Cotton. A crop and textile that has woven itself into our lives, to quite literally touch us all. We wear and use it daily and probably forget its journey from field to fabric. So much so that one is more likely to use the word ‘cotton’ in association with everyday products – like clothing, bedding,… Continue reading A Brighter Future for Cotton: Lessons from Naandi’s Cotton Research Centre, Wardha
Fifteen years! That’s how long Naandi has been steering the Job Factory programme. Our objective is to up-skill youth across India, inviting them to absorb and apply 21st-century skills and entrepreneurial tools to enter job markets and turn their passions into professions. After months of collaboration between Naandi’s Job Factory teams and L’Oréal, a new… Continue reading The Beauty of Opportunity: Naandi and L’Oréal bring cosmetology to the Job Factory
Throughout India’s agricultural history, millets were a popular crop frequenting the diets and cultivated farmlands of many agrarian communities. These small but resilient grains—ragi, jowar, bajra, and many more varieties—formed the backbone of rural food systems in many parts of India. They were grown by smallholder farmer families who preserved their seeds and cultivated them… Continue reading Sowing Change: a note on Millets in the PDS and the Future of Nutrition
In Part 1 of the Fun@25 story, we introduced the vision behind the event – how it was designed to bring Naandi employees together for a day of camaraderie, creativity, and athleticism. Now, in Part 2, we take you behind the scenes… Finding suitable venues for hosting Fun@25 posed quite a challenge for each cluster.… Continue reading Part 2 of Fun@25: Celebrating Naandi’s 25 years of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Spirit
It’s not every day that you see your colleagues — usually dressed in office attire, typing away at emails, or rushing to and from meetings and work trips — decked out in sports gear and sprinting across a field! Nor is it common to hear a soft-spoken team member belt out a classic song, their… Continue reading Part 1 of Fun@25: Celebrating Naandi’s 25 years of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Spirit
Farmer engagement is one of the most crucial steps in launching an organic-regenerative agriculture project. It marks the beginning of a journey with farming communities, where our objective is twofold: to help farmers understand our work and the benefits it offers to their families and farmlands, and to ensure that we, in turn, understand their… Continue reading Laying the Groundwork: Understanding Smallholder Farmer Communities, One Meeting at a Time
At Naandi, we are dedicated to guiding young people into the job market and to staying in touch with alumni. One recent and inspiring alumni story is that of Sadhna Gupta – a young woman from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, whose hard work and determination have made her a role model for youth in her village.… Continue reading Beyond the Job Factory: an alum’s journey from Gorakhpur to Mohali
1 November is a special day on Naandi’s annual calendar. It marks Naandi’s anniversary (or birthday!) – a day that sparks a sense of accomplishment, unity, and celebration amongst all employees across India. This year’s Naandi Day called for celebrating 26 years of the organisation’s impact, and amidst the joys of decorating offices, dressing up… Continue reading Naandi Day: A reflection on thoughtful gifting
The pursuit of physical strength is traditionally encouraged in boys, but rarely in girls. Not just in India but all over the world, even in developed countries, the world of sports remains heavily dominated by men—both in professional arenas and informal spaces. Girls and women are therefore kept away from the transformative benefits that sports… Continue reading Harnessing the strength within: sports and self-defence as a pathway to empowering girls
In mid-September, Bernard Giraud (President and Co-founder of Livelihoods Funds) and Amla Natarajan (Senior Project Manager for India at Livelihoods Funds) were welcomed again to Araku Valley. Beyond their intention of spending time in the field and touching base with Naandi’s leadership and operations teams, their visit reaffirmed to all the nature of the Naandi-Livelihoods… Continue reading Re-connect and Re-envision: Naandi’s teams and smallholder farmers welcome Bernard from the Livelihoods Funds back to Araku Valley
