• WomenConnect Challenge India aims to empower women through digital technology.
• Over 3 lakh women are set to benefit from Round One of the challenge.
• Reliance Foundation will provide up to INR 10 crore (over $1.2 million USD) in grants for Round Two of the WomenConnect Challenge India initiative.
• Eligible non-profit organisations can apply for grants until 11.59 pm IST, November 14, 2022.

Building on their efforts to narrow the gender digital divide and empower women in India, Reliance Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), today announced the launch of the WomenConnect Challenge (WCC) India Round Two and are calling for grant applications. Reliance Foundation will provide up to INR 10 crore in grants for up to 10 organisations (up to INR 1 crore for each grantee) to implement innovative solutions over 12-15 months.

The WomenConnect Challenge is a global call for solutions to improve women’s participation in everyday life by meaningfully changing the ways women access and use technology. WomenConnect Challenge India aims to identify and support solutions that bridge the gender digital divide in India. Round One of WCC India began in August 2021 with the selection of 10 grantee organisations that are implementing solutions in 17 Indian states. Over 3 lakh (300,000) women and girls will have benefited from the initiatives of the first round.

Emphasising the importance of women’s access to digital technologies in their empowerment journey, Mrs Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, said, “We have seen how digital technologies can empower women and amplify the positive ripple effect of their transformation. Enthused by the outcomes of the first round of WomenConnect Challenge India, we are stepping up our commitment to bridge the gender digital gap with the second round of the challenge, in partnership with USAID. With India set to have one billion smartphone users by 2026, it is important that women’s access also increases in proportion to this surge. When women rise, they help families flourish, communities grow, and nations prosper.”

USAID Mission Director in India, Veena Reddy, said, “Investing in women and girls is essential to transforming communities and nations. This collaboration will support new pathways for women and girls in India to engage with technology, counter outdated social norms, and increase their economic independence.”

From classrooms in rural areas of Bihar that are bringing women and girls into the digital fold, to digitally integrating women dairy farmers in Uttar Pradesh into formal supply chains, grantees of WCC India Round One have focused on several avenues for women’s empowerment. These include building entrepreneurship skills, digital literacy, edutainment-based courses, mentoring and value-chain linkages support for agriculture.

In India, the proportion of women having a mobile phone that they themselves use increased from 45.9 percent to 54 percent over the past four years. However, the differences between women and men in access to mobile phones and the internet, key indicators of the gender digital divide, remain significant and need to be lowered to realise development goals. To bridge this divide, Reliance Foundation and USAID will continue nurturing solutions that meaningfully improve women’s access to digital technology for an inclusive and equitable future. USAID’s South Asia Regional Digital Initiative (SARDI) will continue to support the WomenConnect Community of Practice, and help bring learnings from previous rounds, including from other countries.

Reliance Foundation’s initiatives to empower women include leadership capacity building, digital literacy, employment and skills development, improving women’s health and enhancing women’s opportunities in education, sports and arts. Through Jio, Reliance is revolutionising digital connectivity in India by connecting the unconnected. Aspirations, Access & Agency: Women Transforming Lives with Technology, a recent publication of Reliance Foundation and Observer Research Foundation highlights the stories of women who are transforming their communities using digital technologies and demonstrates the tremendous potential that can be unlocked by closing the gender digital divide.

WCC India will accept applications for Round Two until 11.59 pm IST, 14 November, 2022, from eligible organisations. For details please visit: https://womenconnectindia.com/

About Reliance Foundation

Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, aims to play a catalytic role in addressing the India’s development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Led by Founder and Chairperson Smt. Nita Ambani, Reliance Foundation is relentlessly working to facilitate transformative changes for the overall wellbeing and higher quality of life for all. Reliance Foundation is focused on addressing the nation’s development challenges in rural transformation, education, health, sports for development, disaster management, women empowerment, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage, and has touched the lives of more than 64 million people across India, in more than 53,000 villages and several urban locations. For more information, please visit https://www.reliancefoundation.org/

About USAID

USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, advance democracy, and champions the cause of women empowerment across the globe. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and helps countries progress along their development journey.

To date, USAID has 16 WomenConnect Challenge grantees in three different rounds working to address barriers limiting women’s access to technology and connecting nearly 6 million women in 16 countries. WomenConnect Round One, in 2018, awarded nine grants and WomenConnect Round Two, awarded three in 2019. Four winners were announced for WomenConnect Round Three in 2021.

Reliance Foundation’s, the CSR arm of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), ongoing 2022-23 Football season of Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), with countrywide, multi-sport programs for school and college athletes with a host of initiatives designed to give Indian grassroots football a major boost. This year RFYS is collaborating with ISL clubs, state federations, and partners in conducting school and college-level competitions in football with expected participation from over 33,000+ athletes and 2,400+ teams from across the country bringing students #BackonthePitch. This season with the resumption of a full calendar, there will be an increased focus on giving exposure to greater no. of quality games to the top teams, while also looking at multiple other initiatives to grow the ecosystem.

