About Us

CherYsh aims to scale its successful modern digital education and livelihood programs around Karnataka and neighboring states

Welcome to CherYsh Trust India, a government licensed NGO located in Bangalore, India. For well over a decade, CherYsh has uniquely impacted the learning and livelihoods of over 20,000 children and 10,000 families in 100+ villages around Karnataka and Goa, India. These rural villages and needy urban areas are the focal point of CherYsh’s unwavering efforts to transform lives through modern digital education and livelihood development. With support from our partners, donors and the government, CherYsh strives to enhance modern learning and livelihood opportunities for resource-poor villages by expanding its impact and creating a digital learning ecosystem for our nation – one village at a time. The CherYsh model is a stand-out in its focus, implementation and impact.
 
At CherYsh, we understand that a modern digital education is vital and essential in the contemporary world and our grassroots learning initiatives empower girls and women to join the digital workforce without leaving their homes. We are committed to advancing gender equality by providing girls and women with the learning tools to thrive towards an enriching livelihood

Vision

We imagine transforming rural children and women’s lives with modern digital learning towards achieving contemporary livelihoods

Mission

We work to nurture the holistic development of rural children and women into economic self-sufficiency through education, equipping and empowerment

Values

These inspire us — Integrity in action, Inclusivity in opportunity, and the spirit of being proudly Indian.

Our Approach

At CherYsh, our mission is to empower girls and women in rural India by creating pathways for holistic development, self-reliance, and economic independence. Our approach is built around a transformative framework—Educate, Equip, and Empower—ensuring a seamless journey from learning to livelihood for rural children and women.

Our Strategic Pillars of Change

1. CherYsh Educate

We believe that education is the cornerstone of empowerment. Through CherYsh Shiksha, we provide holistic education to rural children via our After-School Learning Centers. These centers serve as safe and supportive village spaces where children, guided by trained village women, thrive academically and socially. Our programs, such as Junior Shiksha, English Shiksha, and e-Shiksha, employ innovative methodologies, including an engaging active village-based curriculum using digital tools, to foster critical thinking and 21st-century skills.

Over 20,000 children across 100+ villages have benefited, with our focus on making technology, STEM, and English education accessible, ensuring an advanced future for the next generation rural children in a technology driven society.

Our top active programs:

a) CherYsh™ Junior Shiksha

b) CherYsh™ ESM Shiksha

c) CherYsh™ e-Shiksha

2. CherYsh Empower

Empowerment through Educators 

Our commitment extends beyond classrooms to equipping local women with the skills and confidence to serve as educators, leaders, and change-makers. Through comprehensive training programs, including over 40 in-person and online sessions annually, we enable facilitators to master teaching methodologies, integrate technology into education, and develop subject expertise.

By building their capabilities, we not only enhance the quality of education for children but also ensure these women gain regular incomes and professional confidence. To date, more than 500 women in Haliyal have transformed their lives through CherYsh Educate.

Empowerment through Skilling

Our initiatives go beyond providing immediate aid; they aim to build resilience and self-reliance within communities. Through skill development, and access to resources, we empower individuals to create a better future for themselves and their families.

Empowerment through Entrepreneurship

Economic empowerment is central to our mission. Through CherYsh Empowerment, we identify and nurture the unique talents of rural women, providing them with resources, partnerships and mentorship to establish sustainable livelihoods. From individual entrepreneurial ventures to collective initiatives like Project Belan, Spoorthi Community Kitchen, and Vermicompost production, we help women turn their skills into viable income-generating opportunities.

This work not only contributes to their financial independence but also uplifts their families and stimulates local economies. Hundreds of women in Haliyal are now thriving entrepreneurs and valued contributors to their communities.

Our top active programs:

  1. Livelihood and Entrepreneurship for Women (learn more) – redirect to case studies
  2. Project Belan (learn more)
  3. Spoorthi Community Kitchen Enterprise (learn more)
  4. Mundwad Shawl Group (learn more)
  5. Vermicompost (learn more)

CherYsh Journey So Far

CherYsh aims to scale its successful modern digital education and livelihood programs around Karnataka and neighboring states.

Since 2011: Our Consistent Efforts to Educate Rural Girls

Shiksha Centers

Over 100 centers have been established across 50+ villages in Haliyal, Ponda, Chennapatna, and Mangalore. More than 20,000 students have enrolled in these centers.

eShiksha Centers

Bridging the digital divide in Haliyal by providing technology education. Train girls in computing, coding, and problem-solving skills.

English Shiksha Centers

Enhancing English proficiency among students aged 5 to 14, with a specific emphasis on fostering self-assurance and developing effective communication abilities.

Nursing Certification

Initiated a program in villages in Ponda, Goa to empower women with skills in elderly care.

Community Kitchen

Helped monetize community kitchen food products and retail clothing products specifically designed for women.

Agricultural Innovation

Contributed to the establishment of a revenue-generating enterprise through sugarcane nurseries and the production of composting fertilizers.

STEM Training

Developed qualified teachers through the “Learning Facilitator Program.”

Learning Facilitator

Developed and implemented a comprehensive three-month ICT training program for rural educators. The curriculum encompassed instruction in English, Mathematics, and digital education, with a specific focus on coding.

