a self-relia n t ^ Building Punjab PR O G R A M G U I D E
PR O G R A M G U I D E 1
Punjab’s Future
2
Is in Its Villages But the challenges are real. Depleting groundwater, environmental decline, youth migration, and weakening local economies are putting Punjab’s villages at risk.
Roundglass Foundation revitalizes villages in Punjab by building self-reliant systems across environment and sustainability, youth development, and women’s equity. We restore forests, enable regenerative farming, and implement waste management systems. We set up Learn Labs and Sports Centers that prepare children and youth, support women through livelihood programs, and create spaces for health and wellbeing.
3
We’re leading a bold initiative to redefine villages as eco-sustainable communities. The village, the pind, is the heartbeat of change. If we heal the village, we heal the state and create a model for global change. GURPREET SUNNY SINGH Founder, Roundglass
4
How We Work Operating at scale, on the ground
We run our programs with the discipline of a business, led by experienced leaders, subject matter experts, and village Changemakers who together are accountable for scalable impact and measurable outcomes. Our work spans three connected areas.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
WOMEN’S EQUITY
5
Environment & Sustainability
A young mini forest in a village.
6
The Billion Tree Project
Restoring Punjab’s Forest Cover
THE CHALLENGE
Punjab’s forest cover has declined to just 3.67%, far below the national average of 21.7%. This loss of biodiversity increases heat stress, accelerates soil erosion, and worsens air quality.
OUR APPROACH
We establish mini forests: dense community-managed clusters of native species. These restore biodiversity, improve soil and water health, and strengthen climate resilience.
IMPACT
4.5M+ trees planted | estimated 55,000 tons of CO2 sequestered 90% tree survival rate 7
8
IMPACT STORY
“They come when the hibiscus flowers bloom. In the beginning, just a couple came, husband-wife. Now they come with their three children. It’s the most beautiful thing. Birds have returned to our village.” Inderjeet Singh On The Billion Tree Project in Patiala
9
Regenerative Agriculture
Rebuilding Soil, Conserving Water
THE CHALLENGE
Intensive chemical farming has severely degraded Punjab’s soil, and groundwater levels are plummeting by nearly one meter each year.
OUR APPROACH
We introduce farmers to regenerative practices that improve soil health and efficiently use water. Model farms are established to demonstrate the effectiveness of organic methods and direct seeding of rice to conserve water.
IMPACT
31,335 acres under regenerative practices 3,640 farmers adopting regenerative practices 72 billion liters of projected water savings for 2026 10
IMPACT STORY
Roundglass Foundation’s innovations help save up to 70% water in paddy crop. That’s 60 trillion tons annually. Hardeep Singh says, “If I can save so much water, imagine how much all farmers together can. We can save Punjab!” Hardeep Singh Farmer, Moga
11
IMPACT STORY
Mohinder Singh lost his son. His daughterin-law left the family, leaving him with three grandchildren and no income. At his lowest point, he found work as a village waste collector. With steady work and renewed dignity, he rebuilt his life, turning waste into purpose and becoming a quiet hero in his village. Mohinder Singh Waste collector
12
Waste Management
Building Clean Village Systems
THE CHALLENGE
Rural Punjab generates over 2.6 million tons of solid waste annually. Without municipal systems, this waste is often burned or sent to dumping grounds.
OUR APPROACH
We deliver end-to-end waste solutions by providing bins, hiring and training local waste collectors, and building composting units to turn wet waste into compost. Dry waste is segregated and recycled.
IMPACT
489 waste management units | 95,137 households served 443 villages with cleaner air and waterways 13
Youth Development
Girls and boys are training with us in football. 14
1 Girl 1 Football
Breaking Barriers, Building Leaders
THE CHALLENGE
Cultural norms often confine girls to the home, and a small percentage of rural girls participate in organized sports.
OUR APPROACH
We use football to empower girls by providing equipment, coaching, and safe spaces for play. Through the game, they learn leadership and teamwork, and gain confidence to challenge norms.
IMPACT
1429 Sports Centers | 4,000+ girls in 1 Girl 1 Football 16% participation by girls across Sports Centers
15
IMPACT STORY
“When I joined, I wasn’t good at anything at all,” says Jatinder Singh, laughing. “But I wanted so badly to play, I landed up daily. Coach trained me to be a goalkeeper.” Four years of training and one major injury later, Jatinder has made it to the national selections, but he is still the simple, humble boy who started his journey at a Roundglass Foundation Sports Center. Jatinder Singh Sports Center athlete, Daumajra 16
Sports Centers
Coaching Kids, Shaping Futures
THE CHALLENGE
Children in rural Punjab often grow up without access to sports infrastructure or trained coaching. Without structured opportunities to play, they miss out on the joy, focus, and discipline that sports can bring.