This season RFYS plans to reach across 20 centres that include multiple districts within 18 states to develop the football ecosystems, such as Assam, Odisha, Delhi NCR, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Telangana, and more. Since its inception in 2016, RFYS has aimed to provide a platform for young athletes to build a career in the sport of their choice, to get more students to start playing sports and to have a positive impact on the ecosystem through skill enhancement of PE teachers, infrastructure upgrades and community engagement programs. With the partnerships with professional football clubs, there is also an opportunity for players to be scouted by football clubs, thus paving the pathway for a professional football career.

In addition to the focus on providing high-quality football competitions to the teams and athletes, RFYS will look to run multiple initiatives to strengthen the ecosystem and provide greater opportunities to the youth:

• Creating scouting pathways for top players through active partnerships with professional clubs
• Fan engagement days and activities focused on increasing support and encouragement from key stakeholders like students, parents, coaches and alumni
• Provide volunteering opportunities for students to gain valuable professional experience in sports
• Online and offline certification courses for up-skilling of athletes, coaches and officials
• Disbursement of grants for select participating institutes to enhance their sports program
• Special grants and centres of development to provide footballing opportunities to local communities

Since inception, RFYS has impacted 9 million children, from more than 10,000 schools and colleges, in 26 states and union territories and has supported the football coaching ecosystem by up-skilling 750+ coaches with RFYS sponsored D License coaching certification in association with AIFF. During the pandemic, RFYS conducted virtual sessions on fitness, nutrition, well-being of athletes which were attended by over 11,000+ coaches/athletes, and hosted digital Coach education workshops with The Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) providing certification to over 400+ coaches.

About Reliance Foundation Sports:

Reliance Foundation celebrates the spirit of sports – joy, health, grit, determination, winning and losing. And works to ensure that more and more children and youth from all sections of society are able to play sports and, in the process, build a fitter, stronger and more active India. Our initiatives have touched the lives of over 21.5 million young people since 2013 across the country from 13,000+ schools and colleges, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career/glory in sports. We are especially committed to ensuring more presence and success of girl and women athletes in India and design our programmes in a manner that offers them maximum opportunities. At Reliance Foundation, we hope to be the wind beneath the wings of Indian sportspersons and help them reach their true potential.

For more information on the tournament, athletes, institutions, and special initiatives please follow us on www.rfyouthsports.com

Follow Reliance Foundation on: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Comments from participating students & coaches in the present RFYS 22-23 season

Akash Chaudhary , DAV PG College, Dehradun,

“I have a great experience competing in RFYS.In 2019/20 also, we played the city championship in Dehradun, and then we went to Ludhiana to play the national qualifier, and then qualified from North Zone and competed in the national championship. It’s been a great experience, and lot of support has been offered to us, and lot of players are getting the chance to play, and are being scouted, and there is a lot of support in form of grants as well.”

Dr. Srinivas Nadella, Assistant Professor in Physical Education at MVSR Engineering College, Hyderabad,

“It is a good platform for football players. I am a football player and we didn’t get this many platforms to perform and with Reliance Foundation Youth Sports, they are providing a good platform to players and they are getting a good pathway for ISL also. One of my student is a goal keeper and is playing in the ISL right now. Many colleges are seeing the benefit as they are getting opportunities to play.”

Dr. Kumudhini Goud, Lecturer, Government college of physical education, Hyderabad,

“Reliance Foundation Youth Sports has been a very helpful tournament for us where we can very easily Identify the talent, especially for our college which is a government institute, where we do not have the exposure to tournament like these. The students will benefit a lot from participating here and thankful to Reliance Foundation for inviting us.”

Reliance Foundation, the CSR arm of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Mizoram Football Association have joined hands to expand, transform and create a complete hyper-local pathway and decentralised approach to grassroots football in the state through Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) Naupang (Children) League. The Naupang League aims to develop local ecosystems and enable aspiring and talented footballers as young as 5 year-olds both boys and girls to gain competitive and practice exposure. The focus is on a broad base of multi-tier, age-group engagements that operate all through the year and meaningfully engage players.

Mrs. Nita M. Ambani, Founder Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, said, "Football is a way of life in Mizoram, woven into its social and cultural fabric. This partnership between RF Young Champs and Mizoram Football Association will provide high quality training to talented young boys and girls. It will enable budding footballers as young as 5 years of age gain competitive exposure and enhanced play time. I’m excited about the immense possibilities it will open up for children in Mizoram, a state that is heavily invested in football. At RFYC, we remain committed to unlocking the potential of grassroots football across India and helping aspiring footballers achieve their full potential."

