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Through darkness and harsh winds
"Human Effort for Love and Peace Foundation J&K (HELP Foundation J&K) is a community based organization that advances the vision and work of Ms. Nighat Shafi Pandit. She stepped out of her home at a time when very few Kashmiri women were responding to the crisis in their midst. In 1997, she was the first woman to start a home for children left homeless by the violent situation in the Kashmir Valley. Since then she continues to work, influence and inspire. Mentoring youth towards a bright future and encouraging them to connect with their communities for a change towards a better world”.
“Let us connect-Let us make a difference”
Main Areas of Work
Women Empowerment
Every day, courageous women walk into HELP Foundation's office with a dream — not for charity, but for a chance. A chance to rebuild, to rise, and to sustain their families with dignity. With your support, we provide these women with tools, livestock, grocery units, raw materials, and agri-inputs — whatever it takes to start or revive a livelihood. Your small act of giving can plant the seed of economic independence. Be the hand that helps them take the first step towards self-reliance. Under its Micro economic Initiative, HELP has supported 1000 plus women with small loans to rebuild their livelihoods in the aftermath of 2014 floods. "Support a Woman. Strengthen a Community".
Our current projects include skill development and vocational courses for women in Beerwah, Budgam. The Courses conducted include cutting & tailoring, basic computer course & mobile repairing. The project is supported by Mukul Madav Foundation & Finolex Industries.
Youth Empowerment
Youth empowerment mainly focuses on Skilling and upskilling for better livelihood options and good returns. These are mainly project based initiatives. Besides HELP has its own Skill development Centre at Inderhama Srinagar. At present HELP is implementing a Skill development project (cutting & tailoring and personality development including English speaking course for youth in khanqah village, block khag in Budgam district. (supported by Mukul Madav Foundation & Finolex Industries.
Education
"Give the Gift of Education to a Child – It Lasts a Lifetime"
Providing Education support to the vulnerable children is one of the core programme of HELP Foundation. Under this free Education/Scholarship support for poor and needy children from primary till secondary education is provided. Also financial assistance to poor and needy students enrolled in professional courses is also provided. HELP sustains the education programme mainly through local donations and individual philanthropist. For the purpose HELP raises a general appeal for donations before the start of every academic year and reaches out to the individual philanthropists to support us in the endeavor. You can also support this important initiative anytime in the year under HELP's "Gift of Education" programme. You can make a donation of INR. 35000 (average educational expenditure) for one child for an academic year or even pledge to support the child till completion of high school education. Your support will not be mere charity but an investment in Humanity. (click our donate button to support the endeavor).
Healthcare
Healthcare is one more important areas of work for HELP. Since inception providing free medical care to the needy within the communities and in clinical settings has been the norm at HELP. Mental health screening camps, eye- checkup camps and follow up, setting of free diagnostic facilities and providing emergency medical care through ambulance services are some regular programmes. This year HELP has established a new diagnostic facility in Pattan town of Baramulla district (sample collection) supported by APITCO Ltd. The project will provide accessible diagnostic facility for people living in Pattan block of Baramulla district
Ongoing Activities under various verticals(2024-25)
Healthcare "One sight" Community eye-check up camps especially in Artisan cluster and free spectacles distribution
among the needy supported by Essilor Luxottica
Skill development Reviving Tapestry art: Skill development in traditional art of Tapestry with the support of SIDBI.
Vocational training Under this initiative, tailoring & stitching and traditional hand embroidery (sozni-work) for women in Beerwah and Arizal villages of Budgam district. (supported by Mukul Madav Foundation/Finolex Industries & FICCI FLO).
Livelihood support (garlic seeds and sheep units) to vulnerable families through agro-based small scale projects in pulwama & budgam districts. (supported by Mukul Madav Foundation & Finolex industries ltd).
Women-Empowerment Completion of five year project for collectivization and formation of SHG of women farmers in Tarathpora block of Kupwara district. HELP Foundation was designated as POPI (producer organization's promoting institution) for hand-holding and capacity building of women farmers. The cooperative thus formed was registered as "Bangus Valley Milk Cooperative". The cooperative has progressed into a business venture with organized sale of milk and value addition. The project was implemented with the support from NABARD.
Our Work
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Women Empowerment is our core theme and central to our existence. The organization being led by a women herself, better understands the issues that confront the vulnerable women on a daily basis, who face struggles and challenges. Our mission is to provide meaningful support and resources to help them achieve self-sufficiency and dignity. We believe that every woman deserves the opportunity to create a nurturing environment first for herself by promoting self-healing with positive thinking and actions. Then only she can better support her children, fostering health, happiness and positivity in the household. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the vulnerable women, by supporting various initiatives of the Foundation.
