Growing through the years

Our Journey

Alternative livelihoods, FPCs, and embroidery-based microenterprises empower Chenchu tribes and self-help groups.

Our history

Milestones that shaped our work

From creating educational opportunities to strengthening livelihoods, each step has been guided by community needs.

1999

The beginning

Education opportunities for children

The organization began its journey towards creating educational opportunities for children from poor and deprived communities in 10 rural villages by establishing Education Centres for children of working and school-dropout families. Within one year, CONARE mobilized more than 300 children into its centres and mainstreamed 80% of them into government schools and hostels. The initiatives were initially supported by PRAKRITI and MV Foundation.

2000

Expanding education

Residential Bridge Course Centres

Building on the initial interventions, the organization progressively moved towards establishing Residential Bridge Course Centres for children with support from the National Child Labour Project and District Administration. The centres motivated many parents to enrol their children rather than sending them to agricultural fields for labour.

2001

Child protection

Support for children and families

In its third year, the organization was recognized for protecting and promoting children's rights. The Revenue Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, allocated one acre of land and support for constructing “Bala Bhavan,” a Residential Bridge Centre exclusively for girls at Gopal Rao Nagar Tanda, approximately 5 km from Achampet Mandal headquarters. MV Foundation also supported mobilization, health and nutritional care for children and women.

2022

Sustainable development

Village development and sustainable agriculture

Alongside Residential Bridge Centre, child-labour elimination and health-care initiatives, CONARE began working with Panchayati Raj Institutions to support overall village development. Sustainable agriculture initiatives were taken up for parents whose children were at risk of labour, helping address poverty, limited opportunities and gaps in adult family members' skills.

2023

Building resilience

Planning for socioeconomic sustainability

Existing activities continued, while new approaches to socioeconomic sustainability for poor parents and migrant workers were explored to help prevent child migration and child labour.

2024

Community impact

Child-labour-free mandals and better health

Uppunuthala and Balmoor mandals became child-labour-free for the year, and district-level officials appreciated the organization’s efforts. CONARE also initiated supplementary feeding practices for infants and lactating mothers, and promoted sustainable agriculture by raising awareness about the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and non-pesticide management.

2005+

Grassroots work

A broader, community-led mission

From 2005 onwards, CONARE established itself as a grassroots NGO focused especially on children and women, building relationships with government stakeholder departments and communities. Its work has included child-labour eradication through Residential Bridge Centres and advocacy, natural-resource and watershed management, Panchayati Raj development, sustainable rural livelihoods, alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent communities, educational support, child protection, disaster response and rehabilitation.

Beyond rural communities

Work in the urban areas

CONARE has also developed visibility and recognition in urban areas. In 2005, a group of 100 women with small savings were facilitated to form a Mutually Aided Thrift and Credit Society named “Chaitanya Vikas”. The society was founded to address the issues of women, especially those from Muslim minority communities, and their children.

The organization also works on skill-development training, awareness drives, life skills and entrepreneurship-development programmes for young girls and women in urban slum areas of Hyderabad.

Women participating in a community meeting

Community, confidence and opportunity