Lalnghinglova Hmar / Tetea Hmar, Honorary Secretary, Mizoram Football Association & Executive Committee Member, AIFF, said, “We are extremely happy with the partnership forged between Mizoram Football Association and Reliance Foundation, and this project can be a game-changer for Mizoram and Indian Football. The community participation in the proposed Naupang League will add a different dimension to the competition as it will be a collective participation of kids, parents and the local community which will drive and motivate the team like never before and fuel the competitiveness of the league. The pilot project in Mizoram which we are confident will be successful, can be used as a blueprint for grassroots development, and the first of its kind, in Indian football. We are looking forward to the kick-off and in the same year the FIFA Under 17 Women's World Cup is in India and FIFA Men's World Cup 2022, will give extra enthusiasm to the kids. MFA is glad that Reliance Foundation has been providing a platform to young kids so that they can bring alive their sports dreams.”

The RFYC Naupang (Children) League will be hosted in 4 locations in Mizoram with 2 models of the league structure. The Mizoram FA and District FAs will host the leagues in Lunglei and Kolasib, enabled by RFYC, while 2 Leagues in Aizawl and Champhai will be owned and operated by Reliance Foundation Young Champs. The age categories begin at Under 06 and continue until Under 13 years with multiple game formats. A minimum of 30 games will be played by the kids. RF Young Champs will further integrate with RF Youth Sports in the region to ensure additional games and competitive exposure to deserving players.

The Mizoram football ecosystem is set to benefit immensely from Reliance Foundation’s Young Champs as its programs include Coach Education and Development; Referee Development; Weekly Coaching Program for Kids; Quarterly Camps (local) for Emerging elite; Enablement of Inter District Championship; and Reliance Foundation Young Champs camps in Mumbai for Best of the Best and understating match day operations better. RFYC has also donated an ambulance to the Mizoram Football Association.

Notes to the Editor: Reliance Foundation’s Mizoram story:

• Reliance Foundation Youth Sports has been working extensively in the North East Region. RFYS started in 2016 with its first North-East centre at Guwahati, following which football centres in talent hotbeds of Imphal, Shillong and Aizawl were added in 2017. In a continuous attempt to provide access to high-quality competitions across the country, RFYS in 2017 expanded in Mizoram, apart from Aizawl to Lunglei, Kolasib, and Champai.
• Presently 2022-23, RF Youth Sports in collaboration with ISL clubs, state federations, and partners is conducting school and college-level competitions in over 20 cities with expected participation from over 33,000+ athletes and 2,400+ teams across the country. The Mizoram has begun in October 2022 in Aizawl, Kolasib, and Champai.
• Additionally, Reliance Foundation runs Young Champs. The academy was launched in May 2015 with the vision of identifying talented young footballers and providing them with an environment of excellence to unlock their potential both on and off the pitch. Reliance Foundation Young Champs since inception has had quite a few players from Mizoram who have come through the local, regional, and national scouting sessions to be a part of RFYC’s fully funded scholarship football academy. From the first batch in 2020, nine players were signed by ISL and I-League clubs, such as Muhammed Nemil at FC Goa, Thoi Singh at Bengaluru FC, and Ayush Chhikara at Mumbai City FC with 6 from the second batch in 2022 who have contracts to continue to follow their passion for football.

About Reliance Foundation Sports:

Reliance Foundation celebrates the spirit of sports – joy, health, grit, determination, winning and losing. And works to ensure that more and more children and youth from all sections of society are able to play sports and, in the process, build a fitter, stronger and more active India. Our initiatives have touched the lives of over 21.5 million young people since 2013 across the country from 13,000+ schools and colleges, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career/glory in sports. We are especially committed to ensuring more presence and success of girl and women athletes in India and design our programmes in a manner that offers them maximum opportunities. At Reliance Foundation, we hope to be the wind beneath the wings of Indian sportspersons and help them reach their true potential

The Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) academy launched in May 2015 with the vision of identifying talented young footballers and providing them an environment of excellence to unlock their potential both on and off the pitch. Supported entirely by the Reliance Foundation, each year RFYC offers fully funded scholarships to young talents from across the country following a comprehensive yearlong scouting process. For more information on RFYC initiatives please go to https://www.rfyoungchamps.org/

Follow Reliance Foundation Young Champs on: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

• Newly launched EdTech Accelerator will help enhance access to at-home learning and improve foundational learning for children from low-income communities
• Applications now open to non-profit and private organisations
• Developed by a consortium of leading non-profit and philanthropic organisations Reliance Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, British Asian Trust, USAID and Central Square Foundation
• Investment of INR 20 Cr (2.5 million USD) over two years for solutions solving some of the most complex problems in the foundational learning EdTech space

A consortium of leading non-profit and philanthropic organisations in the education sector in India have launched the ‘EdTech Accelerator’ to support foundational learning of children at-home. This consortium benefits from the expertise and support of founding partners Reliance Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation with design and implementation by Central Square Foundation, British Asian Trust as Fund Manager and the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing technical assistance to support the fund design and management.

