Newsletter 53 - Reyes visits ADA projects in India (july 2026)

One of the most rewarding aspects of visiting the projects supported by ADA in India is being able to see first-hand how years of sustained work translate into tangible changes in people’s lives.

During this visit, we saw a range of initiatives focused mainly on education, support for women and improving family livelihoods.

One of the projects we visited was a network of informal education tutorials in small villages. These are support classes that children attend before going to government school, where they strengthen their reading, writing and maths skills. The teachers themselves told us about the difference they see between children who attend these tutorials and those who do not have this support: they arrive better prepared, are more focused and find it easier to follow their lessons.

It was particularly lovely to step into the classrooms, watch the children at work and see how, even at a very young age, they were already writing with remarkably good handwriting. In some villages demand is so high that we found classes of nearly forty children. Families themselves want their children to take part because they can see the results.

We also visited projects aimed at supporting women and strengthening family incomes. Through small loans and savings groups, many women have been able to start income-generating activities: buying goats to raise, opening a small shop or investing in other ways of earning a living. We also saw organic farming projects where women learn to make compost and natural fertilisers and then pass this knowledge on to other farmers.

In another area, we learnt about women’s self-help groups. Some have been running for many years, making it possible to see their progress particularly clearly. Women who once had very few resources of their own now save together, can access the formal banking system and small loans and, in many cases, have the documentation they need to work. But the change is not only economic: they have gained greater autonomy, confidence and a stronger role in decision-making.

All of this also has an impact on the next generation. Families are placing increasing importance on the education of both their sons and daughters, and school attendance is now part of a reality that was not always guaranteed in the past.

Behind these advances are many years of work and support. These are not dramatic changes that happen overnight, but small steps which, when sustained over time, gradually transform the opportunities available to individuals and their communities.

This is why we wanted to share this visit with you. Behind every contribution are real people and projects that are able to continue thanks to your support.

Thank you for making it possible.

Reyes Rigo