Airoli · Thane · Navi Mumbai
Together, we care.
Dira Social Welfare Foundation works alongside children and women in the underserved communities of Thane and Navi Mumbai — through free after-school education, livelihood training for women, and support for youth building their first careers.
Who we are
A community-rooted foundation, built by and for the neighbourhood.
Dira Social Welfare Foundation, commonly known as the "Dira Foundation," is an NGO which focuses on improving the lives of children and women from underprivileged backgrounds in the communities around Thane and Navi Mumbai.
We run initiatives aimed at socio-economic development — primarily through educational and nutritional support for children, skill development programs for women and guidance for youth in career direction and financial literacy.
Our work is concentrated in three communities: Ishwarnagar (Kalwa), Chinchpada (Airoli) and the Nocil Naka slums (Rabale) — areas where the effects of the pandemic deepened existing gaps in schooling, income and access to services.
Mission
What we're here to do
To support underprivileged children, women and youth, and by educational assistance, access to rights, and improved livelihood opportunities.
Vision
What we're working toward
A world where everyone has equitable access to quality education, affordable healthcare, social justice, and the freedom to pursue sustainable livelihoods.
Our approach
Four ways we show up for the community.
Education that meets children where they are
- Enrolling children in local schools, with study materials and fee assistance for those in need
- After-school tutoring and extracurricular programs for psychosocial development
- Regular food drives to support children's nutritional needs
Skills, income and dignity for women
- Vocational training programs that create real earning opportunities
- Help securing essential government documents and welfare schemes
- Literacy programs and workshops on sexual and reproductive health
- Referrals to partner NGOs for cases of violence against women
A clearer path forward for youth
- Career counselling and support finding jobs
- Regular sessions on gender equality and financial literacy
Emergency & requirement-based support
- Ration kits for families facing income loss or financial emergencies
- Fundraising for medical emergencies families can't otherwise afford
In the community, and in the news
When school buses stopped running, we didn't wait quietly.
For two years, unresolved issues between BEST and Mumbai's education department kept school buses from starting on time — leaving 100 children in Chinchpada without transport for months. We advocated for a resolution and helped bring media attention to it; Hindustan Times covered the story for two consecutive years, and services resumed.
From our centres
Learning doesn't stop at textbooks.
