About us

About Us

Swadhar IDWC, Institute for Development of Women & Children

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform."

This quote by Diane Mariechild emphasizes the immense power and potential of women. It recognizes the significant role women play in shaping family, community, and overall world; and the importance of valuing and empowering them.

Empowering women and children means providing them with equal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, which leads to improved health and education outcomes for their families and communities. It also leads to better outcomes for the next generation, as children who have access to education, nutrition, and healthcare are more likely to grow up to be healthy, productive and responsible citizens. It all can lead to a more equitable distribution of resources and decision-making power, which is essential for sustainable development.

In summary, the empowerment of women and children is crucial for the overall development of society. It leads to improved health and education outcomes, promotes equity and gender equality, and helps achieve the goals of sustainable communities.

With this rationale, Swadhar began its operations in Mumbai in 1983 to work for the women in distress, to enable them to overcome their challenges, and be empowered. 

Prof. Meenakshi Apte (then Professor at Department for Family and Child Welfare, in Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and pursuing doctoral research) along with Mrinal Gore (a noted activist / veteran socialist leader) founded Swadhar in Mumbai in the year 1983. Prof. Apte was joined by Mrs. Sulabha Joshi and Mrs. Suchitra Date in Pune, and the three of them laid the foundation stone of our work in Pune in 1995, after 12 successful years in Mumbai. While we increased the scope of our work over the years, our core belief remains the same – empowering women leads to a developed society.

A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform

– Diane Mariechild

Our Mission

Swadhar IDWC envisions a society wherein women in distress and underprivileged children are empowered to uplift themselves and become responsible members of our society.

Our Vision

Swadhar IDWC seeks to help and empower women in distress along with a focus on the holistic development of underprivileged children. Our aim is to improve the quality of life of individuals and families through education, guidance, training, and counselling.

Objectives

We aim to -

  • Create awareness in women about their rights in relationships and family life through education and advocacy; and encourage self-identity and empowerment.
  • Support and empower women facing physical and emotional challenges, while providing them with legal, economic, medical, and emotional support.
  • Provide guidance and counseling to help the women become self-sufficient.
  • Support children in need of care and protection ensuring their survival, well-being, and growth.
  • Support the growth and progress of children, with a focus on the girl child, through financial and educational assistance, counseling, skill-building, and advocacy for their rights and responsibilities.
  • Promote equal access to educational and skill-development resources and improve learning outcomes, leading to holistic development for underprivileged children from early childhood to age 18.