25 years with communities

Dignity, safety and opportunity for every community.

READS Karnataka works to end the Devadasi system and child marriage, and to build sustainable livelihoods alongside children, women and farmers in Karnataka.

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25 YearsStanding with Karnataka's most vulnerable communities

25,000+Women and children reached through completed projects

7Founding professionals who continue to guide the mission

“Promote and strengthen community-based institutions of children, youth, women and farmers, towards eradication of social evils and creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities.”— Mission of READS Karnataka

What drives us

Focused on the communities others overlook

READS Karnataka works with Devadasi women, school dropouts, child labourers, adolescent girls and youth, and children at risk of child marriage or initiation to the Devadasi system.

Child protection

Prevention and eradication of the Devadasi system and child marriage, alongside protection from child labour and abuse.

Women’s empowerment

Self-help groups, livelihood skills, savings and credit access, and awareness of government schemes.

Community leadership

Children’s Sangha, youth and Kishori groups, and Panchayat-level child-rights protection committees.

In pictures

Moments in motion

Students marching against child marriage — Marching against child marriage

District Convention of Adolescent Girls, 2025

Vision-building training session — Vision-building training

World Human Rights Day rally, 2024 — World Human Rights Day, 2024

Launch of the Laws for Child Protection booklet — Launch of the “Laws for Child Protection” booklet

Entrepreneurship development training in Ballari — Entrepreneurship training, Ballari

READS Karnataka community activity — Standing with communities across Karnataka

Life at READS

Change is built together

From training rooms to youth gatherings, these moments reflect the energy, learning and leadership at the heart of our work.

Participants at a READS event — Sharing knowledge

READS community gathering — Building together

READS field activity — Working in partnership

Community members participating — Community voices

Vocational training session — Vocational training

Vision building training — Vision-building training

Participants in a vocational training session

Guided by experience

Grounded leadership. Lasting commitment.

Our Board brings together expertise in education, rural development, human rights and women’s empowerment — providing thoughtful direction to field teams and communities.

Meet the Board

Collaborate with us

Partnership can widen the circle of opportunity.

READS Karnataka welcomes conversations with donors, civil-society partners and supporters committed to equitable development.

Have a partnership or donor query?

We work with national and international partners including TdH-NL, SVYM, Childline India Foundation and NELINDCO.

Get in touch