Avani Kumaon

Über uns

Nestled in the Kumaon region of the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, Avani is a community built on the principles of sustainability and local empowerment. A global network of diverse employees, interns and volunteers give life to Avani’s community-centric rural development programs.
In a region where small farms are many families only source of income, Avani is a hub of opportunity; constantly developing new approaches to sustainable, conservation-based livelihood generation for rural communities.
The name “Avani” comes from the Hindi word for Earth. Avani creates opportunities for rural women and men to find viable employment through a self-sufficient and environmentally sustainable supply chain. Every business decision related to Avani products is guided by a strong responsibility toward environmental best practices and sensitivity to the cultural context of the villages where we work.
Avani was founded in 1997, originally as the Kumaon chapter of the Barefoot College. In 1999, Avani was formally registered as a non-profit organization.

Our approach
Avani creates a lasting shift in the socio-economic fabric of rural villages. Our holistic approach to employment opportunities ensures sustainable livelihoods for women and families, resilient communities and vibrant ecosystems.
At Avani, the process of production is as important as the products themselves. We combine traditional knowledge and craft with a modern approach to production and distribution. We take a triple bottom line approach to address Economy, Ecology and Empowerment. We use local resources to create contemporary products and services for a global market.
The cornerstones of our work have always been environmental conservation, women’s empowerment, fair trade and preservation of traditional knowledge.
Our projects are inspired by and tailored to the unique topography, resources and culture of this Central Himalayan region. Building on local knowledge and practices, Avani puts naturally available resources to use in innovative ways in collaboration with local people.

Programmes
• Clean Energy: We are working on several clean energy technologies including solar energy for rural homes and charcoal as a clean cooking fuel for rural households. These solutions not only provide clean energy, but also contribute to enhancing biodiversity, a major contributor to reducing carbon emissions.
• Textiles: Natural materials, local skills, and technologies for contemporary products
• Lifestyle Products: Hand crafted pigments, dyes, and supplies for health and happiness
• Farm Based Activites: Organic harvests and sustainable practices to generate income all year long.
• Water Management: Responsible, renewable rainwater harvesting
• Abhivyakti School: A destination for fun and self-expression where children learn to be themselves. In April 2011 a small creative learning center based on a child-friendly learning model was set up at the Avani campus and has been running successfully since.

Rashmi Bharti is a Co-Founder of Avani Kumaon.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.