Achieving universal Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills for children is critical to bridging the learning gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. EdTech solutions that can be used at home have significant potential to bridge this gap.

The Accelerator will fund eight high-quality EdTech solutions from both non-profit and private organisations that aim to build, pilot, measure, and test innovative ideas. Impact-focused grant funding and dedicated mentoring support will be available in year one, and grants to further scale up this work will be available in year two, thereby reaching up to 2.5 million children by 2025. Applications are now open for the EdTech Accelerator.

The Accelerator forms an integral part of ‘Back-to-School Outcomes Fund’, which is a first-of-itskind collaborative initiative alongside the Government of India’s NIPUN Bharat Mission to achieve FLN goals for all children in India.

The programme aims to support EdTech solutions that are seeking to provide access to affordable and quality learning solutions for low-income segments. It will also help organisations innovate to address challenges, and build evidence on learning outcomes, benchmarks and cost effectiveness, thereby supporting the education ecosystem to improve access to quality education at scale.

Organisations are invited to apply at www.edtechaccelerator.org. The EdTech Accelerator will be accepting applications until 8th January 2023.

Speaking on the need for such an initiative, Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja, CEO & MD, Central Square Foundation, said, “Among over 9,000 EdTech organisations in India, only about ONE per cent focus on foundational learning, and even fewer have built products for low-income segments. NIPUN is an ambitious programme and home learning will be critical to help our children. The Accelerator adopts a unique approach catalysing supply of diverse high-quality solutions and galvanizing demand for at-home learning.”

The Accelerator is committed to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of mission-aligned EdTech organisations offering high quality solutions. Jagannatha Kumar, CEO, Reliance Foundation, said, “India has seen a significant increase in EdTech solutions especially to address the concerns of the past two years. The challenge remains to democratise the EdTech solutions across households. New solutions need to address scale, adoption and contextualization for equitable access and opportunity. Through co-founding the EdTech Accelerator, we are committed to supporting the development of evidence-backed pedagogically sound and contextually relevant solutions to create a vibrant ecosystem to address this need.”

Dhun Davar, Head of Social Impact & Philanthropy India & Middle East, UBS and Head of Social Finance, UBS Optimus Foundation, emphasized that the time is right for such catalytic investments and said, “Globally, and in India, there exists evidence to suggest that at-home learning and engaging parents in the learning process helps reinforce the skills learnt by children in school, thus improving learning outcomes of children. By enabling scale-up of contextually relevant EdTech solutions to support foundational learning at home, the Accelerator will help address the significant learning losses due to the pandemic, especially for children from lowincome communities in India owing to the sharp inequities in technology access.

USAID/India Mission Director Veena Reddy said, “At USAID, we believe education is a foundational driver of development outcomes. With the world’s largest youth population, supporting foundational learning in India is an investment in the world’s future. Through partnering with the private sector and civil society to develop innovative learning models, the EdTech Accelerator will enable improved educational outcomes and a more equitable and accessible learning environment.”

Speaking on the overall approach of the Back-to-School Outcomes fund, Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive, the British Asian Trust, adds, “Achieving universal foundational literacy and numeracy skills is critical for the wellbeing of millions of India’s children and in the longer-term, for India’s economic growth. To mitigate the learning gap which increased with COVID-19, we need rapid innovation and collaborative action from civil society, private sector partners and philanthropic organisations working alongside the Government of India. Innovative social financing is the mechanism enabling that, nudging boundaries and fostering innovation in new ways by changing the whole EdTech marketplace to in turn learning outcomes for those children most in need.”

For more information about the application process and eligibility criteria for the EdTech Accelerator, please visit www.edtechaccelerator.org. The Accelerator will be accepting applications until 8th January 2023.

About Central Square Foundation (CSF):

Central Square Foundation (CSF) is a non-profit organization, working with the vision of ensuring quality school education for all children in India. Since 2012, CSF has been partnering with the government, private sector, non-profit organizations, and other ecosystem stakeholders to improve the learning outcomes of children, especially from low-income communities. It is driven by its mission to enable the school education system to adopt solutions that are scalable, sustainable and effective, so that all children get equal access to opportunities needed for leading a better life. https://www.centralsquarefoundation.org/

About Reliance Foundation:

Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, aims to play a catalytic role in addressing India's development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Led by Founder and Chairperson Smt. Nita Ambani, Reliance Foundation is relentlessly working to facilitate transformative changes for the overall wellbeing and higher quality of life for all. Reliance Foundation is focused on addressing the nation’s development challenges in rural transformation, education, health, sports for development, disaster management, women empowerment, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage, and has touched the lives of more than 64 million people across India, in more than 53,000 villages and several urban locations. For more information, please visit https://www.reliancefoundation.org/

