About Us
We are a grassroots NGO working directly with tea garden communities to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty through an integrated approach to education, livelihoods, and health.
Our Mission
To empower tea garden communities through grassroots interventions in education, livelihood training, and healthcare access — ensuring that those who brew India's tea enjoy a life of dignity and opportunity.
Our Vision
A thriving tea garden community where every family has access to quality education, sustainable livelihoods, and dignified healthcare.
Our Core Values
- Dignity First — We engage with respect, never charity.
- Community-Led — We listen first, design second.
- Transparency — Every rupee accounted for, every outcome shared.
- Sustainability — We build systems, not dependencies.
- Equity — Gender, caste, and ability inclusion in all programs.
Why Tea Garden Communities?
India's tea garden workers — 4+ million people — are among the most marginalized communities in the country
Despite producing one of the world's most beloved beverages, tea garden workers face systemic deprivation:
- ₹176–250/day — average daily wage, well below living wage
- 40%+ children drop out by Class 8, many enter child labour
- 70% women are anaemic; chronic malnutrition affects half of all children
- No land rights, no alternate livelihoods, trapped in debt cycles
- Limited access to government schemes, healthcare, and quality education
The tea garden community has been invisible for too long. We are here to change that — one family, one garden, one opportunity at a time.
See Our ImpactOur Story
Olive Hope Foundation was founded in 2024 by a group of development professionals, local community leaders, and academics who recognised that tea garden communities — despite working tirelessly for India's tea industry — had been systematically excluded from the country's development story.
We started with a simple premise: listen to the community first, design solutions with them, and build trust through delivery. Our first year was spent entirely in one garden — Doom Dooma in Tinsukia, Assam — conducting door-to-door surveys, building relationships, and understanding the real needs of families.
Today, we work with 500+ families across two gardens, running integrated programs in education, livelihoods, health, and rights. Our team of 8 full-time staff and 20+ volunteers is led by community members themselves.
Our Team
Dedicated professionals, many from tea garden communities, working together for lasting change
Lakshmi Devi
Executive Director
15+ years in community development, formerly with Tata Trusts
Rajen Boro
Program Manager
Former tea garden teacher, passionate about education
Priya Paul
Finance Officer
CA with 8 years of NGO financial management
Mamoni Das
Community Mobilizer
Lifelong garden resident, SHG leader, community anchor
Deepak Tanti
Community Mobilizer
Youth leader, digital literacy trainer
Dr. Rima Sarma
Health Advisor
MBBS, MPH — leads our health camp strategy
Amit Shah
Volunteer Coordinator
Manages 20+ volunteers, leads fundraising events
Anjali Kalita
M&E Officer
Data analyst tracking all programs and outcomes
Governance & Transparency
We believe in complete transparency — every decision, every rupee, every outcome is documented and shared
Our Board of Directors comprises 7 members from diverse backgrounds — social work, law, finance, public health, and tea garden community representation.
The board meets quarterly to review progress, approve budgets, and set strategic direction. All board members serve pro-bono, and no board member is related to any staff member.
- Registered under: Societies Registration Act, 1860
- Registration No: RS/TSK/2024/0042
- 12A & 80G: Certified by Income Tax Department
- FCRA: Applied (awaiting registration)
- Annual Audit: Conducted by Sharma & Associates, Chartered Accountants
Our Partners & Supporters
We are grateful for the trust and support of organisations that share our vision
Want to partner with us? We'd love to hear from you.
Become a Partner