About Us
The Organisation
Prerana was founded as a 'not for profit' voluntary organisation in September 1974. The founders, a group of committed profesional social workers, gave expression to their vision and drive through voluntary action. Through the use of their knowledge, skills and resources, they created partnerships with people from under-priviledged communities -- by establishing a dialogue, generating enthusiasm, organising and strengthening capacities of local volunteers for planning, implementing and monitoring programmes facilitating their own and their communities' development. Prarana started work in New Delhi with its Integrated Community-based Health Project. The project area was one peri-urban low-cost area inhabited by poor migrant communities. Today, Prerana works directly in six peri-urban villages in South Delhi, reaching out to about two hundred thousand families, and touching the lives of approximately 0.15 million people.
Supplementing its resource base with active association and sharing of knowledge with partners, Prerana forged ahead for expansion of outreach services, training and technical assistance in Program design and management to other NGOs.
Prerana, during this long journey, has been successful in getting increasing acknowledgement and won confidence of many national international and UN development organizations (donors). It has been working in partnership and support from such Donors. These are, to name a few, USAID, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIFEM, CEDPA, CARE India, State Government of Delhi, and the Government of India.
Mission
Prerana ia a professional development organisation with a high emphasis on program innovation, learning and sharing of approaches and replicating models in integrated community development and participation. Promotion of professional volunteerism and non-charity are other strongly shared values that strengthen and provide as distinctives to its development orientation.
Approach
Prerana is committed to enhancing the quality of life of individuals and groups through self-help and to instill awareness about issues like Population, Health, Hygiene, Reproductive Health, Education and Capacity Building thus enabling integrated community development. The approach involves:
- Direct Service Interventions through Community Development Programmes, which are designed to organize and strengthen capacities for planning, implementing and monitoring programmes thus, enabling the community to mobilize existing available resources to better ends.
- Technical Assistance and Training to other NGOs, INGOs and Central/State Government Departments/ Agencies to enhance their potential for designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating developmental programmes.
- Advocacy where focus is on sensitizing, creating and awareness and mobilizing communities, NGOs, INGOs and Central/State Government Departments/ Agencies for developmental concerns.
- Research and Documentation of innovative approaches and models for learning/ sharing to strengthen future initiatives.
