The Centre for Community Resilience and Advocacy Foundation (CCRAF) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to promoting mental health, women’s empowerment, and community resilience. Through psycho-education, life skills initiatives for students, slum-based women empowerment programmes, advocacy, and evidence-based interventions, CCRAF works to strengthen individual and community capacities. The Foundation also offers an internship programme to engage young people in research, field practice, and social development initiatives.
The Centre for Community Resilience and Advocacy Foundation (CCRAF) is a not-for-profit organisation working to promote mental health, women’s empowerment, and community resilience. Through psycho-education, life skills initiatives for students, community-based programmes, and advocacy, CCRAF advances evidence-based and inclusive social development while engaging young minds through structured internship opportunities.
To build resilient, inclusive, and empowered communities where mental well-being is prioritised, women and youth have equitable opportunities to thrive, and individuals are equipped with life skills to lead dignified, informed, and socially responsible lives.
To promote mental well-being, women’s empowerment, and community resilience through psycho-education, life skills initiatives for students, evidence-based programmes, and rights-based advocacy, while fostering youth engagement and leadership in inclusive and sustainable social development.
The Centre for Community Resilience and Advocacy Foundation (CCRAF) was established in 2025 as a not-for-profit organisation with the objective of addressing interconnected challenges related to mental health, women’s empowerment, and community resilience. The Foundation was formed in response to growing psychosocial needs, gender disparities, and structural vulnerabilities within underserved communities. Since its establishment, CCRAF has adopted a community-based, rights-based, and evidence-informed approach, working with students, women in urban informal settlements, and community institutions to strengthen well-being, agency, and access to rights and services.y.
CCRAF was informally founded in 2018 with a vision to promote mental well-being, women’s empowerment, community resilience, and inclusive social development. Since its inception, CCRAF has been working closely with communities, schools, youth groups, and local stakeholders through awareness programmes, life skills initiatives, counselling support, advocacy, and capacity-building efforts aimed at creating sustainable and positive social impact.
In 2019, CCRAF initiated its first women’s empowerment programme focused on tailoring and stitching training for women from local communities, particularly marginalized and economically weaker sections. The initiative aimed to enhance vocational skills, promote self-reliance, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. Along with practical training, CCRAF also facilitated job linkages, market access, and income-generation opportunities for trained women, helping them achieve financial independence, confidence, and social empowerment. Through this initiative, CCRAF laid the foundation for community resilience by promoting women-led economic and social development.
In 2022, CCRAF initiated programmes focused on youth empowerment and development to support young people in building skills, confidence, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through career guidance, life skills training, capacity-building sessions, and community engagement activities, CCRAF worked to enhance youth participation and leadership. The organisation also facilitated job linkages and supported small business setup opportunities for youth, encouraging entrepreneurship, self-employment, and economic independence. These initiatives aimed to empower young individuals to become active contributors to resilient, inclusive, and sustainable community development.
In 2025, CCRAF was formally registered as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013, strengthening its institutional foundation and expanding its outreach in the development sector. Following its registration, CCRAF gained recognition for its community-based initiatives and began implementing full-fledged Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programmes. These initiatives focus on promoting mental well-being, emotional resilience, counselling support, psycho-education, and community awareness among students, youth, women, and vulnerable populations. Through evidence-based and rights-based approaches, CCRAF continues to work towards building healthier, resilient, and inclusive communities.e.
In December 2025, CCRAF received 12A and 80G certifications under the Income Tax Act, strengthening its credibility and enabling greater support for its social development initiatives. In 2026, the organisation further achieved CSR-1 certification, allowing collaboration with corporate partners for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects. During the same year, CCRAF established its Mental Health and Counselling Centre to provide accessible mental health support, psychosocial care, counselling services, emotional well-being programmes, and psycho-education initiatives for students, youth, women, and communities. The centre reflects CCRAF’s commitment to promoting holistic well-being, resilience, and inclusive social development.
Going forward, CCRAF seeks to expand the reach and depth of its programmes by scaling mental health and life skills initiatives in schools and colleges, strengthening women’s empowerment and livelihood-linked interventions, and enhancing community advocacy and policy engagement. The Foundation will continue to build strategic partnerships, integrate research and practice, and nurture youth leadership through internships and capacity-building initiatives, contributing to resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