OUR APPROACH
We establish community Sports Centers that foster belonging, resilience, and aspiration. Through football and volleyball training, mentorship, and tournaments, we nurture well-rounded, confident youth.
IMPACT
1429 Sports Centers | 37,319 children participating 700 teams competing in village sports festivals 17
Learn Labs
Building Literacy, Growing Confidence
THE CHALLENGE
In rural Punjab, more than 40% of children in grades 3 to 5 cannot read at grade level. Rote learning continues to dominate classrooms, leaving youth vulnerable to migration pressures.
OUR APPROACH
Learn Labs are dynamic, tech-enabled after-school hubs that make learning engaging and relevant. Through play-based learning, children build problem-solving skills and reading fluency.
IMPACT
592 Learn Labs | 11,987 students 548 Changemakers managing Learn Labs 18
18
IMPACT STORY
“I used to think Englishmedium school kids know a lot more than us,” says Parneet Kaur. Beaming with pride, she continues, “Since I joined the Learn Lab, I think they don’t know anything more than us. I feel really powerful. No one is ahead of us.” Parneet Kaur Learn Lab student, Sangatpur
19
Women’s Equity
Women are regularly participating at our Yoga Centers.
20
Livelihoods
Building Businesses, Breaking Cycles
THE CHALLENGE
Women in villages remain the backbone of communities yet lack access to income and healthcare. Only a small fraction of women (about 15%) are in formal, salaried employment.
OUR APPROACH
We organize women into self-help groups, empowering them through training in financial literacy and enterprise. We also connect them to markets to sell their goods.
IMPACT
18,119 jobs created | 26 self-help groups formed
21
IMPACT STORY
“My husband lost his job during the COVID lockdown, and our family struggled. In my village, there is an unspoken lock on women, and I had never imagined earning myself. Through financial literacy training, I learned about managing money, taking a loan, and finding customers online for my own cosmetics shop. Today, I earn for my family. I know now that no lock is unbreakable.” Kamaljeet Kaur Entrepreneur, Kurali
22
IMPACT STORY
“I have had diabetes for years. I used to have severe pain in my legs and always felt tired. But yoga changed it. I no longer suffer from high sugar. It’s like I am a new person.” Manjeet Kaur Yoga Center member, Khijrabad
23
Yoga Centers
Gathering Women, Restoring Strength
THE CHALLENGE
A large proportion of rural women face chronic health issues, including hypertension, fatigue, and untreated stress, with limited access to healthcare.
OUR APPROACH
We establish safe spaces where village women can prioritize their physical and emotional health, enhancing their overall wellbeing and fostering social connections.
IMPACT
258 Yoga Centers | 4,500 active participants 256 women trained as yoga instructors 24
Changemakers
Local Leaders, Lasting Impact
THE CHALLENGE
Rural development projects often fail after three to five years due to lack of local leadership and ownership.
OUR APPROACH
We build a pipeline of local Changemakers, training community members to first lead initiatives in their own villages. Then they scale this work in other villages, ensuring continuity and accountability on the ground.
IMPACT
Productive employment for youth | Leadership embedded in the village Progress that continues beyond funding
25
IMPACT STORY
“I am an only child. I lost my mother to cancer when she was in her final stage. This opportunity came into my life during my darkest time. My work became my safe haven from grief. From managing one Learn Lab to now leading 20 and opening a Xerox café for my village, I have come a long way. And in my village, people say, ‘If we go to her, we will find a solution.’ ” Jatinder Kaur Changemaker, Learn Labs, Sangatpur
26
27
The Wholistic Village Imagine entering a village where mini forests cool the air and clean streets welcome you, where women gather for morning yoga while children head to football practice and digital lessons, all guided by passionate local Changemakers.
This is a Roundglass Foundation village today: a self-sustaining ecosystem where environment, youth development, and local economy thrive in harmony.
28
Looking Ahead Over the next five years, we will scale this model across Punjab, building self-sustaining villages and reaching millions through integrated systems of environment, livelihoods, and wellbeing.
Get Involved
Help us build a vibrant future for Punjab. Partner with us. foundation@roundglass.com
29
Join the Movement roundglassfoundation.org/punjab
Scan to see our real-time progress.
LO C A L M O D E L S . G LO B A L I M PA C T.
30