Usthi Foundation

Usthi supports since 1976 underprivileged children and young people in India and Nepal through schooling and professional training, so that they can lead self-determined, financially independent lives. The prerequisite for this is good health, which is also supported by Usthi Foundation activities. Sustainability is an important aim of all Usthi projects, including economic sustainability. Therefore, Usthi places not only great importance on the independence of the beneficiary but also, in the mid-term, the achievement of the highest possible level of self-financing through the local partner organisation. Where we do it: Usthi is active in India and Nepal in the areas where, with the available means, the greatest impact can be achieved and where our support is most urgently needed. How we do it: Usthi operates professionally and with inclusive approaches: problems are addressed from multiple sides simultaneously, so that significant progress can be reached in the community concerned. Thus, in addition to an appropriate support of the beneficiary, projects include prevention and sensitisation work with the target groups and their environment. In order to encourage local acceptance and to aid establishment, the community is strongly involved with the project development. Usthi's objective is to have all projects running independently within a given time phase, so that they continue to function under local management and with local financing. For existing projects which currently run in cooperation with organisations. Usthi is responsible for 13 projects with about 400 local employees. More than 2’700 children and young people benefit from an education or professional skills training and about 60 orphans or semi-orphans from an affectionate home. In addition, Usthi is responsible for a health care system covering 133 villages in the tribal belt of Somagiri, Odisha.