Our mission
Khandel light works to improve the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged families in Khandel and its surrounding villages situated in the desert State of Rajasthan, India.
Lack of water, jobs, education and opportunity has resulted in migration to even greater deprivation in the large cities of India and beyond.
This is a familiar story in a world in which 1 billion people live in extreme poverty (on less than $1.25 per day).
Through a model of community-to-community partnership and empowerment we aim to help people gain confidence, independence and the capability to make choices about their future.
Khandel light’s involvement with its adopted community of 35,000 people living in 26 villages in Rajasthan follows the developmental hierarchy described by Abraham Maslow as long ago as 1943.
Through the involvement of Khandel light our communities have first satisfied their physiological needs (water and food) followed in turn by their safety needs (housing, employment, toilets, health camps, veterinary camps, emergency relief, fodder for cattle), love and belonging needs (medical camps, village health workers, women’s groups, temple visits, antenatal care, training and awareness camps, monthly village meetings), esteem needs (education, empowerment of women and girls) and finally the achievement of aspirations, capability (exemplified by our “Learn and Earn” tailoring courses and computer courses) and an awareness of Community.
If adopted by other community partnerships we believe that the Khandel light model would have a significant impact on global poverty, migration and gender inequality.
Education
100 students per year are offered Educational Bursaries. Of these 90 will be students who are orphans, from poor families, or those with parents with a disability.
Visit our album to see the community of Khandel and the surrounding villages
Fact file
Take a look at some of the facts and headline issues that we as a charity are addressing.