The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF)

In the academic year 2014-15, the organisation launched the Rajiv Gandhi Cambridge Scholarships for Indian students seeking to further their education at the University of Cambridge. These scholarships were offered to exceptional Indian students with aspirations of pursuing postgraduate studies at Cambridge University. The selection committee was responsible for annually choosing recipients from a shortlist provided by the University.
The scholarship encompassed coverage for the University's tuition fees, along with an annual stipend, the minimum amount of which met the prescribed level for postgraduate students at the University of Cambridge. The total financial support was evenly divided between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust (CCEIT).

In 2011, the Wonderoom was conceived as a laboratory and innovation center dedicated to nurturing a passion for reading among children. The Wonderoom's initiatives are thoughtfully crafted to render the act of reading both captivating and relevant to children's daily lives. Over the years, it has transformed into an inventive library, extending an invitation to children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to embark on a literary journey encompassing over 6,000 books. Within its welcoming confines, children actively engage in a spectrum of activities, including reading, storytelling, club gatherings, summer camps, and workshops covering theater, music, and delightful science experiments, among others.
The bi-monthly i-Wonder events attract more than 400 children and parents, providing a platform for young talents to shine. The Wonderoom, situated at Jawahar Bhawan, opens its doors every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In pursuit of the visionary ideals of the esteemed leader, the Foundation has established the Rajiv Socio-technical Knowledge, Innovation & Learning Lab (R-SKILL). This significant initiative was inaugurated by the Trustee, Shri Rahul Gandhi, on the 75th birth anniversary of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, which occurred on the 20th of August, 2019. The primary goal of this lab is to cultivate the spirit of innovation among the youth, providing them with a platform to conceive, develop, test, and launch products or solutions addressing socio-technical challenges in our midst.
The lab actively engages with a diverse range of children, including those who are part of the Wonderoom community. The lab's activities initially originated as an extension of the Wonderoom Fun Science Sessions, which include a series of workshops focused on Robotics and Drones.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation firmly holds the view that enhanced mobility for individuals with physical challenges significantly expands their opportunities for education and employment. Guided by this principle, the Foundation initiated the Rajiv Gandhi Access to Opportunities (RGATO) program in 1992. Through RGATO, the Foundation provides specially adapted vehicles to young people with physical disabilities. Since its inception in 1992, the Foundation has assisted over 2,900 recipients from 25 states and five union territories, enabling them to pursue higher education, access employment opportunities, achieve financial independence, and earn dignity and respect in society. The RGATO initiative has garnered substantial support from both corporate entities and concerned individuals.

In response to persistent droughts, escalating water scarcity, and the depletion of groundwater aquifers, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation introduced its Natural Resource Management (NRM) program in November 2001. In 2011, the Foundation endorsed the Gram Gaurav initiative to continue and expand its NRM efforts, providing consistent support since then. The Gram Gaurav Sansthan has been actively engaged in 78 villages within the Dang region of Rajasthan. Its primary focus has been to collaborate with the local community in endeavors to bolster water resources, implement soil conservation measures, and enhance agricultural production.
From 2012 onwards, this project has had a positive impact on 1,760 families, facilitated the construction of over 500 structures, ensured irrigation for more than 730 hectares of land, and converted 116 hectares of wasteland into double cropping areas. Notably, there has been a significant increase in crop yields for paddy, wheat, mustard, gram, and millet.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation boasts a rich legacy of extending relief and rehabilitation assistance in response to disasters throughout the nation. The Foundation embarked on its initial relief efforts in the earthquake-devastated Uttarkashi region in 1991. In the wake of the 1992 riots, the Foundation partnered with voluntary organizations to distribute essential relief items, including tarpaulins, blankets, medicines, and cooking utensils. Furthermore, the Foundation identified and offered educational support to children affected by the riots in Gujarat. In that same year, families residing in the militancy-affected Budgam district received crucial psychosocial support.

The foundation engages in partnerships with like-minded organizations to co-host a variety of events, including children's plays and performances, lectures by prominent speakers, gatherings, consultations, and workshops, as well as screenings of films and documentaries. It also arranges cultural programs featuring individual artists, often in collaboration with esteemed organizations like SPIC-MACAY and SAHMAT. These events and activities are conducted at multiple venues, including Jawahar Bhawan in Delhi and various field locations.

