Welcome!

SEDS, the Social Education and Development Society, was founded in 1980 by Rajen Joshua and Manil Jayasena as a grassroots development NGO, motivated by the desire to help the poorest of the poor in the drought-prone area of Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh. In the early days, the main focus of the work was on community development by way of non-formal education and small loans to skilled target communities like cobblers, basket weavers, blanket weavers and others.

As Anantapur is the second most drought prone area in India and much of its natural resources are depleted, it soon became clear that environmental problems would have to be tackled first, if peoples’ livelihoods were to be made sustainable. Starting in 10 villages near the small town of Penukonda a scheme of pioneering work was developed which aimed to empower local communities and improve their environment. Initially small nurseries were started for homestead plantations and planting of avenue trees along village roads. Re-a-forestation and more sustainable agricultural practices were introduced. From 1990, SEDS started using a more participatory approach, through the formation of Community Based Organizations. Involving the communities more in the effort made them actual stakeholders in the development process of the region. Throughout the years the scope and area of the work increased and the fruits of the sustained efforts became visible in the greener environment and the enthusiasm of the communities.

Today, SEDS is working through an integrated rural development approach with an emphasis on women’s empowerment, watersheds, re-a-forestation and natural resource management. This is within five Mandals in the southern part of Anantapur District, in south western Andhra Pradesh namely, Penukonda, Roddam, Gorantla, Somandepalli and Chilamathur. In these 5 mandals SEDS currently supports 125 villages, being some 12000 women and their families, 980 Self Help Groups (SHGs), 120 Village Organisations (VOs) & 5 Mandal Samakyas (MMSs) .

Through its sustained efforts SEDS has made a significant impact on the lives of the people in the area and the local environment. The SEDS slogan “Towards a greener tomorrow” has become a reality.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Clothing for the needy

One of the most important necessities for humans, besides food and shelter, is clothing. Around the world, several families in developing countries do not have enough clothes to wear every day. In some villages in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh in India, people wear the same clothes every single day because they have nothing to wear.

There are many people across the globe who have piles of unused clothing in their closets. In the past year SEDS received donations from kind hearts. These donations can truly make a difference in the lives of men, woman, and children who really need clothes to wear.

On the 2nd and 3rd of November SEDS prepared the collection of donated items for distribution to depressed villages. Together with the staff, SEDS decided to give the clothes to three poor villages in the area of Roddam and Gudipalli.


In every village men, women and children were smiling with their new clothes. These smiling faces and SEDS would like to thank all the donors. With donors working hand in hand with SEDS, those who used to be unclothed will be given a new hope!



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