Inside Sambhav Foundation’s initiatives to empower marginal communities in Bengaluru

Last week, the Sambhav Foundation, in collaboration with Christ University’s Liberal Arts Department, hosted an immersive theatre production called Navrasa. 

The platform sheds light on the untold stories of Bengaluru’s informal waste pickers, who, the foundation has trained in costume design and production as part of its Saamuhika Shakti initiative. 

Beyond just a performance, Navrasa serves as a platform for empowerment, advocacy, and economic transformation, giving voice to a community often overlooked in mainstream society.

“We have been doing Navrasa for four years now, but this year, we want to use the platform to bring visibility to stories of resilience," says Prerana Srimaal, HOD, Liberal Arts at Christ University. This is more than theatre; it’s a statement. It’s about shifting perspectives, about seeing dignity where society often overlooks it,” said Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Chief Impact Officer at Sambhav Foundation.

Empowering communities through inclusive growth

Bengaluru-based Sambhav Foundation—established in 2006 by psychologist Meena Jain—creates sustainable livelihoods through skill development, entrepreneurship, and social empowerment. It focuses on marginalised communities, especially individuals aged 18-29, providing them with vocational training and opportunities to integrate into mainstream industries.

With 110 centres across India, the foundation also engages in public education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, it ensures young individuals entering its programmes are equipped to build careers rather than merely searching for direction by strengthening government schools, primary healthcare centres, and waste management systems.

Sambhav Foundation has significantly impacted over 2.7 million lives across India. One of its key initiatives, Saamuhika Shakti—funded by the Sweden-based H&M Foundation—brings together 11 organisations to uplift Bengaluru’s informal waste picker community, ensuring greater agency and access to dignified work opportunities.

Its livelihood programme equips marginalised communities with market-relevant skills, enabling them to secure stable jobs or start their businesses. Its education initiative emphasises strengthening public schools, providing digital literacy, and conducting skill-building workshops. 

Additionally, the foundation works towards enhancing primary healthcare access by improving infrastructure and awareness.

“A huge problem in India is that people don’t go to primary healthcare centres. So, everything is shifted to tertiary centres, which are already overburdened. Our goal is to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that communities receive timely and accessible medical care,” Vasudevan says.

Addressing digital poverty remains a crucial challenge, as many individuals lack basic digital literacy skills, including typing and internet navigation. To bridge this gap, the foundation incorporates digital education into its vocational training programmes, enabling individuals to gain essential workplace skills.

Its free vocational courses include tailoring, beautician, welding, automotive technology training, and electrician training, among others. 

She adds, “Our mission is to break the cycles of poverty that many marginalised communities find themselves trapped in. By equipping individuals with market-ready skills, we ensure they don’t just find employment but have the agency to build sustainable careers.”

Transforming lives through skill-building

Suman, a tailoring student from Bengaluru’s Sumanhalli, had to drop out of school in Class 10. After being at home for a year, she found out about the free courses offered by the Sambhav Foundation. 

“Seeing my family struggle, I wanted to support them, so I learned tailoring. When I initially started stitching, I couldn't stitch well. I was scared my trainer would be angry, but she taught me really well. Now, my dream is to start my own project and open my own shop,” she says in a video testimonial for the foundation.

Similarly, Rekha—whose great-grandfather was a waste picker—aspires to change societal perceptions. “Even today, people call waste pickers smelly and dirty. My ambition has always been to challenge these stereotypes and elevate the dignity of our community.” 

She worked at a hospital in patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)—a type of pain management— for a year, but couldn't continue working after having kids. She says, “However, today, raising kids with one person’s income feels like a dream. Kavitha Ma’am from Sambhav Foundation introduced me to this course, and Nirmala Ma'am, our instructor, is amazing. In just one and a half months, they made me realise my talent. I am thankful that they are helping me move forward in my life. I now have the confidence to earn more and go out to work.”

Vasudevan recalls another success story, where a beautician from Vadodara joined Sambhav’s vocational training programme to support her spastic child. “About 2.5 years later, when the spokesperson visited her, she had set up a parlour in her house and was earning Rs 1.5 lakh a month,” she recalls.

“Every time I visit one of our centres, I am reminded that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. Our goal is to change that by providing the necessary training, mentorship, and support,” Vasudevan adds, as she highlights the importance of such transformations.

Expanding impact

Recently, the Bengaluru organisation launched the Kachra Camp, a campaign aimed at transforming waste management practices in 40 villages. This initiative, along with future campaigns, seeks to instil long-term behavioural change and foster environmental consciousness. 

“Our work is not just about employment; it’s about changing mindsets. The Kachra Camp is one such initiative that helps communities rethink waste management, turning it into an opportunity rather than a burden,” explains Vasudevan.

In the future, she says, “We hope to have a fashion show featuring costumes made by our students at the MG Road Metro Station, Bengaluru.” 

Sambhav Foundation believes that empowering communities requires a multi-faceted approach, strengthening livelihoods, education, and healthcare to create sustainable change.