The scholarship initiative was designed with a specific focus on girls hailing from marginalized and minority communities in grades VI to X, with the primary goal of creating an environment that enables their continued school attendance and fosters their learning capabilities. The program conducted assessments to pinpoint areas where students required assistance to successfully complete their education, and tailored individualized growth plans aligning with their interests and career aspirations.
In 2007-08, the Foundation launched this initiative in partnership with the Sri Sivasubramania Nadar Educational and Charitable Trust. The program was executed in collaboration with ten partner organizations spanning Varanasi, Rae Bareli, and Barabanki districts, ultimately benefitting 1,860 girls.

As a component of this program, government schools within various clusters were given support and the tools needed to undergo a substantial transformation in their teaching methodology, embracing a child-centric approach. The fundamental shifts in this approach to teaching and learning encompassed:
• Facilitation, not mere instruction: Teachers transitioned from the traditional role of instructors to a more empowering role of facilitating the child's learning process.
• Fostering multiple experiential learning environments: Students engaged in diverse learning sessions aimed at introducing and encouraging the development of various learning abilities.
• Focus on concepts, not isolated chapters: Instead of relying on isolated chapters, children embarked on their learning journey by delving into fundamental concepts drawn from the syllabus content.

The Teacher Empowerment program aimed to establish a robust and comprehensive framework for analyzing and intervening in teacher capacity development and improving the teacher management system. It also endeavored to empower teachers to transform their pedagogical practices, prioritizing critical thinking over a curriculum-centric learning approach. This program placed significant emphasis on the necessity for teacher empowerment to ensure that every child had equal access to learning, regardless of factors such as caste, community, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, or regional identity.
As part of this initiative, the Foundation provided support to District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET) to conduct courses leading to a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).

The Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS), a prominent independent national policy think tank, has been serving as a dynamic institution for 25 years under the auspices of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. RGICS is dedicated to conducting research and policy development geared toward addressing the contemporary challenges confronting India.

The Memories and Archives of Rajiv Gandhi (MARG), a publicly accessible gallery, was officially inaugurated on August 20, 2019, by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson. This gallery features a captivating photographic exhibition tracing Rajiv Gandhi's life journey, including his early years, family, professional career as a pilot, entry into politics as a Member of Parliament, his tenure as Prime Minister, and his role as Leader of the Opposition. Visitors can also view Rajiv ji's personal laptop and photographs taken by him.
MARG is also equipped with an audio-visual room where visitors can watch documentaries dedicated to the illustrious leader. The Archives at the Foundation, housing a wealth of materials on Shri Rajiv Gandhi's life and work, consists of an extensive collection that includes approximately 31,000 photographs, 2,300 audio tapes, 500 video tapes, 1,475 spool tapes, and a comprehensive compilation of speeches and other materials reflecting the life of Rajiv Gandhi.

Since 1993, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has been steadfastly committed to aiding children who have been impacted by conflict. The Initiative to Educate, Rehabilitate, and Assist Child Victims of Terror (INTERACT) is a dedicated endeavor focused on offering support to children and their families as they grapple with the trauma of loss, break free from the cycle of violence, and reconstruct their lives.
The INTERACT program was initiated with children hailing from regions including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, and two districts in Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, it expanded to encompass other conflict-affected states, such as Tripura, Nagaland, and Manipur. In 2002, children from Gujarat and, in 2003, children from Mumbai became part of the program. In 2006, scholars were selected from Chhattisgarh. Up to the present day, the Foundation has provided support to 2,115 children across 11 states and two union territories, including 134 scholars who pursued higher education.

In 2018-19, the Foundation organised a sequence of Sadbhavana Sangams, with the primary aim of establishing a shared platform for diverse segments of the population. Across more than 25 locations spanning the entirety of India, from Srinagar to Madurai, and Ahmedabad to Imphal, the Foundation identified and designated local social workers and activists as Sadbhavana Fellows and Associates.
These gatherings, known as Sadbhavana Sangams, brought together a spectrum of participants, including social workers, leaders of non-governmental organizations, activists, professionals, intellectuals, and individuals from the realms of literature and culture who collaborate with people's groups representing various communities. The central focus of these meetings revolved around the enhancement of Sadbhavana—the essence of reciprocity and humaneness—principles that underpin our constitutional values, such as justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, through meaningful dialogue.