Our research has consistently pointed to three areas in disadvantaged individuals' development that could potentially influence the trajectory of their lives. Over the years we have focussed on these areas.

Early Childhood

Our Stimulation Intervention Programme (SIP), work focuses on the young child and aims at preparing the child to enter school by developing the child's cognitive skills. 

Language, Literacy and Learning

Research by different agencies from different parts of India has shown that although a large percentage of children are now enrolled in schools, their learning continues to be weak.  Of particular concern is that large numbers of children fail to learn to read with comprehension.  Our Programmes for Assisted Learning (PAL) focuses on this widespread need.  PAL is for children between the age of 6 and 9 years who are in primary school or out-of-school.  PAL is based on the understanding that reading (literacy) skills are the foundation for further learning.  Therefore, the main focus in PAL is to promote the skill of reading.  The PAL curriculum focuses both on helping the child learn to read in his/her home language (e.g., Kannada) as well as English.  

Career and Livelihood Planning

This aspect of the Foundation’s work focuses on the career and livelihood planning needs of high school students from poor homes.  The tendency amongst poor families is to send the child to work, before they acquire a work skill.  While there may be some short term gains in the form of wages, in the long run these youth remain at the unskilled level and are not able to rise very high in their career development.

We have developed three difference interventions that address this critical need of the young, economically disadvantaged adolescent. 

Work Awareness and You (WAY) is a career guidance and livelihood planning programme that is designed to help high school students from disadvantaged homes to identify their interests and potentials, understand the world of work, develop suitable career alternatives and make a career plan. 

Self-Efficacy Training (SET) focuses on the  large number of students from economically disadvantaged homes, who fail high school.  As a result, these young people enter the world of work as unskilled labourers and remain caught up in the vicious cycle of poverty.  SET attempts to reach young people who are at highest risk for unemployment and associated behavioural and psychological difficulties.  SET focuses on developing skill literacy.

Jiva is an extension of WAY adn brings in wider elements related to career develpoment such as livelihood planning in rural contexts, parent education for the career development of their children and training programmes to build capacity for the delivery of career guidance services.

The recent past has seen the focus return to that great enigma, the human individual.  Modern behavioural sciences, describe fascinating avenues for greater human achievements in a multitude of areas.  Yet, these resources are not available to the largest sections of our populations, the poor.

The Promise Foundation's vision is to use the latest findings from the Behavioural Sciences for the realisation of personal potentials amongst children and youth from disadvantaged homes.