Amidst the arid expanse of the Thar Desert, one of the most challenging environments on Earth, an organization has dedicated itself for over 40 years to empower rural communities. This landscape, most neglected and subjected to extreme weather cycles, impacts the lives of over 22 million people who call it home. In this region, non-arrival of critical rainfall disrupts lives, tears apart families and communities, and compels migration. Drought-driven soil erosion devastates crops and undermines agriculture and animal husbandry, the primary livelihoods, leading to malnutrition and food insecurity.

Water scarcity poses a constant threat, jeopardizing both health and livelihoods. With each dry spell, women, children, and the elderly bear the brunt of the impact. Addressing this challenge at an absolute grassroot level, this organization mobilizes communities around sustainable natural resource management and traditional water harvesting. Their primary approach involves creating village ponds (naadis), percolation wells (beris), and drinking water tanks (taankas). These time-tested techniques not only provide vital water resources but also reinforce community resilience and livelihood.

Empowering rural women is also a crucial part of this mission. Through over 400 intergenerational learning groups, women are equipped to lead change in their communities. These groups foster knowledge-sharing and skill development, allowing women to influence decisions that shape not only their own lives but also those around them. By restoring traditional water harvesting structures, these women are ensuring water security and forging paths to a sustainable future.

This initiative is more than a response to environmental hardship; it is a movement toward self-reliance, dignity, and resilience. In a land where survival has been a generational struggle, each restored well and each empowered individual represent hope and strength. Supporting this endeavour means investing in a future where the people of the Thar Desert can thrive, despite the challenges posed by their environment. Together, we can transform lives and foster enduring change, one well, one family, and one community at a time.