Vocational Skilling

Provided training and development opportunities to over 1,000 women, enhancing their skills and livelihoods.

Entrepreneurship Programs

Training in sugarcane bud nurseries, fertilizer composting, food products, and retail clothing. Financial literacy and access to financial schemes. Indirectly benefiting over 25,000 individuals.

Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore:

  • Partnership with Hope Foundation.
  • Focus: Training rural immigrants in computers, retail, and tailoring through a vocational institute.

Chennapatna, Karnataka:

  • Partnership with Dr. Mariyappa Trust.
  • Focus: Improving primary school education in English and Math for surrounding villages.

Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada & Udipi District, Karnataka:

  • Partnership with Samanvaya Trust.
  • Focus: Rural women’s entrepreneurship programs in dressmaking and embroidery.

Ponda, Goa:

  • Partnership with Sanjeevan Foundation and Goa College of Home Science.
  • Key Initiative: CherYsh Institute of Women Empowerment (CIWE) offering a 1-year elderly nursing certificate program for rural girls.

Hubli-Haliyal, Karnataka:

  • Emerged as the (COE) center of excellence.
  • Became the beta site for all new educational and livelihood programs.

Our Strategy: The Road Ahead

As we look toward the next three years, our vision is clear:

  • Achieve programmatic excellence across education, livelihood, and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on STEM and digital education.
  • Establish CherYsh as a trusted and sought-after development organization in South India, gaining credibility among government bodies, corporates, donors, and communities.
  • Create a self-sustaining organization with robust systems, policies, and scalable impact models.
  • Replicate and expand successful initiatives from Hubli-Haliyal to other underserved regions.
  • Build Centers of Excellence (CoEs) for each programmatic vertical in collaboration with strategic academic and technical partners.

Collaborative Partnerships

We recognize that collective action drives meaningful change. Cherysh India partners with universities, grassroots organizations, government bodies, private enterprises, NGOs and global institutions to leverage diverse expertise, resources, and networks. By fostering partnerships, we amplify our reach and maximize our impact, ensuring that our initiatives achieve scale and sustainability.

  • Notable Achievements (2011–2024)​

Education

  • e-Shikshas build digital skills (computing and coding) for rural students.
  • Pioneered a nursing certification program in Ponda villages for elderly care.

 

Empowerment & Entrepreneurship

  • Commercialization of community kitchen food products and retail clothing products for women.
  • Agricultural innovation with sugarcane nurseries and composting fertilizers.
  • STEM training of teachers through the Learning Facilitator program.
  • 2011–2015: CherYsh’s Initial Regional Partnerships

Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore:

  • Partnership with Hope Foundation.
  • Focus: Training rural immigrants in computers, retail, and tailoring through a vocational institute.

 

  • Chennapatna, Karnataka:

    Partnership with Dr. Mariyappa Trust.
  • Focus: Improving primary school education in English and Math for surrounding villages.

 

Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada & Udipi District, Karnataka:

  • Partnership with Samanvaya Trust.
  • Focus: Rural women’s entrepreneurship programs in dressmaking and embroidery.

 

Ponda, Goa:

  • Partnership with Sanjeevan Foundation and Goa College of Home Science.
  • Key Initiative: CherYsh Institute of Women Empowerment (CIWE) offering a 1-year elderly nursing certificate program for rural girls.

 

Hubli-Haliyal, Karnataka:

  • Emerged as the (COE) center of excellence.
  • Became the beta site for all new educational and livelihood programs.

  • 2011–2024: CherYsh’s Exponential Growth in Education and Livelihood Programs

Education Initiatives

Shiksha Learning Centers:

  • 100+ centers established across 50+ villages (Haliyal, Ponda, Chennapatna, and Mangalore).
  • Over 20,000 students enrolled.

 

e-Shiksha:

  • Bridging the digital divide in Haliyal through technology education.
  • Training in computing, coding, and problem-solving.

 

English Shiksha:

  • Improving English skills in students aged 5–14.
  • Focus on confidence-building and communication skills.

 

Learning Facilitator Training:

  • 3-month ICT training for rural educators.
  • Training in English, Math, and digital education (including coding).

 

Livelihood Empowerment

 

Skills Training:

  • Over 1,000 women trained in livelihood skills.

 

Entrepreneurship Programs:

  • Training in sugarcane bud nurseries, fertilizer composting, food products, and retail clothing.
  • Financial literacy and access to financial schemes.

 

Economic Impact:

  • Indirectly benefiting 25,000+ people.
  • 2

Volunteer with Us to Drive Lasting Change

We are ready to scale our initiatives to create a powerful, sustainable learning ecosystem—one village at a time.

VOLUNTEER

Our Donors & Partners

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Anita Singh

Anita Singh has worked in the advertising and marketing industry for several years, handling brands across various industries, including IT services, consumer durables, and ice creams. She is a highly motivated strategic leader with more than 25 years of global corporate experience and success in aligning people, brand and organization propositions to deliver business value – both for scaling and growth.She is dedicated to supporting education and livelihoods for underprivileged women and children and supporting the needs of the elderly and less fortunate. As a Trustee for the CherYsh Trust, she works to better the prospects of women and children through programs that prepare them for future challenges.