Panaah Communities- Transforming communities through learning and livelihood

gets teenagers
high - paying jobs

We equip children & youth from the highest-need urban communities to learn faster and earn better by transforming abandoned community spaces into vibrant learning-to-earning hubs that empower families to break the cycle of poverty.

Support High-need Communities

Supported
By

Aga & Pudumjee
Family Philanthropy

Supported
By

Aga & Pudumjee
Family Philanthropy

Supported
By

Aga & Pudumjee
Family Philanthropy

the challenge

India’s urban slums hold millions of families caught between survival and aspiration. Outdated systems, schools that don’t inspire, jobs that don’t uplift, and governance that doesn’t include leaving families unprepared for the future economy.

The result is a generational trap: children drop out, teenagers remain jobless, and parents lose faith in progress. Families need not charity, but pathways to learn, earn, and lead together restoring trust, dignity, and opportunity from within.

if and else
in opportunity

In a world scripted by “if” and “else” loops, every family’s future depends on the choices they’re able to make. For some, these loops open endless doors; for others, they’re narrow paths with no exits.

read about Our vision

of new jobs demand skills families have no access to

of parents say lack of trust and access block opportunity

of teenagers in low-income families are at risk of dropping out

of families in urban slums live on less than INR 10,000 a month

of new jobs demand skills families have no access to

of teenagers in low-income families are at risk of dropping out

of educated youth from these communities remain unemployed

of parents say lack of trust and access block opportunity

of new jobs demand skills families have no access to

of parents say lack of trust and access block opportunity

of teenagers in low-income families are at risk of dropping out

of families in urban slums live on less than INR 10,000 a month

of new jobs demand skills families have no access to

of teenagers in low-income families are at risk of dropping out

of educated youth from these communities remain unemployed

of parents say lack of trust and access block opportunity

of new jobs demand skills families have no access to

of parents say lack of trust and access block opportunity

of teenagers in low-income families are at risk of dropping out

of families in urban slums live on less than INR 10,000 a month

of new jobs demand skills families have no access to

of teenagers in low-income families are at risk of dropping out

of educated youth from these communities remain unemployed

of parents say lack of trust and access block opportunity

Panaah forges dual pathways for success of children and teenagers

Grade 5 -10

Beyond school, our children become community Solvers, tackling critical issues facing their communities and city. Our Scholars, they prepare for and conquer the most rigorous national and international science and math competitive exams & olympiads.

Panaah children

Grade 11 - first job

Our teenagers leap beyond college: they build their own startups, create products and services, make films mastering the critical skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's evolving economy. This trajectory sets them up to achieve significant monthly earnings (₹45-50k) by age 21, paving the way for early financial independence.

panaah teenagers

our work

Panaah Communities

aims to revolutionize family-based learning and livelihoods
in India’s urban communities equipping children to reach
top universities and teenagers to secure high-paying careers, ensuring families rise out of poverty shaping a global case study in urban poverty alleviation.

Panaah Communities

reclaims forgotten spaces to spark collective change

We transform abandoned community spaces into vibrant hubs of learning and earning. Each centre becomes a home of possibility — powered by technology, care, and local leadership. What once stood as neglect now thrives as a beacon of hope, dignity, and progress for families.

Panaah Communities

ignites curiosity and future ready learning

ignites curiosity
and future ready learning

We bring children back into education and make learning meaningful again. Those at risk of dropping out find their way back, while academically driven students excel — with many ranking in top national and international Olympiads. Through community-based problem solving and personalized support, every child learns not just to catch up, but to lead the way.

Panaah Communities

transforms teenagers into future-ready professionals

We prepare young people to thrive in a fast-changing economy — through exposure, mentorship, and skills that lead to high-paying jobs or higher education. From filmmaking to coding to entrepreneurship, our teenagers move from uncertainty to independence, fueling a fivefold rise in family income and rewriting what’s possible for their communities.

Panaah Communities

puts power back in the hands of women and youth

Four of our five centres are led by women from the very communities they serve. They design programs, manage teams, and shape local change. Alongside them, young leaders guide families toward opportunity and unity. Together, they rebuild trust where it was lost — proving that lasting progress begins when leadership comes from within.

Panaah Communities

builds self-sustaining, community-owned ecosystems

Each centre is designed to stand on its own — run by local leaders, sustained by community contributions, and guided by shared purpose. Families don’t just participate; they co-own the change. As centres break even and multiply, a new model of urban renewal is taking shape — one where communities are no longer beneficiaries but builders of their own future.

our Motivation

a network rebuilding families and futures

We are building a living network of community-led centres that prove deep change is possible — one neighbourhood at a time. Each Panaah Centre is a hub where children learn, youth earn, and families rise together. Our model prioritises rigorous skill-building, real livelihoods, and moral consciousness over shallow engagement — ensuring every effort translates into measurable growth and lasting impact.

Kashewadi
(scholars)

Yerwada

Sunderbai
RathiSchool

Kashewadi
(solvers)

Patil Estate

Lohiya
Nagar

Ganesh Peth

Kashewadi
(scholars)

Yerwada

Sunderbai
RathiSchool

Kashewadi
(solvers)

Patil Estate

Lohiya
Nagar

Ganesh Peth

our Motivation

a network rebuilding families

and futures

Kashewadi

(solvers)

Kashewadi

(scholars)

Lohiya

Nagar

Ganesh

Peth

Yerwada

Sunderbai

Rathi School

Patil

Estate

Kashewadi

(solvers)

Kashewadi

(scholars)

Lohiya

Nagar

Ganesh

Peth

Yerwada

Sunderbai

Rathi School

Patil

Estate

Our model prioritises rigorous skill-building, real livelihoods, and moral consciousness over shallow engagement — ensuring every effort translates into measurable growth and lasting impact.

reclaiming abandoned spaces into community-powered learning centres.

Immersive, project driven experiences

pushing children and teenagers to explore and create

Immersive, project driven experiences

pushing children and teenagers to explore and create

Immersive, project driven experiences

pushing children and teenagers to explore and create

our pedagogy

4 panaah pillars

Every Panaah centre is designed for easy access and consistent engagement.

Within these spaces, we help children and teenagers develop our 4 signature Panaah Skills - while also strengthening their academic proficiencies.

Every Panaah centre is designed for easy access and consistent engagement.

Within these spaces, we help children and teenagers develop our 4 signature Panaah Skills - while also strengthening their academic proficiencies.

practice

care

wonder

reflection

Click to explore

practice

care

wonder

reflection

Click to explore

practice

care

wonder

reflection

Click to explore

TRANSFORMING LIVES OF CHILDREN

POWERING ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR TEENAGERS

BUILDING THE BLUEPRINT FOR SCALE

TRANSFORMING LIVES OF CHILDREN

POWERING ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR TEENAGERS

BUILDING THE BLUEPRINT FOR SCALE

TRANSFORMING LIVES OF CHILDREN

POWERING ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR TEENAGERS

BUILDING THE BLUEPRINT FOR SCALE

our impact

In just three years, Panaah has grown from one lane to six thriving centres, reaching over 1,000 families. From children bridging learning gaps to teenagers building films, apps, and futures— these aren’t just numbers, they’re proof that when trust meets opportunity, transformation follows.

“Every day, I see what’s possible when families are trusted with their own power. Change doesn’t arrive from the outside — it begins in the narrow lanes, the small rooms, and the brave choices people make together. That’s where the future of India is being written.”

Shoeb

Co-founder & Executive Director