Our story began in 2002, when we started working with young people from the Khan Market Labour Camp using non-formal, creative education approaches. With no formal space of our own, we gathered in a public park—now a parking lot—and began building programmes rooted in creativity, play, and community. Early initiatives such as the Goal of Life Football Tournament, the Hilley-ley creative theatre festival, and our alternative education programme, Indradhanush, reflected our belief in the power of arts-led learning to support the holistic development of young people.

Over the next two decades, we remained deeply rooted in the communities we serve while growing in reach and impact. In 2009, the demolition of the Khan Market Labour Camp ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games led to the relocation of residents to the Savda-Ghevra J.J. Resettlement Colony. Standing alongside young people and their families through this transition, we continued our work and, in 2011, established a field office in Ghevra in response to participants’ needs and aspirations.

As The Kutumb Foundation completed 20 years of its journey, our programmes have continued to evolve while staying aligned with our mission and vision. Goal of Life expanded from an annual football tournament into twice-weekly football and life skills sessions across Delhi. Indradhanush became integrated with the Qissagadh Active Library programme launched in 2014, strengthening literacy, storytelling, and access to creative learning spaces. In 2018, we extended our Drama-in-Education school interventions and sports-for-development work to Noida, and since 2020, we have been conducting cultural programming to celebrate creativity, identity, and community leadership.

Today, after over 20 years of sustained engagement, The Kutumb Foundation continues to create inclusive, joyful, and empowering spaces where young people can develop confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging—remaining firmly committed to our vision of community transformation driven by empowered youth. Our peer leaders go on to contribute and lead in their communities. Our students have gone on to work as drama educators in government schools, as actors, as storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, photographers, graphic designers, entrepreneurs, coaches, and members of improv troupes. Our students bring this spirit of creative critical thinking to everything they do, and in the process, help change their communities for the better.