Adivasi Dalit Women Empowerment Study Centre
From a small rescue mission in Melukavu to a network of shelters, education programmes, and women-led enterprises across Kottayam and Idukki.
Our Story
Adivasi Dalit Women Empowerment Study Centre (ADWESC) began when two girls and their mother needed a safe place to heal. Social activist Sajini Mathews opened the doors of Snehibhavan in Melukavu, Kottayam, and what started as a single shelter is now a multi-programme movement nurturing hundreds of women, girls, and elders every year.
Over the past two decades we have expanded to six centres across Kottayam and Idukki districts. Our teams provide 24/7 residential care, after-school tuition, vocational training units, temporary shelters, counselling, legal support, and rapid disaster relief. ADWESC is FCRA registered and collaborates with local self-help groups, panchayats, and volunteer networks to ensure each programme is community-owned.
Today we are designing a regenerative rural economy campus in Vagamon where eco-tourism, jackfruit processing, and care services are linked in a circular model. Every enterprise led by women reinvests in education and social protection, creating a blueprint for inclusive development in the Western Ghats.
Core commitments
- • Trauma-informed care for every resident at Snehibhavan
- • Education pathways that prevent dropouts and early marriage
- • Economic programmes rooted in self-help groups and local wisdom
Where we work
- • Melukavu, Kottayam — Snehibhavan residential campus
- • Satellite learning centres in Idukki hill villages
- • Field response teams during floods and health emergencies
How we work
- • Partnerships with panchayat leaders, schools, and hospitals
- • Volunteer network of counsellors, nurses, and youth mentors
- • Transparent governance with audited reports and community feedback
Daily resilience
Education journeys powered by community solidarity.
Snehibhavan Founded
Snehibhavan, a home of love and protection, was established to shelter vulnerable girls.
ADWESC Operations Begin
ADWESC officially started operations, expanding support services.
FCRA Registration
Received FCRA registration, enabling international funding support.
24 Years of Service
Continuing to serve communities in Kottayam, Kerala with unwavering dedication.
Our Vision
To create a society where every Dalit and Adivasi woman and child has access to education, shelter, and opportunities for a dignified life, free from discrimination and exploitation.
Our Mission
To protect and empower vulnerable Dalit and Adivasi women and children through comprehensive programmes including shelter, education, livelihood training, counselling, legal aid, and disaster response — enabling them to lead resilient, self-determined lives.
Our Values
- • Integrity and transparency in every partnership
- • Consent-based storytelling and safeguarding of beneficiaries
- • Collaboration with self-help groups, volunteers, and local leaders
- • Continuous learning with feedback from the communities we serve
Education, care, and livelihoods—woven into everyday routines.
These initiatives translate the ADWESC vision into tangible support for girls, women, and families throughout Kottayam, Idukki, and neighbouring districts.
#1
Formal education
Every Snehibhavan girl is enrolled in IHRD Technical School, Muttom. Staff mentors track progress subject-wise so that education becomes the surest way out of vulnerability.
#2
Visit to schools
Activists visit classrooms frequently, meet head teachers, and attend PTA meetings to gather honest feedback and resolve issues before they derail studies.
#3
Language training
University volunteers run Malayalam and English labs throughout the year so children gain confidence in reading, writing, and public speaking.
#4
Celebration of special days
Onam, Christmas, New Year, and community feasts give children a chance to perform, relax, and build healthy emotional memories with neighbours and advisory board members.
#5
Birthday celebrations
Every child’s birthday is marked with affirmations and personalised gifts. Additional financial help is provided to those needing extra care that month.
#6
Continued education support
Scholarships are extended to 18 Dalit and economically marginalised students across Kottayam, Idukki, and Thrissur so they can pursue 6‑month to 5‑year courses.
#7
Vegetable & flower gardens
Rainwater harvesting and organic gardens on campus reduce food costs and teach self-sustaining practices as the local water table declines.
#8
Field trips
Annual exposure visits—recently to Kochi—open up urban experiences, museums, and ports, helping children dream beyond immediate surroundings.
#9
Self-employment units
Tailoring centres in Cheenikkuzhy, Muttom, Maniyarankudy, and Adimali train women and connect them to reliable income streams.
#10
Legal support
When women are abandoned or denied property, the centre’s legal team intervenes. Three major disputes recently resulted in women regaining their homes and land.
#11
Counselling & temporary shelter
Survivors of domestic abuse receive trauma-informed counselling and short-stay shelter along with food, child care, and legal accompaniment.
#12
Awareness & leadership camps
Seminars, workshops, and women’s issues conferences build collective agency, while a 3-day vacation camp for 30 students blends drama, folk arts, and skill training.
#13
Marriage facilitation
After 18 years of accompaniment, the centre now helps eligible young women navigate documentation and hosts equitable weddings—four were supported recently.
#14
Study material distribution
1,500 learners in nearby panchayats received full school kits including bags, notebooks, lunch boxes, pens, umbrellas, and other essentials.
Our Team
Dedicated individuals working together to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Field leadership
Community mentors, caregivers, and youth allies at work.
Sajini Mathews
Founder & Director, Snehibhavan
Guides the vision of ADWESC, mentors frontline teams, and advocates for Dalit and Adivasi women at district and state platforms.
Seena N. K.
Project Lead, ADWESC
Coordinates programme delivery across six centres, leads partnerships, and stewards the regenerative rural economy initiative in Vagamon.
Resident Mothers & Counselors
Snehibhavan Care Team
Provide 24/7 care, trauma-informed counselling, and life-skills mentoring for every girl living at Snehibhavan.
SHG & Livelihood Mentors
Community Enterprise Collective
Women leaders from self-help groups who facilitate vocational labs, savings circles, and market linkages for new entrepreneurs.
Youth & Volunteer Network
Education & Relief Corps
Tutors, healthcare workers, and college volunteers who run tuition centres, organise health camps, and support disaster response.
Board & Advisors
Governance & Transparency
Ensure compliance, oversee audits, and uphold ADWESC’s commitment to ethical storytelling, safeguarding, and community accountability.