About us

Home
About us

SCROLL •••

Our story

Welcome to CherYsh, a dedicated NGO empowering girls and women in Haliyal, a quiet and often overlooked region in Karnataka. Here, we work tirelessly to transform lives by creating opportunities for learning and livelihood.

At CherYsh, we understand that education and income-generating skills are vital in breaking the cycle of poverty. Our grassroots initiatives empower girls and women to build better futures for themselves and their families. We are committed to advancing gender equality by providing girls with access to quality education and equipping women with the skills and support needed to achieve financial independence.

Our mission is to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning and drive both social and economic development in Haliyal and its surrounding areas, ensuring that girls and women have the tools to thrive.

Vision

To transform the rural girl child’s life from early learning to sustainable livelihood.

Mission

To nurture the holistic development of rural girl children and women into economic self-sufficiency through knowledge, skills and tools

Values

Integrity, Transparency, Empowerment and Inclusivity.

Journey So far

Founded : May 2011

After-School Learning Centres

Between 2012 and 2015, CherYsh partnered with implementation partners to establish 11 After-School Learning Centres in 24 villages across Haliyal, Ponda, and Mangalore, with a total enrollment of 450 students.
These centres were led by a Learning Facilitator at each centre, ensuring quality education delivery.
Over 595 women acquired livelihood skills, and 288 livelihood opportunities were created, indirectly benefitting a population of 24,000

Shiksha and Livelihood Projects

In 2015-16, CherYsh shifted focus to direct implementation of Shiksha and Livelihood Projects in Haliyal.
By March 2020, CherYsh established 57 Shiksha Centres in 44 villages of Haliyal, enrolling over 1700 students, with each centre anchored by a Learning Facilitator.
CherYsh formed 5 women’s groups under its Livelihood Projects, directly impacting the lives of 50 women
20 women from various villages in Haliyal received three-month training under the ‘ICT for Rural Education Project’ supported by Intel Corporation

Sports Scholarships

CherYsh provided scholarship support to 5 young women from Haliyal to pursue education and football training at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, through the generosity of individual donors
These women have participated in State and National-level matches, making an impact in the sports arena
In addition, higher education of another young woman is being supported by individual donors who recognize her great potential.

e-Shikshas

The e-Shiksha program started in the year 2020 aims to bridge the digital divide in the rural villages of Haliyal by providing quality technology education. It focuses on empowering Learning Facilitators as Master Trainers and equipping e-Shiksha centers with digital tools to foster holistic learning and problem-solving skills through coding and digital making. By doing so, the program seeks to create an inclusive and empowering educational environment, helping students thrive in the digital age.

English Shikshas

The CherYsh English Shiksha program started in year 2021-22, in collaboration with the Deshpande Foundation, is a vital educational initiative aimed at enhancing the language skills of students aged 10 to 14 in Haliyal Taluk, Uttara Kannada. Operating for over three years, this program focuses on equipping students with proficient English language skills, fostering self-confidence, and developing effective communication abilities essential for their academic and personal growth.

Livelihood initiatives

As time progressed, we began initiating various livelihood ventures, both individual and group-based, supporting them in every way possible. This includes conducting entrepreneurship development training in collaboration with the state government, helping artisans obtain artisan cards from the Ministry, providing financial literacy, and guiding them towards appropriate financial schemes. We are also collaborating with agencies like Selco Foundation to offer more livelihood opportunities for women. Some of our success stories include Project Belan, where Demakka started making rotis with a machine, Seva Sindhu, where Daplin launched a Xerox center, and ventures like vermicompost manure production and quilt-making units. These are just a few examples of the positive impact we've made.

Trustees

Anita Singh

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 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.

Kala Anand

Kala Anand

Kala Anand is a seasoned expert in international education, having extensive experience in building partnerships, coaching, and marketing initiatives across various industries. As the Vice President (Global) at upGrad Connect, she spearheads crucial strategies to enhance institutional relationships and provide transformative learning experiences for students worldwide.

Sanjiv Shanmugam

Sanjiv Shanmugam

Sanjiv Shanmugam, a third-generation industrialist, is the Managing Partner of MLC Estates LLP. He has diversified the company’s activities by including real estate, angel investing and solar power. He graduated from Wilmington College with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. Sanjiv is an active member of society and holds various prestigious positions. He is a founding patron of Art Bengaluru, an avid golfer and a member of numerous clubs. Sanjiv has been a donor with CherYsh since a decade, a cause he holds dear, which aims to empower rural women and enhance the education of the girl child.

CHERYSH TEAM

Sapna Ravindran

CEO

She is a highly accomplished and decisive senior executive with 27+ years of Development sector experience , engaged in Program development, quality implementations, strategic partnership & Alliances, Govt relations , new business development, Revenue raising, Social Marketing & Franchising, Monitoring & Evaluation , strategic decision making ,building teams and their capacities etc., She has done Bachelor in Eng Literature , followed by MSW (Social Work), with specialization in Family and Child Welfare & Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management . She also have the experience in the thematic areas like : Education, Health, Livelihoods, Entrepreneurship, Women empowerment, Child Development, Anti- child trafficking, Community Development, Public Health ,STI.HIV prevention, TB Management etc.
Some of the areas where she has demonstrated expertise are: Project Management, Resource Mobilization, PPP Interventions, Corporate Partnerships, Partner Management, Communication Strategy & Development, Social Marketing &Social Franchising, Cost Centre management, Behaviour Change Communication, Monitoring &Evaluation, and Technical Assistance etc.

