On 14th November 2008, Down2Earth India Foundation, aka D2E India, was registered as a charitable Trust. D2E India was initiated by D2E International, which was established in January 2006 with the aim of furthering sustainable development through an international volunteering approach. Since then, D2E International has been connecting volunteers of both British and Indian origin with individuals, peer educators and grassroots NGOs working on child rights and community development activities to explore sustainable solutions. Down2Earth India Foundation was born out of the ideas, collaborations and actions that were catalyzed through these experiences.

Mahatma Ghandiji famously said “Be the Change you want to see in the World”. D2E believes that by following this philosophy, we all have the power to bring about the changes that are urgently needed in order to balance economic growth with the needs of the increasing number of marginalized children and adults whose lives continue to be dominated by poverty and exploitation.

Our work is centered on three guiding principles on which a sustainable society is built: children, trees and community.

Children and youth are a nation’s greatest resources; but are also one of the most vulnerable sections of society to neglect, abuse and ultimately starvation.

We strive to combat poverty with an ecologically sustainable approach in recognizing that our first priority as humans is to protect the environment, source of our life and survival. The rural economy on which 66% of India’s population is dependent is becoming economically unviable for small farmers, driving the masses towards cities that are already swollen with informal settlements and further compounding the hunger of millions.

We work for an inclusive society with a decentralized power structure because a forum for participation is needed to address human rights, issues and in building sustainable communities.

14th November is Children’s Day in India. Universally, Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20th to mark the signing of the Declaration and Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, in India Children’s Day is celebrated on the 14th to mark the birthday of the first post-independence Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Down2Earth celebrated Children’s Day with Aashray- home away from home, who organized a full day of fun- packed activities for children including drama, dance, singing, running competitions and gifting of shirts and sweets.

CHILD RIGHTS WEEK IS CELEBRATED BETWEEN 14TH-20TH NOVEMBER, DURING WHICH TIME EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS WILL TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPIRIT OF THE CONVENTION.