their Tejasvi (“Brightness”) Program which provides courses in basic English and computer skills; sexuality, gender and reproductive health education, workshops on children’s rights, and opportunities for youth leadership and creativity (such as a youth-produced community newsletter, art exhibitions and street theatre).