Programmes
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Our Vision
Empowering youth to build a gender-just, inclusive, and sustainable world.
The Beginnings: 1986 - 1990
Samvada’s journey began in 1986 with SMILE (Student Mobilization Initiative for Learning through Exposure), connecting elite college students with marginalized communities. In 1989, Anita Ratnam established the Bangalore SMILE Centre, which later evolved into Samvada, fostering youth engagement in social justice.
Baduku Centre for Livelihood Learning
2007 onwards
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In 2007, we addressed the need for young people to find meaningful livelihoods that provided financial stability, dignity, excitement, challenge, and opportunities for social change.
“Excellent education and exciting pioneering careers cannot be only for the rich”.
Socially critical livelihoods are work options where human needs are prioritized over job markets, focusing on earning a living based on these needs.
The Baduku Centre for Livelihood Learning is a unique institution established to address the emerging social and ecological challenges of our time.
A Pan Karnataka Presence
2012 onwards
In 2012, we relocated from Bangalore's urban areas to establish Youth Resource Centres in socially and ecologically sensitive regions across Karnataka.
Samvada, an organization dedicated to addressing the complex needs of young people, has expanded its work over the past decade, advocating for youth rights and building youth-centric knowledge.