HEALTHCARE
HELP Foundation has consistently led the way in delivering essential healthcare services to the needy communities, focusing on women, children and the elderly. We have established health clinics from time to time and conducted numerous health camps to treat the sick, raise awareness and improve mental as well as physical health. Our initiatives include eye-camps, breast-cancer detection and awareness programmes, awareness on menstrual hygiene among young girls and care for the elderly. We have also set-up diagnostic labs, u.s.g and dental clinics. We have played a crucial role across J&K during COVID-19 pandemic. Our critical care ambulatory service have proved beneficial in ferrying cardiac emergency patients and pregnant women to specialized facilities far-off from their homes. We continue to do eye-camps in the communities at the doorsteps of the vulnerable people and also distribute free spectacles for vision correction. We also conduct first-aid courses within the communities for the youth to manage health emergencies.
EDUCATION
HELP Foundation believes that Education is a basic tool for social transformation and empowerment, that can result in poverty alleviation and personality development of the needy children. Since inception, HELP has set up schools within the poor and backward communities across Srinagar, Kupwara and other districts. Most of these schools have been handed over to the respective communities to be managed independently. Besides HELP has upgraded school infrastructure, (science and computer labs) in various Government schools, especially in the aftermath of floods that engulfed the valley in 2014. At present HELP manages one school on its own in Khumriyal village of Kupwara namely, Shah Anwar Memorial School. In the current session (2025-26), 39 children who are extremely poor or orphans are enrolled on scholarship support. These children are provided free-educational support, as well as other necessary expenses (like books, stationery and uniforms). The other children are also charged very nominal fee. The school imparts quality education to the children and has shown very good academic results in the zone due to the efforts put in by efficient teachers and the school management. You can donate specifically to the school for infra structure support or for education support to the needy children. The average education expenses per student for an academic year is Rs.35000. Interested donors can donate directly on the website or contact the Organization on the phone no. +91-194-2310256.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION
Promotion of local heritage, arts & crafts and other cultural aspects is one of the mission of HELP Foundation J&K. The establishment of Cultural Centre "Bait ul Meeras" is an effort to make younger generation of J&K aware & conscious of their rich culture. In today’s highly connected world, the youth are the ambassadors who travel and meet people around the globe. Thus they can remained informed and able to explain the heritage and cultural significance of J&K. Since inception in 2011 Bait ul Meeras has become an important place to visit for tourists visiting downtown Srinagar. It is a hub of activities and events for artisans and locals. Bait ul Meeras not only showcases the artefacts and culture but is also a literary treasure, it hosts numerous Persian manuscripts and huge collection of books in the library books. Language classes, heritage walks, calligraphy and theatre are some of the activities carried out during special winter and summer camps for the children. You can lend or donate your inherited artefacts that are just kept in the attics at home, to the gallery at Bait ul Meeras for exhibition purpose. You can also work as a talented volunteer or contribute financially to the various activities held for the children around the year at Bait ul Meeras.
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SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Since inception HELP Foundation has been involved in imparting vocational trainings and skill development in traditional arts & crafts of Kashmir like ari, sozni work and providing up-skilling opportunities for destitute, vulnerable women and youth. The Skill development programme in traditional arts & crafts has many advantages. Primarily it provides income generation avenues to the women in need and also promotes the traditional arts & crafts of Jammu & Kashmir. Over the last three decades of its development work, HELP Foundation has trained more than 10,000 women in different vocational skills. From cutting and tailoring to garment designing, ari embroidery and fusion work to papier-mâché and wicker work, hundreds of women have established their own income generation units. while employing other women and moving on in their lives. The foundation has specifically registered a separate entity under trade name “SHEHJAR” which means cool shadow of a tree, for marketing products exclusively made by marginalized women workers. Every product sold under the brand name of Shehjar is backed by a fair wage system supporting home-based women workers in Kashmir. Shehjar is currently supported by over 300 women workers in different skill ranges and handicrafts.
Get Associated with us
Make a meaningful difference in the lives of women and children by getting associated with HELP Foundation J&K as a volunteer. Whether you’re passionate about education, healthcare, cultural-preservation, or community development, your time and skills can help us create a stronger, more self-reliant society. From organizing events and workshops to working directly with communities, there are countless ways to contribute. Together, we can empower the vulnerable groups and build a brighter future. Step forward today—your support can transform lives!
