Where Faith Meets the Forest There are some places in Uttara Kannada that people have been travelling to for generations. Ulavi is one of them. I have heard about Ulavi many times, particularly because of the large number of people who make the journey there for pilgrimage. But when I started looking into the place…
Siddi Women Breaking Barriers: Stories of Courage, Education and Achievement Siddi Women Who Are Breaking Barriers and Creating New Paths When we talk about the Siddi community of Karnataka, we often hear stories about our history, culture, music, dance and traditional ways of life. But there is another story that deserves to be heard —…
Where Does Our Food Waste Go? From Clean Plates to Clean Communities Every kitchen has small leftovers: vegetable peels, fruit skins, tea leaves, yesterday’s rice, a piece of bread that was not eaten, or food that has simply been left too long. We often call it “waste” the moment it leaves the plate or kitchen….
Forest Protection: Why It Matters for People, Communities & the Future Forests are often described as the lungs of our planet, homes for wildlife, and vital ecosystems that help support life on Earth. All of this is true. But for people who live close to forests, a forest means far more than what we see…
Exploring Dandeli from my point of view — its forests, wildlife, places, people and the stories that make it special. Mention Dandeli, and most people immediately think of white-water rafting, dense forests, jungle safaris, and adventure camps nestled along the banks of the Kali River. Over the past two decades, this small town in Karnataka…
The Siddi community—India’s unique Afro-Indian tribal group—has historically faced social and economic challenges rooted in marginalization, limited access to opportunities, and geographic isolation. Within this context, Siddi women often carry a double burden: managing households with restricted income sources while remaining excluded from formal financial systems and decision-making spaces. Community-based platforms such as Self Help…
Why Tribal Inclusion Matters in India’s Development Agenda India is home to more than 700 tribal communities, collectively known as Adivasis or Scheduled Tribes (STs). They form nearly 8.6% of India’s population, yet their contribution to the nation’s cultural, ecological, and economic life remains largely unrecognized.Despite constitutional protections and decades of development programs, tribal communities…
Imagine walking into a forest where almost every plant has a purpose. A forest that gives—not just shade, but food, medicine, biodiversity, livelihoods, and life. This is the idea behind a Food Forest: growing diverse, useful plants together in a way that works with nature rather than against it. High above your head, tall trees…
Follow our journey from Mumbai to a remote forest village in Karnataka, where we witnessed (Ravi’s First Honey Harvest) explored sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping, and saw how one small initiative is inspiring an entire community. A Journey That Began With a Promise A few months ago, we shared the story of a beekeeping initiative started…
A Small Step Forward: 3 Months of Beekeeping Progress in the Siddi Community It has now been three months since our first visit to Ravi’s home deep in the forest. As we look back today, that day feels very vivid—almost like it happened yesterday. We still remember the long drive through the forest, the narrow…
