Visthar

Visthar is a secular Civil Society Organization based in Bangalore, India, that is dedicated to social justice and peace. Founded in 1989, Visthar recognizes the impact of multiple social inequalities on the well-being of individuals and communities. Their work focuses on addressing issues of gender discrimination, social exclusion, and poverty.

Visthar operates a feminist training and resource center on a serene six-acre eco-sanctuary campus outside Bangalore, as well as a similar campus in Koppal district, North Karnataka. They offer a range of community-based initiatives, including Bandhavi, a residential empowerment program for girls at risk, Samagra Shikshana Shale, an integrated primary school for marginalized and migrant children, and Visthar Ranga Shale, an affiliated theater school. Additionally, Visthar is involved in environmental conservation efforts through their Eco Sanctuary, which offers environmental education and ecological farming.

They also have a paper unit called Srujana Recycled that promotes sustainability through recycling and a nursery called Manoranjitham Nursery, which offers organic and native plants. With their transformative learning, community-based initiatives, and eco-enterprises, Visthar collaborates with educational institutions, civil society organizations, and social movements to work toward democratic, just, and sustainable communities with gender and social equity