About UBS Optimus Foundation:

UBS Optimus Foundation, was founded by UBS Group AG. We fund programs and businesses that help the most vulnerable around the world in the areas of health, education, protection of children and youth, and the environment. We acknowledge that each social problem may need a different solution and therefore, use a wide range of tools to achieve social and environmental impact: grant making, result-based financing such as development impact bonds, and investments into impactful businesses. The foundation manages more than 200 projects deploying around USD 160 million annually https://www.ubs.com/global/en/ubs-society/philanthropy/optimus-foundation.html

About USAID:

USAID is the U.S. Government’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity goals; demonstrates American generosity; and helps countries progress along their development journey. In India, USAID is collaborating with the country’s growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges. To learn more, visit https://www.usaid.gov/india

About British Asian Trust:

The British Asian Trust wants to see a South Asia that is prospering and fair for all. Our work supports large-scale, sustainable solutions that enable poor and marginalised people to achieve their full potential. Since we started in 2007, we have had a positive impact on the lives of almost 6.6 million people in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We are global pioneers in social finance, with a strong track record of driving successful collaborations and applying social finance approaches to solve social and economic challenges in South Asia. We work to address challenges and barriers faced by non-profits, governments, donors and other key stakeholders with social finance tools like impact bonds. www.britishasiantrust.org

For any further media queries, please contact:

Debesh Banerjee 
Communications Lead 
Central Square Foundation
+91-9910046832 
debesh@centralsquarefoundation.org 
Jayashree B
Head of Communications
Reliance Foundation
Jayashree.B@reliancefoundation.org

Smt. Nita M. Ambani, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from India & Founder Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, today, congratulated Ms. P.T. Usha on becoming the new President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), calling it a testament to the growing inclusivity in Indian sports and how girls and women continue to lead India’s charge towards becoming a global sports nation. One of India’s most successful athletes and a flag-bearer of Indian sports globally, Ms. P.T. Usha was elected as the President of IOA, today along with a new Executive Council. With this, Ms. P.T. Usha becomes the first woman President in the history of IOA and also the first athlete to chair the position.

Smt. Nita M. Ambani, IOC member from India and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, said, “It gives me immense joy to welcome Smt. PT Usha as the first woman President of the Indian Olympic Association. I remember watching her with pride as she represented our country and won laurels for India. She has been a towering inspiration to millions as an athlete, and I am sure she will shine in this new role as well. Our women athletes have led the charge in making India a global sporting powerhouse, and I’m delighted to see so many women representatives now in IOA’s Executive Council.”

Smt. Ambani added, “I congratulate all newly elected IOA members and look forward to partnering with them. This is a landmark moment for Indian sport and a giant leap forward in strengthening the Olympic Movement in our country.”

Smt. Ambani has been a strong endorser of making India a multi-sport nation with an ‘athlete first’ policy and the importance of the contribution by women both on and off the field. Reliance Foundation has been working extensively towards the holistic development of athletes to support them with 360-degree initiatives which include providing world-class sporting facilities, coaching and best-in-class assistance in sports science and medicine.

The elections were held as part of IOA’s newly amended constitution which was presented to the IOA General Body in a Special General Meeting on November 10. Among its amendments are steps to introduce greater athlete representation with 8 sportspersons of outstanding merit (SOMs) and greater representation for women in various administrative and voting positions. Smt. Ambani had lauded the amendments and the greater representation of athletes and women in the newly amended IOA constitution

The Fellowship by Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices aims to strengthen leadership and provide a support system

• Inaugural cohort of WomenLead India Fellows selected for work in Education, Rural Transformation, Sports for Development and Arts, Culture and Heritage
• Through a 10 month programme, the Fellows will be provided a course curriculum and access to a network of global leaders and influencers
• The Fellowship aims to enhance India’s development sector ecosystem through women’s leadership

Women leaders who drive, enable and facilitate social change in India will be part of a new initiative that strengthens their capacity with a Fellowship and a strong support system.

Fifty inspiring women from India’s social sector have been identified for the inaugural WomenLead India Fellowship, a joint initiative by Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices Global Partnership. Driving an ambitious urgent agenda for women’s leadership in India, the Fellowship invests in change makers, social entrepreneurs and social sector leaders, with a support system to meaningfully grow their social initiatives and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Fellows in the inaugural cohort have been selected for their work in the themes of Education, Rural Transformation, Sports for Development and Arts, Culture and Heritage. This dynamic, and intergenerational cohort hails from various social sector organizations, working at the grassroots level across rural and semi-urban areas of the country. The Fellows include entrepreneurs working on a range of issues and geographies from waste management in southern coastal villages to affordable energy sources in north-east India.

Over the course of 10 months, the Fellowship will provide these women leaders a course curriculum, access to a network of global leaders and influencers, and advance mentoring support that will collectively help enhance their knowledge and skills – all the requirements for achieving high community impact.

