Community Development Foundation was registered in 2002 under Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960, by a group of professionals in social work, education and law with an objective to play a facilitating role to accelerate the pace of social development. Since inception, CDF has been involved in extending timely support by disseminating information, skills to NGOs.  During the span of 15 years CDF has carried out studies, research, reviews and evaluations, conducted capacity building workshops, career guidance/counseling, training programs and seminars, organized campaigns, advocacy, initiates and produced relevant publications.  The issues addressed range from child Rights, Child labour, trafficking, school education, bridge education, adolescent behavior, women empowerment.  During the period CDF has worked and associated with various Government departments, NGOs net works, UN agencies and support agencies across the country.

Vision of CDF:

Create a Society where in disadvantaged communities access the resources and enjoy their rights and thus make their lives better.

Organization Objectives

  • To develop areas of mutual cooperation with different volunteer agencies working for urban, tribal and rural minorities.
  • To educate, assist and guide interested groups and individuals on Social development activities
  • To promote and strengthen people’s group for socio-economic and human development.
  • To organize and conduct training programme in the areas of adult literacy, child and human rights, gender issues, education and health.
  • Conducts research and evaluations on social development Programmes, markets trends, economic and political matters.
  • To compile and disseminate information on development issues.
  • Advocacy and lobbying on policies issues and Programmes for the marginalized.

Past Efforts and Achievements:

From 2002 onwards, CDF is promoting primary education and child rights in the backward regions of the state. Following were the programs organized by CDF from 2002-2015

  • Conducted teachers’ trainings on Joyful and Child centered education methodology for aided and non-aided   schools.  These training were organized in Bangalore, Mysore, Shimoga and Gulbarga.
  • Capacity building and exposures were organized for   several NGOs and CBOs of Karnataka, Andhrapradesh and Tamilunadu.   Further the organization joined hands with the NGOs, supporting agencies and networks, worked collectively in organizing orientation meetings, rallies, workshops and campaigns towards strengthening primary education in North East Karnataka.
  • Career Guidance and counseling program were conducted from 2003-05 in 3 BBMP schools with the support of volunteers from Banjara Academy, Bangalore. The program was initiated after assessing the needs of the adolescent girls in BBMP schools.  In support of this program 2 workshops were     The Regional Vocational Institute, the Employment Exchange and the Army Recruitment Cell Bangalore had come as resource persons. In 2005-06, two days teachers’ workshop on Counseling was organized in Malleswaram IPP Hall where in 42 teachers from 22 schools attended.   Experts from NIHMANS, Fr. Pradeep Sequira from Ashirwad, Dr. Ali Koja and his team from Banjara Academy addressed the teachers and trained them on some important skills to deal with the emotional problems of the children. The objective of the counseling program was to provide skills to teachers in counseling and also to advocate the need of counselor’s in schools.
  • With the support of National Education Group -(NEG), education promotional activities and advocacy work was undertaken by CDF in North East Karnataka. It published 3 books for the benefit of schoolteachers and social activists – the books are “Child and Law”; Nursery Rhymes with Audio Cassette and “Community Planning & Monitoring of Primary Schools” (a translation of Amarjit Sinha book from English to Kannada).
  • Fellowship program was given to 5 social activists for 2 years periods to work among women and children in backward rural areas of North East Karnataka. A bi-monthly news letter “Shikshana Prachara” was published for the benefit of teaching and development practitioners. It carried articles on education, women empowerment issues and success stories of NGOs and CBOs on Development.
  • CDF’s major focus is the development of districts in North East Karnataka, especially to strengthen the developmental organizations and grassroots level work. CDF has taken leadership in setting up a Regional Resource Center in Gulbarga to reach out to the smaller NGOs of the 7 districts in North East Karnataka in the form of trainings, dissemination of information, space for trainings, provide referral services/ materials and conduct research etc.
  • One of the major thrust of the organization is to carry out smaller research/studies in Human, Women and Child Rights, Land & Environment and Capacity building for CBOs and youths. CDF conducted a study on ‘Trafficking   Children and Women in Karnataka’ on behalf of Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi.  CDF conducted small studies on child labour issues in various sectors on behalf of Tdh –Germany, the subjects covered were “Children in Floriculture- Davanagere”; “Children in Jeans factory- Bellary”; “Children in Granite Industry-Ilkal (Karnataka)”; “Children in Textile Industry-Karur. Tamilnadu.”

National Child Labour Project (residential bridge center) was operated for 35 children in Kunchavaram of Chincholi Taluk with support from District Administration of Gulbarga.

Professional Services to other organizations/agencies:

  • Ten Impact Assessment Studies for Christian Children Fund (CCF) on Micro Entrepreneur Development (MEDI) Initiatives was carried out in Karnataka (2002).
  • Consultancy services to Concern India Foundation (CIF) in planning and implementing their Tsunami Rehabilitation Initiative in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu (2005 -07).
  • Strategy paper development, planning, pre-funding and organizing workshops for South Indian Partners for New Education Group (NEG) – FIRE, New Delhi (2002 and continuing).
  • Trainings on developments /Consultancy to Arcot Lutheran Church, Tirukovilur. Tamil Nadu. (2005-2008)
  • Progress and Process Documentation cum Evaluative Review of ILO – IPEC- KCLP, Bidar District. (2008)
  • A Manual on Good Practices in Bridge Centre, developed for ILO-IPEC Project, Bangalore (2008)
  • Base Line Study on Community and Education of Kodla Cluster, Sedam Block, Gulbarga  for India Literacy Project USA (2007)
  • Base Line Study on Education of Sedum Block Conducted for Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai (2008)
  • Study report prepared on “Orphan and Vulnerable Children” for HELP, Ongole, Andra Pradesh. (2008)
  • CRC Awareness to SHG leaders and trainings to NGOs in Gulbarga, supported by UNICEF Hyderabad.(2008)
  • Action Plan prepared for Koppal District Child Labour Elimination project for UNICEF. (2009)

Our ongoing Projects:

  • Integrated Education Movement in Sedam Block, Gulbarga District supported by India Literacy Project.
  • Sensitize community against child marriage, supported by AEI/Ter des Homme.
  • Strengthening preschool Education through Anganwadies in Yadgir Block by support of Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai

Assessment/Studies

  • Base line study of working areas of World Vision of India -Girl Child Project areas of Bangalore City in 2009.
  • Integrated Child Development Scheme study for the 11 projects of Child Fund India in 2009.
  • Child Rights Situational Analysis for Child Fund India in 2009 for its projects in Karnataka.
  • Child friendly City- base line study for Evangelical Social Action Forum, Bangalore
  • CRC implementation in 20 years- base line study of North Karnataka proposed to support by UNICEF and conducted through CACL-K net work.
  • Child vulnerability in Mangalore City for Prajana Counseling Center, Mangalore.