Partners

The initiative emerged in the aftermath of the 2021 rape and murder of a six-year-old girl from Saidabad, an incident that exposed the acute vulnerabilities of women and children in urban slums marked by domestic violence, early marriage, substance abuse, and exploitation. Singareni Colony, predominantly inhabited by Dalit and minority residents, faces systemic discrimination, unemployment, and a lack of access to education and healthcare. In response, Dalit rights activist Prof. Sujatha Surepally created the Dalit Women’s Collective as a platform for advocacy and collective empowerment, which evolved into the SAFEE Foundation.

SAFEE institutionalised community-driven change by establishing 14 literacy centres that support over 400 students (Grades 1–10) through literacy, numeracy, and computer training, along with uniforms, books, and sanitary supplies. It assists school dropouts through Open 10th and Intermediate programs and conducts vocational training in tailoring, cloth pad making, and detergent production. Additionally, it runs a Daycare Centre, organises health camps, distributes grocery kits, and conducts life skills and leadership programs, fostering dignity, economic independence, and holistic well-being in marginalised communities.

Project with MHI 

Beginning in July 2025, the SAFEE Foundation, in collaboration with the Dalit Women’s Collective (DWC), will implement a comprehensive mental health initiative across two blocks of the Singareni Colony slum in Hyderabad. The project seeks to develop a sustainable, community-based mental health support model for people living in urban informal settlements, addressing both preventive and responsive dimensions of mental well-being.

The initiative will include a series of community workshops aimed at raising awareness about mental health, reducing stigma, and addressing concerns such as alcohol and substance abuse among youth, domestic stress, and gender-based violence. Additionally, school-based programs will create safe spaces for dialogue among children and adolescents, helping them express emotions, manage stress, and access appropriate counselling and referral services.

To strengthen family and community engagement, interactive sessions with parents will focus on child well-being, positive parenting, and the importance of early mental health intervention. Local youth and women leaders will be trained as community mental health facilitators, ensuring sustainability and ownership at the grassroots level.

By integrating education, awareness, and community care, the SAFEE–MHI partnership aims to build a resilient and inclusive ecosystem where mental health is recognised as a collective responsibility, not a hidden struggle — ultimately creating a safer and healthier environment for Singareni’s most vulnerable families.

To know more about Safee, click here.