Speaking on the Fellowship award, Mrs. Nita M Ambani, Founder & Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, said, “My congratulations to the 50 exemplary women who have been selected for the first WomenLead India Fellowship. It has been a joy to learn about their inspiring journeys and transformational vision. I hope this Fellowship will be a force multiplier that further strengthens and amplifies their outstanding work with communities across India. Reliance Foundation is privileged to partner with Vital Voices in this incredible initiative to support our WomenLead India Fellows and be a part of their story.”

“I commend these 50 women leaders for rising up to the challenges people face in their communities to steer the way forward. They are shining examples of what the WomenLead India Fellowship is all about and I couldn't be prouder that Vital Voices is a part of their journey. We are enthusiastic about making a long-term investment in this inaugural cohort of Fellows, whom we believe will use their power to empower millions of others,” said Alyse Nelson, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Vital Voices. “We are thrilled to partner with Reliance Foundation on welcoming India’s next generation of women leaders into this esteemed Fellowship.”

The WomenLead India Fellowship will adopt a participant-centric approach, providing common as well as theme-centric mentorship to the Fellows. Over the coming months, it will serve as a platform to connect across diverse thematic areas, where they can learn with and from each other, both from Indian and global experiences. By adopting a multilateral and interdisciplinary approach, the WomenLead India Fellowship aims to strengthen the development sector ecosystem of India through women’s leadership.

About Reliance Foundation

Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, aims to play a catalytic role in addressing the nation’s development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Led by Founder and Chairperson Smt. Nita Ambani, Reliance Foundation is relentlessly working towards facilitating transformative changes to ensure overall wellbeing and higher quality of life for all. Reliance Foundation is focused on addressing the nation’s development challenges in rural transformation, education, health, sports for development, disaster response, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage, and has touched the lives of more than 63 million people across India, in more than 50,800 villages and several urban locations. Learn more: www.reliancefoundation.org.

About Vital Voices Global Partnership

Now celebrating 25 years since its founding, Vital Voices Global Partnership has directly invested in more than 20,000 changemakers across 184 countries and territories since its inception in 1997. Driven by the universal truth that women are the key to progress in their communities and nations cannot move forward without women in leadership positions, Vital Voices has provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, Prime Ministers, award-winning innovators, pioneering human rights defenders, and breakthrough social entrepreneurs, including Amanda Gorman, Malala Yousafzai, and more. In an effort to advance and expand this work, in 2022 Vital Voices opened the doors to the world’s first global embassy for women, the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership —a first-of-its-kind space that allows for convening, innovation, planning, and action — all in the pursuit of tackling the world’s greatest challenges. Serving as a “venture catalyst,” Vital Voices identifies leaders with a daring vision for change and partners with them to make that vision a reality. It provides connections, increased capacity, a peer network, financial support, skills training, and increased visibility for their work, which ranges from gender-based violence and climate justice to economic inequities and political disempowerment, and more. Learn more: www.vitalvoices.org.

• Gifts, games and treats for over 8100 children from diverse backgrounds across different locations
• Over 1400 children from diverse backgrounds enjoy entertainment and rides at Jio Presents Hamleys Wonderland™, Mumbai
• The laughter of children is magical, says Reliance Foundation Founder & Chairperson Mrs. Nita Ambani

‘December to Remember’, an initiative to bring cheer to underprivileged children across India, saw Reliance volunteers reach out to Anganwadis, schools and underserved communities. In its 10th year now, the initiative imbibes Reliance’s philosophy of ‘We Care’ through volunteering and reached over 8100 children aged 3-12 years in 2022.

‘December to Remember’ included celebrations at Jio Presents Hamleys Wonderland™ in Mumbai on 26 December with over 1400 children from marginalised backgrounds getting a special treat while experiencing a unique event of rides and entertainment activities.

“Christmas is a time to share joy and merriment. At Reliance Foundation, for over a decade now, Isha and I have cherished celebrating Christmas with children,” said Mrs Nita Ambani, Founder & Chairperson, Reliance Foundation. “This year as well, children from marginalised backgrounds came together to enjoy fun and games at the Hamleys Wonderland in Mumbai, and at venues across the country. Hundreds of Reliance volunteers made this a truly magical experience by distributing gifts, sharing love, and spreading smiles all around, making it a December to Remember! Here’s wishing that the coming year brings tremendous hope and opportunity for all our children.”

Starting in the first week of December in Mumbai, the December to Remember activities took place across Thane, Kolkata, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Silvassa (Dadra and Nagar Haveli), Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Shahdol (Madhya Pradesh), Delhi, Ranchi, Chennai and Bengaluru.