Nagaraj Kulkarni

Field Head

Nagaraj Kulkarni has first-hand experience with the limitations of the Indian education system. This experience motivated him to change children’s lives and improve communities, leading him to switch careers and earn a Master’s in Social Development from Azim Prem Ji University. Nagaraj has worked with several development organizations in the education and livelihood sectors. For Nagaraj, CherYsh represents hope and brings joy to communities by offering new possibilities. Although he is an introvert and a reserved person, his passion for development work pushes him out of his comfort zone.

Shantha-Doddmani-Junior-Shiksha-and-Livelihhod-Senior-Manager

Shantha Doddamani

Senior Field Coordinator Junior Shiksha and Livelihood

Shantha Doddamani has a MSW from Belgaum and has been part of the CherYsh team since 2015, making her the first employee of CherYsh. Shantha’s interests lie in the education and livelihood sectors and she is always eager to learn new things. To Shantha, CherYsh is like her baby, and she is deeply committed to the organization’s goal of improving the lives of girls and women in the Haliyal region through sustainable work. She is hopeful that her work will contribute to community development and help change people’s mindsets.

Praveen Siddi

Program Coordinator, English Shiksha

Praveen Siddi is a graduate of Bangalore with experience in various organizations focused on education and community development. In 2023, he joined the CherYsh team as an English Shiksha Coordinator in the Haliyal region. His role involves raising awareness about the importance of English education and fostering a mindset shift among students and the local community to embrace learning. Praveen aims to create positive change in students and people’s attitudes toward education through his work.

Sahana-Sagali-e-Shiksha-program-coordinator

Sahana Sangli

Program Coordinator, e-shiksha

Sahana Sagali is the Coordinator for Electronic Shiksha (eShiksha) at CherYsh Trust, where she plays a pivotal role in managing and overseeing educational programs that leverage technology to enhance learning experiences. With a strong background in educational technology and program management, along with experience in technical training from her time as a Graduate Trainee at HCL Tech, Sahana is dedicated to empowering students and educators through innovative digital solutions. Her responsibilities include designing and implementing technical learning modules, coordinating training sessions for teachers, and ensuring the accessibility and user-friendliness of CherYsh’s digital platforms. She collaborates closely with educational institutions, schools, and community organizations to foster partnerships that align with CherYsh’s mission of providing quality education to underserved populations. Passionate about creating inclusive learning environments, Sahana focuses on addressing diverse learning needs and promoting digital literacy. By continuously exploring emerging technologies and best practices, she strives to enhance the effectiveness of CherYsh’s programs and contribute to improving technical educational outcomes in the communities they serve.

Monica Chakravarthy

Lead Technology Officer

Monica Chakravarthy is the Lead Technology Officer and Computing Educator at CherYsh Trust, where she plays a strategic role in overseeing all programs, including those focused on livelihood initiatives. With over seven years of experience as a technical trainer, Monica is dedicated to inspiring and empowering learners through her expertise in software programming, pedagogical principles, and hardware maintenance. She manages a wide array of responsibilities, including the selection and maintenance of hardware technologies, cloud services, and internet accessibility. Monica designs and delivers the computing curriculum for students and teacher trainers while providing technical leadership and mentorship. Her commitment to creating an inclusive technology environment extends to collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners to organize workshops and develop internship programs. Eager to embrace new technologies, Monica implements strategies that enhance efficiency and reliability in CherYsh’s computing infrastructure, ultimately aiming to transform the educational landscape for children and women in rural India.

CherYsh Resources

Press & Media

Akshaya Patra Quaterly Newsletter – Vol.2 – 2015

An interview with Rural – Marketing

Serendipity Media

Valiant Women of the CherYsh Community Kitchens

Pudhari – Sanjeevan Establishes Institute for Ladies

Goa Doot – Sanjeevan Introduces New Course in home Science

Sunaprant – Cherysh Institute for Women Empowerment to get rolling soon: Dr.Sawardekar

Tarun Bharat – New course for women from Sanjeevan

Lokmat – Professional education for women – an initiative by Sanjeevan.

Times of India – Institute for empowerment of women to begin in Goa

Case Study

News Letters

CherYsh Partnerships

CherYsh’s partnerships are not just collaborations, they are powerful tools to create real change at the ground level. We have partnered with Deshpande Foundation, EID Parry, Selco Foundation, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Textiles, the Deshpande Private Industrial Training Institute, the PiJam Foundation, KLE Tech University, CFTE, WeAct amongst many others to work towards a common goal. Through these partnerships, we have seamlessly worked together to achieve better outcomes for the communities we serve.

The partnerships With DPIT, DF, KLE Tech University, CFTE, and the Ministry of Education have enabled us to provide quality education in schools and skill development to villages, resulting in an increase in income levels and education standards. The partnership with the Ministry of Textiles, WeAct has helped provide guidance, access to network, and exposure to opportunities to women entrepreneurs.

Our partnerships with the PiJam Foundation and the Selco Foundation have enabled us to bring advanced computer science knowledge and infrastructure to Haliyal villages, and promote sustainable energy use and improve livelihood opportunities for women, respectively.

These partnerships have been successful in creating innovative programs that support community development, and we are committed to continuing these collaborations further impact and benefit the communities we serve.

With-the-Block-Education-Officer,-Haliyal

PARTNERS

CherYsh believes that the depth and the scale of change are best served through shared ownership between all stakeholders –

Government: CherYsh nurtures a consultative approach with local governance that enables a quality-learning environment in village neighborhoods.

Business: We engage corporate organizations with the aim of collaboration for solutions to development challenges.

Civil Society: CherYsh works with civil society organizations to leverage and extend the value to larger groups of beneficiaries amongst girls and women.

Academic Institutions: Youth engagement is central to the CherYsh mission, with a view to institutionalizing participation of youth in social change.