WE…

… are Society for Education, Empowerment and Development (SEED), a non-denominational, not-for-profit organization that came into formal existence in October 1995. It comprises people from various walks of life, who have been working with the poor and the downtrodden in and around Gujarat for the last seven to twenty years.

The group came together specifically to address the issue of formal education in the educationally and socially deprived communities in Gujarat and come up with a socio-culturally specific and replicable models for interventions in these fields among these communities. Discussions and studies at various levels preceded the formation of the group. The group takes up activities relevant to the educational development of the disadvantaged communities.

SEED initiates and fosters the evolution of community-based organizations from among the people. It also supports other local level institutions like schools and formal or informal groups of teachers and other skilled people that join hands with us in the realization of our vision. We impart appropriate skills to them to make them effective in handling the processes of development of their own communities and organizations.

Over a period of time these organizations would be institutionalized into self-reliant units with autonomy in decision-making, fundraising and administration.

At present, in SEED, there is an active group of seven full time staff. We also take services from our Volunteers' Cadre of 40 students, community educators and teachers. 

We also draw upon the resources of other Ahmedabad-based development organizations like UNNATI, Behavioural Science Center, CHETNA, COHESION as well as the educational institutions like Indian Institute of Management and Gujarat University, as and when required.

(The non-formal areas shall comprise inputs for developing market-relevant skills, leadership and entrepreneurial qualities in the children, youth and women of these communities to make their lives more meaningful.)