Ambuja Foundation, an independent, pan-India social development organization dedicated to transforming rural communities, in collaboration with Voltas launched a comprehensive health and education development initiative in Waghodia (Vadodara) and Sanand (Ahmedabad). The education project, spanning 26 schools, along with a community health initiative covering 22 villages, will be implemented in areas surrounding the Voltas manufacturing facilities in Waghodia and Sanand.

Despite ongoing efforts to enhance access to education, significant gaps persist in villages in the Waghodia block of Vadodara —ranging from inadequate infrastructure to weak foundational literacy and numerical skills to limited exposure to STEM education and physical development. A particularly concerning issue is the high dropout rate among adolescent girls aged 12 to 13, which underscores the urgent need for targeted, inclusive interventions. The joint project of Ambuja Foundation with Voltas aims to create a transformative impact on rural education by improving educational infrastructure and fostering a conducive learning environment. The key objectives include strengthening foundational literacy and numerical skills, promoting STEM education through innovative methods, and enhancing physical education to support holistic child development.

Under the initiative, a special focus will be given to addressing the dropout rates of adolescent girls through targeted interventions. The implementation plan includes installing RO systems for clean drinking water, promoting reading habits through library establishment, and reading initiatives, and equipping schools with SMART Boards to enhance learning experiences. Additionally, school-based sports events and infrastructure support including STEM Labs will be organized to encourage student engagement and overall development. Holistic development activities tailored to the needs of each school will also be conducted, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to educational upliftment.

To improve the overall health of women and children in the area, the project focuses on close collaboration with the health department, empowering frontline workers through training and capacity building to lead sustainable, community-driven health initiatives. A key strategy involves identifying service gaps and strengthening ASHAs and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) to deliver effective preventive, primitive, and curative healthcare. The initiative also promotes to formalize partnerships through non-financial MoUs with government bodies and schools, health centers, and Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). Ambuaj Foundation motivate the village institutions, PRIs, and development committees to actively implement health and sanitation programs, facilitate access to government health schemes, and participate in national campaigns such as Poshan Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat, and WASH.

On the launch of the project, Ms. Pearl Tiwari, CEO, Ambuja Foundation said, “Ambuja Foundation and Voltas have strong commitment to driving meaningful change in the lives of rural communities. Through this new project in Gujarat, we aim to focus on key areas such as school infrastructure and rural health. We are confident that this collaboration will further strengthen our efforts to uplift rural communities. Together, we look forward to fostering inclusive growth at the grassroots level.”

On the occasion, Spokesperson, Voltas Management said, “At Voltas, we believe in creating lasting impact to the community not just through our products, but through our partnerships and community initiatives. By investing in education and health, we aim to build a healthier, more educated future for the regions that support our operations. We look forward to the partnership with Ambuja Foundation in bringing rural transformation,”.