About Uddami

Home
About

Our Story

Uddami India Foundation (UIF) is a non-profit educational organization located at Prince Anwar Shah Road in South Kolkata.

Uddami began informal computer training in 1999 with the initiative of the American couple Alison and Bryan who started Basic Computer Training with a simple but powerful mission: to empower underprivileged youth through practical skills for sustainable livelihoods.

In 2005, its graduates formed Uddami India Foundation (UIF) to carry this vision forward. UIF’s flagship program, UCTC, continues to offer free computer access and job-oriented training to youth and women from low-income communities. Over the years, UIF’s work has grown to include feminine health, gender equality, and mental well-being.

With a focus on education, empowerment, and economic independence, UIF remains committed to building a brighter future for young women and men in our society.

Our Mission

Empowering the disadvantaged for sustainable livelihoods.

Donate Now

Years of
Experience

Uddami India Foundation Journey

In 2005, Uddami began its formal journey of Tech Literacy with 4 desktop computers and 8 students from the marginalized community.
Same year, the project set up a library with 127 English books and 34 Bengali books to be used by students and weekly free spoken English classes taught by Alison, the founder of Uddami.
Between 2007 to 2009, Uddami got into workforce development and partnered with organizations including Sanlaap, Sikshamitra, Tomorrow’s Foundation, among others, to develop their own computer programmes based on Uddami’s model and engaged Uddami graduates as teachers.
Uddami furthered the Tech Literacy journey for students with hearing impairment for a couple of years and deaf volunteers Michelle Sherbondy, Paula Clark and Michael Pachuilo from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. helped in this initiative.
Professional training in software testing techniques and PHP were conducted for selected candidates by volunteers.
In 2009, Uddami became a CISCO Networking Academy partner for IT Essential – Hardware and Software course.
By the end of 2010, Uddami updated their infrastructure to a fully equipped centre with 9 computer stations and 48 students per year in basic Tech Literacy course.

In 2010, Uddami hosted Global Reachout Initiative which is a group of young American deaf people who work to empower the deaf in developing countries. A 10-day workshop was held with young deaf people in Kolkata. In 2015, A curriculum were was developed for deaf students.
Uddami continued with CISCO IT Essential course and Google Adwords in the IT course.
Uddami continued to have volunteers from abroad for communicative English both online and offline.
In 2014, Uddami initiated a Life Skills class along with Tech Literacy and Communicative English, as part of Employability enhancement.

Uddami expanded into the field of Feminine Health Management in partnership with UNICHARM.
A new partnership was launched with Kolkata-based Smile Foundation in the field of medical-related skills training.
The grant partnership with U.S.-based Shadhika Foundation helped in expanding the Spoken English and Life Skills classes.Shadhika also supported Uddami with college scholarships.
Two new vocational courses introduced: Professional Accounting and GDA.
Uddami registered with Rotary Community Corp and started working in the field of health, water and sanitation, women’s empowerment, and ability-focused assistance and education.
A new field office was set up at South 24 Parganas.
Uddami provided extensive resources among staff, students and the local community during Covid–19 and well into 2021.

Uddami formed a partnership with U.S.-based Her Future Coalition and expanded in North Kolkata with a new office at Sovabazar.
More new partnership were created with Asha for Education (Cornell University chapter in New York) in 2021, IBPS(Integrated Biopharma and Pharma Solution) in 2022 and Spain-based ASHA(Asociacion Solidaria y Humanitaria de Accion para el Desarrollo) in 2023.
In 2021, Uddami launched its Gender Resource Centre geared towards capacity building, women’s empowerment and counselling support and produced two 2 publications – “Nari o Kanya Shishu Adhikar Aain” & and “Ritukalin Swastha”.
Uddami Youth Space was launched in 2022 for job linkage support and nurturing creativity of in youth.
Since 2023 Uddami has been celebrating Durga Puja with marginalized children, senior citizens and children with special needs, in collaboration with Berger Paints and 90 minutes & more.
In 2023, Uddami was honored by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata in implementing a 3-month “Power to Empower” project to encourage women’s entrepreneurship.
Uddami is maintaining a collaboration with 15 colleges of in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas as a Resource Organization for their students.
In both 2022 and 2023, Uddami received 1st Prize for “Project Implementation at Field Level” by Rotary Club (RID 3291).
In 2024, Uddami inaugurated a Digital Marketing course as part of Employability Skills training programmes.

