Urgent Action Fund - Africa
Rapid Response Grant Application
ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION
1. Name, physical address, email, website/social media pages, telephone contacts of the organisation (s) making the request
TTGD EcoSociety – India Kolkata, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Email: karishmathapa@gmail.com, Web: https://phcport.com/phcprojects/P374_TTGD_India_Kolkata/
2. Name and title of the contact person (s). Kindly provide names, titles and contact details (email and phone numbers) of two other staff/ team/ board members of the applying organization/ group
Karishma Thapa – Project Lead, +91 77605 70574, karishmathapa@gmail.com
3. Brief description of the organisation’s mission or main focus of work and when it was formed. Include the type of organization, e.g grassroot, national, regional, Community Based Organization (CBO) etc
Beyond Differences is an inclusive enrichment centre in Kolkata focused on empowering neurodivergent young adults (16+) through life skills training, expressive arts, and a community-based 'learn and earn' model. The centre is led by Karishma Thapa under KRayonz and is supported by the Lali Guras Foundation.
4. Where is your organisation based? E.g. Rural, urban, peri-urban
Urban – Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Urban – Kolkata, West Bengal, India
5. Number of womn working in the organization, including their age range, and positions held.
Women lead the initiative and benefit as caregivers, therapists, and community members. The project also provides mental wellness support for mothers and female guardians.
6. List your current and previous sources of funding.
Supported by the Lali Guras Foundation, internal donations, and private contributions during launch phase (2025).
7. Provide at least three names and current contact information for organizations or funders who can recommend/endorse your work (Including phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the contact person).
Ravi Thapa, Trustee – Lali Guras Foundation, ravist01@gmail.com, +91 88611 14911
Daniel Ghaznavi, Trustee – Lali Guras Foundation, danielghaznavi@gmail.com, +91 98310 92060
TTGD Central Admin – contact@ttgd.org, +91 705 987 6543
8. How did you learn about Urgent Action Fund-Africa?
Lali Guras Foundation & TTGD Central Coordination Unit
THE SITUATION
9. What is the issue you want to address and when did it start?
Lack of post-school enrichment and livelihood options for neurodivergent youth aged 16+, leading to social isolation, limited skill development, and caregiver burnout.
10. What makes this situation an opportunity for advancing womn’s human rights?
This model combines life skills, creative expression, and economic empowerment in a replicable structure, with strong appeal to CSR and inclusive education partners.
11.1. Power analysis: who (individuals/groups) has power and will benefit by maintaining the situation as it is?
Existing private training providers and mainstream vocational centres with limited inclusive capability.
11.2. Who actually has power to make the change you seek? How will you influence them?
Lali Guras Foundation, TTGD, local corporates through CSR partnerships.
11.3. How will your intervention contribute to the bigger picture of transforming power to advance womn’s human rights?
Fosters inclusive ecosystems, builds neurodivergent leadership, and encourages sustainable community models.
12.1. What are the possible risks associated with addressing this situation?
Dependence on CSR funding, public misunderstanding of neurodiversity, lack of trained facilitators.
12.2. How can these risks be mitigated?
Awareness campaigns, professional development workshops, strategic partnerships with NGOs and corporates.
12.3. How do you intend to address the security, safety and wellbeing of colleagues engaged in this activism?
Participants gain emotional resilience, purpose, peer connection, and vocational capacity.
13. Why is your organization best placed to address the situation in 9 above?
Led by an experienced special educator; supported by a registered NGO; innovative and arts-integrated with proof of impact from pilot events.
THE URGENT ACTION/INTERVENTIONS
14. What do you want to do about the issue mentioned in number 9? Describe your activities/intervention.
Weekly sessions in digital skills, grooming, music, theatre, business training, and mindfulness. Open-mic events, art shows, and fashion shows boost inclusion.
15. What are the intended outcomes/changes you would like to achieve from your interventions?
Independent neurodivergent adults with social confidence and economic pathways. A visible culture of inclusion and replicable model.
16. Why could this intervention not be planned for as part of your day-to-day work?
The number of adolescents aging out of school support systems is rising. Post-pandemic isolation worsens mental health and employability gaps.
17. Who are the people you plan to work with and how? Describe as appropriate.
Neurodivergent individuals (16+), caregivers, inclusive educators, corporate CSR teams, and volunteers.
18. Will you partner with other groups in this action? If yes, explain roles and contact info.
PHC Service - governance oversight, reporting, and accountability, PHC support
TTGD Central - logistics, funding channeling, and branding support.
Skill-based paid internships, safe café spaces, expressive therapy studios, public performances and CSR-supported peer mentoring.
19. Are you part of any feminist/womn rights movement(s), coalition, or network?
Project prioritises mental health support for mothers and promotes women-led inclusive leadership.
20. Where and when will the intervention be carried out?
Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
21. How much are you requesting (in USD)?
₹50,00,000 for Year 1 (as per detailed budget: infrastructure, staffing, program delivery)
22. What other sources of support are available for this effort?
Smartboards, musical instruments, laptops, café furniture, therapy equipment, team salaries, event sponsorships.
23. Should the information about this request be kept confidential? If yes, why and for how long?
No confidentiality constraints noted.