The activities were a mix of celebrations, where Reliance employees and their families engaged in entertaining children and distributing gift bags. The bags contained ageappropriate fun and educational toys from Hamleys, nutritional snacks and festive items. Employees also engaged children in games, teaching craft and motivating them with an aim to spread happiness. Together, employees contributed over 1500 volunteering hours to bring cheer to the children. A raffle contest was also held at every location where a child with the winning ticket got to make a wish.

The celebrations at Jio Presents Hamleys Wonderland™ in Mumbai were a fun extravaganza for underprivileged children from different NGOs and other organisations that work with Reliance Foundation. The children had a great time at the various attractions including the Monster Ride, Hamleys Village, Haunted Circus, the Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Lego Playzone and the carnival games.

December to Remember is a continuation of Reliance Foundation’s sustained initiatives in Education and Sports for All through activities that include scholarships, guidance and mentorship, promotion of sports as well as development of sporting infrastructure at the grassroots and more.

5000 UG, 100 PG Scholarships for 2022-23; over 50,000 in the next 10 years

• Merit-cum-means UG scholarship provides a grant of up to Rs. 2 lakh for study in any field
• Merit-based PG scholarship provides up to Rs. 6 lakh for study in select fields of engineering, technology and life sciences, and is accompanied by a holistic development programme
• Applications invited from across India. Last date to apply is 14 February 2023
• Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder-Chairperson, Reliance Foundation says scholarships commitment reflects belief in the potential of India’s youth to script India’s glorious growth story
• Reliance Foundation Scholarships are now one of India’s largest philanthropic scholarship initiatives for higher education

On the occasion of the 90th birth anniversary of Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, Founder - Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Foundation announced that it will significantly strengthen its commitment to youth, awarding 50,000 scholarships over the next 10 years for students pursuing higher education in India.

For the academic year 2022-23, Reliance Foundation will be awarding up to 5,000 merit-cum-means undergraduate scholarships of up to Rs. 2 lakh and up to 100 meritbased postgraduate scholarships of up to Rs. 6 lakh, both for the entire duration of study. Applications are open till 14 February 2023.

“My father-in-law Shri Dhirubhai Ambani was a big believer in the power and potential of our youth. On the occasion of his 90th birth anniversary, we are delighted to announce our commitment to support 50,000 scholarships through the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships, over the next 10 years. Mukesh and I continue to believe that with the right support, this generation will script the most glorious next chapter of India's growth story, through knowledge, innovation and leadership,” said Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder - Chairperson, Reliance Foundation.

Half of India’s population, or over 600 million Indians, is under the age of 25. Reliance Foundation is committed to strengthening young people’s access to higher education in India. This year, the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships aim to support up to 5,000 meritorious students based on a merit-cum-means criteria for undergraduate college education, empowering them to continue their studies without financial burden. The Scholarships aim to enable students to become successful professionals and realize their dreams, unlocking their potential to lift themselves and their communities up and contributing towards India’s future socio-economic development.

In addition to the scholarship grant, the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships will provide scholars an opportunity to be part of a vibrant alumni network and an enabling support system. Students with a household income of under Rs. 15 lakh who are enrolled in first year of their undergraduate studies pursuing any subject stream of their choice can apply. The programme will also aim to encourage applications by girls and specially-abled students.

The Reliance Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships aim to enable and propel up to 100 of India’s most talented postgraduate students who can think big, think green, think digital for the benefit of society, creating a cohort of excellence every year. This merit-based scholarship is open to all to apply and aims to identify and nurture future leaders of tomorrow and will be awarded following a rigorous selection process, including interviews with leading experts. Students pursuing education in the fields of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics & Computing, Electrical and/or Electronics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Renewable & New Energy, Material Science & Engineering and Life Sciences will be selected on the basis of merit. Students enrolled in the first year of their postgraduate studies can apply. In addition to providing a generous grant, the Reliance Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships will provide a holistic development programme, consisting of expert interactions, industry exposure and volunteering opportunities.

The Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarship, launched in 1996, and the Reliance Foundation Scholarships launched in 2020 have impacted the lives of 13,000 youth across India by helping them pursue higher education from premier institutes and take leadership positions in their communities and at reputed organisations in India and abroad. The Reliance Foundation Scholarships have nurtured highly talented UG and PG students holistically to empower them to innovate for social good. Through these efforts, the Reliance Foundation Scholarships aim to strengthen the motivation of India’s youth towards educational excellence and spur their professional growth.

For more details about the Reliance Foundation Scholarships and to apply, visit www.scholarships.reliancefoundation.org.

• Micro Matters, a joint publication by Reliance Foundation and Observer Research Foundation, examines eight data-led development initiatives from India
• Offers eight lessons applicable in other contexts, especially in the Global South
• Aims to advance the ‘data for development’ agenda of India’s G20 Presidency

Micro Matters: Using Data for Development in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a publication by Reliance Foundation and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) on how data is driving social impact at the grassroots, was launched today at the Raisina Dialogue 2023. The book is the third in a series by Reliance Foundation and ORF about transformations in development and governance.