In 2005, Uddami began its formal journey of Tech Literacy with 4 desktop computers and 8 students from the marginalized community.
Same year, the project set up a library with 127 English books and 34 Bengali books to be used by students and weekly free spoken English classes taught by Alison, the founder of Uddami.
Between 2007 to 2009, Uddami got into workforce development and partnered with organizations including Sanlaap, Sikshamitra, Tomorrow’s Foundation, among others, to develop their own computer programmes based on Uddami’s model and engaged Uddami graduates as teachers.
Uddami furthered the Tech Literacy journey for students with hearing impairment for a couple of years and deaf volunteers Michelle Sherbondy, Paula Clark and Michael Pachuilo from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. helped in this initiative.
Professional training in software testing techniques and PHP were conducted for selected candidates by volunteers.
In 2009, Uddami became a CISCO Networking Academy partner for IT Essential – Hardware and Software course.
By the end of 2010, Uddami updated their infrastructure to a fully equipped centre with 9 computer stations and 48 students per year in basic Tech Literacy course.

In 2010, Uddami hosted Global Reachout Initiative which is a group of young American deaf people who work to empower the deaf in developing countries. A 10-day workshop was held with young deaf people in Kolkata. In 2015, A curriculum were was developed for deaf students.
Uddami continued with CISCO IT Essential course and Google Adwords in the IT course.
Uddami continued to have volunteers from abroad for communicative English both online and offline.
In 2014, Uddami initiated a Life Skills class along with Tech Literacy and Communicative English, as part of Employability enhancement.

Uddami expanded into the field of Feminine Health Management in partnership with UNICHARM.
A new partnership was launched with Kolkata-based Smile Foundation in the field of medical-related skills training.
The grant partnership with U.S.-based Shadhika Foundation helped in expanding the Spoken English and Life Skills classes.Shadhika also supported Uddami with college scholarships.
Two new vocational courses introduced: Professional Accounting and GDA.
Uddami registered with Rotary Community Corp and started working in the field of health, water and sanitation, women’s empowerment, and ability-focused assistance and education.
A new field office was set up at South 24 Parganas.
Uddami provided extensive resources among staff, students and the local community during Covid–19 and well into 2021.

Uddami formed a partnership with U.S.-based Her Future Coalition and expanded in North Kolkata with a new office at Sovabazar.
More new partnership were created with Asha for Education (Cornell University chapter in New York) in 2021, IBPS(Integrated Biopharma and Pharma Solution) in 2022 and Spain-based ASHA(Asociacion Solidaria y Humanitaria de Accion para el Desarrollo) in 2023.
In 2021, Uddami launched its Gender Resource Centre geared towards capacity building, women’s empowerment and counselling support and produced two 2 publications – “Nari o Kanya Shishu Adhikar Aain” & and “Ritukalin Swastha”.
Uddami Youth Space was launched in 2022 for job linkage support and nurturing creativity of in youth.
Since 2023 Uddami has been celebrating Durga Puja with marginalized children, senior citizens and children with special needs, in collaboration with Berger Paints and 90 minutes & more.
In 2023, Uddami was honored by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata in implementing a 3-month “Power to Empower” project to encourage women’s entrepreneurship.
Uddami is maintaining a collaboration with 15 colleges of in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas as a Resource Organization for their students.
In both 2022 and 2023, Uddami received 1st Prize for “Project Implementation at Field Level” by Rotary Club (RID 3291).
In 2024, Uddami inaugurated a Digital Marketing course as part of Employability Skills training programmes.

Uddami Team

Harshamanjari Nanda

Executive Director

Harshamanjari Nanda is one of the Founder Trustees of Uddami India Foundation. She has been working in the social work sector for more than 14 years and has been UIF Executive Director since 2019.

Her career specialization has been Women Welfare and Development and she has worked with the West Bengal State Government on issues of Domestic Violence. She has also worked with CHILDLINE India Foundation in the states of Jharkhand and Andaman and Nicobar Island for over 6 years as state head for the largest Child Protection network in India.