Adhya Menda

The Problem

Inadequate shelter is a chronic problem in India, with many parts of the country suffering from housing shortages that affect most of the marginalized sections of society. Having been deeply moved by the hardships and challenges faced by the less fortunate among us, the goal of this venture is to focus on individuals who have land, but cannot afford to build homes and often fall beyond the realm of organized finance.

The Solution

The primary aim of WeRise is to educate and empower people to build their own dwellings using eco-friendly, earthen construction techniques and provide them with essential knowledge on renewable energy, the equipment necessary for the construction of sustainable homes, locally sourced recyclable materials, along with access to financial education, government schemes and micro-finance options. By Q1 2019 WeRise targets to build about 60 Sustainable Social Homes, each about 400 sq. ft. in size and costing ₹3 Lakhs. The first phase of 20 homes is underway and scheduled for delivery in Q4 2018.

The Venture

Adhya and her team aim to build homes to impact the lives of 7500 people in the next 5 years. Through a recent fundraising event in Bangalore, Adhya successfully raised ₹ 22.29 Lakhs through sale of her “Photo Stories”. The amount raised will support the building of ~20 homes in the remote villages of Chikballapur district, Karnataka.

The Changemaker

WeRise, a social enterprise was initiated by Adhya Menda in October 2016. Adhya is a grade 11th student of Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore. Adhya is also an avid photographer.