Micro Matters explores eight interventions by organisations in India that are advancing the country’s D4D agenda by gathering data; processing it to evolve insights; translating insights into actions; and making a social impact. It also identifies key replicable lessons from the design and execution of these initiatives.

Introducing the book, Mr. Jagannatha Kumar, CEO, Reliance Foundation, said the cases it describes are examples of the D4D approach that is a core priority of the Indian G20 Presidency. “Micro Matters shows how organisations in India use data to drive sustainable development in healthcare, education, disaster preparedness, women’s empowerment, and agriculture. With India recognised by many as representing the interests of the Global South both within and beyond the G20, there is no better time than now to integrate the principles of D4D into the global development agenda,” he added.

Dr. Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said that India’s status as a global digital powerhouse makes it a key voice in the evolving discourse on D4D. “India launched a series of potentially game-changing data initiatives in the run-up to its G20 Presidency, including efforts to make datasets publicly available;strengthen measures for data privacy and security; and use emerging tech to engage with data. The cases in Micro Matters reflect many of these imperatives,” he noted

Lessons from Micro Matters The eight D4D-related lessons from Micro Matters are: (i) Amalgamate tech-based data collection with the use of legacy datasets and knowledge; (ii) Use dashboards to communicate real-time data and trends to decision-makers; (iii) Optimise the use of emerging technologies to collect and analyse data; (iv) Incorporate ancillary services into the design of D4D interventions; (v) Build trust by ensuring data confidentiality and security; (vi) Visualise the scalability and replicability of D4D projects from their conception; (vii) Provide alternate solutions where connectivity and access are a challenge; and (viii) Work collaboratively and adopt a multi-stakeholder approach.

From AI for smallholder farmers to dashboards for maternal health, the real-life experiences in the publication go beyond data and interventions, and offer pathways for lasting change.

For more information on our partner organisations for this initiative and to download the publication, click here.

 Top 4 teams to qualify for the Premier League Next Generation, in joint collaboration with Reliance Foundation

The second edition of the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) has kicked-off with over 50 teams competing for national and international honours. Given the success of RFDL last year, the tournament is set to be India’s largest and most inclusive U-21 youth tournament comprising of teams across 9 regions in India from Hero Indian Super League, I-League division I&II and Independent Academies nominated by the State Football Associations.

The top four teams from RFDL will qualify to take on selected Premier League Clubs and South Africa’s PSL youth teams in the annual Premier League Next Generation, in joint collaboration with Reliance Foundation, to be played later this year. The exposure and competitiveness of the Next Generation Cup is aimed at developing the elite youth football talent in India.

Reliance Foundation Spokesperson, said, “The Reliance Foundation Development League was conceptualised to provide young footballers a competitive platform to test themselves against the best players in their age group. With its success, we have now expanded the league across the country and it is heartening to see the participation of so many teams across various leagues and academies. This season is a testament to Reliance Foundation’s continued efforts towards moving forward as an inclusive force focusing on the development of Indian football. Through the Reliance Foundation Development League and with the support of our partners - Premier League, we remain committed towards growing the entire football ecosystem in India and providing the maximum exposure to young Indian talent to improve their skills and showcase their potential.”

The league will be played across three phases – Regional Qualifiers, National Group Stage and National Championship. The regional qualifiers will see over 250 matches being played, out of which the top 20 teams will go to the National Group Stage. The top 4 teams from the group stage will compete for the coveted RFDL National Championship. Players born on or after January 1, 2002 will be eligible to participate in the league. Each team has been granted permission to include up to 5 players born on or after January 1, 2000, in their squads. No more than three such players will be permitted to be part of the playing XI at all times. The extensive schedule will also provide youngsters in this age group more game time and experience, leading to their overall growth as athletes and footballers.

The first-ever RFDL saw seven Indian Super League clubs and Reliance Foundation Young Champs compete for the top honours, with the top two teams getting a chance to participate in the Next Generation Cup. Last year, Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC, participated in the Next Generation Cup where the young Indian boys impressed the academy coaches and scouts of the Premier League clubs. RFDL is part of Reliance Foundation’s continued commitment towards supporting young athletes in India to evolve their skills by providing them more opportunities, world-class infrastructure, sports science expertise and coaching, contributing to the growth of Indian sports.

Catch the season kick-off video here: https://bit.ly/3EZa8Ue

Reliance Foundation has continued to work towards ensuring that an increasing number of children and youth from all sections of society can play sports and, in the process, build a fitter, stronger and more active India. The initiatives have touched the lives of over 21.5 million young people since 2013 across the country from 13,000+ schools and colleges, starting from the age category of five years, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career/glory in sports. Reliance Foundation aims to be the wind beneath the wings of Indian sportspersons and help them reach their true potential.

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