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.

Friday, September 14, 2012

PIA Sponsor children new sports outfits distribution

On Wednesday the 05th of September, Mr. Dr. Savepalli RadhaKrishna’s birthday, we celebrate Teachers’ Day in India. On this occasion we distributed the sports outfit to the Z.P.H. [G] Mekalapalli Coco Team.

In the morning at 10:30 in the SEDS campus, we invited the Z.P.H. [G] Mekalapalli School Coco team students, P.T. teacher Mr. Catmaiah and Biology teacher Mr. P.S. Prasad. In the presence of Mrs. Manil Joshua, Ms. Rashna Joshua and Mr. Prashanth the outfits were distributed. Last year they won the cup in the event of GRICKS (AP govt. conduct sports events). PIA-SEDS wanted to encourage these students for their achievements and studies. For this reason we designed new outfits for the Z.P.H. girl’s coco team. PIA – SEDS sponsored the sports dresses.





The Head Misses of Z.P.H. [G] Mekalapalli School and the whole teaching staff would like to thank PIA – SEDS for this encouraging support and sponsoring the outfits.

The coco team consists of 12 students. In the team two girls from our PIA sponsor children program are also participating, being

1. 478/11 Ramya 6th
2.  578/12 E. Sravani 6th.




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