निर्माण (Nirman, Sanskrit; English, Creation)
Greetings from the Rainmatter Foundation!
The spaces we build shape how we live, experience the world, and how resilient our communities are to a changing climate. While the construction ecosystem is often seen as a contributor to environmental challenges, it holds the potential to be part of the solution. As we think about our ‘built environment‘ – human made spaces that needs to coexists concsiously and responsibly with the natural environment,’ we seek to question and rethink these practices, advocating for habitats that are systems embedded in and responsive to their ecological and social contexts.
There is a need to reimagine habitats—urban and rural, as living systems that work with, not against, nature. From embedding circular economy principles into materials to fostering community-driven design, the space advocates for habitats that are comfortable, resource-efficient, low-footprint and resilient. This shift requires not just technical solutions but also a shift in mindsets, moving away from extractive, top-down models and towards decentralised, place-based approaches.
Through partnerships, field visits, and conversations, we are learning that many answers lie in reconnecting with local wisdom and the land itself. How can materials beneath our feet—soil, stone, or timber, help us build homes that are both sustainable and rooted in place? What would it mean to place ecological restoration and circularity at the heart of how we build?
We continue to explore these questions with partners across the built environment space, bridging traditional knowledge, emerging technologies, and community-driven solutions.
Updates from the Foundation
Last month, the team attended a two-day workshop on Systems Thinking, facilitated by DESTA Research. The workshop helped us identify patterns, structures, and mindsets shaping real-life issues, validating our belief that climate is an everything problem and solutions cannot be approached in siloes. The sessions left us with more questions than answers—a sign, perhaps, of learning to see complexity with fresh eyes.
The team also went on a two-day offsite at Tamarind Valley Collective in Thaggatti, Tamil Nadu. Nestled amidst hills and rocky outcrops, TVC offered a welcome shift from our usual setting. Newer team members connected through shared meals, long walks, and conversations under the open sky. Siddharth Rao, our conservation biologist, introduced us to the region’s birdlife, including the striking European bee-eater. We couldn’t leave without sampling some freshly plucked tamarind!
Our time at TVC was a quiet reminder to slow down, observe, and be present—practices that feel more urgent than ever in a world rushing past the landscapes we seek to protect.
In the last months, Rainmatter Foundation launched Climate Connect, an inclusive event series designed to create accessible pathways into climate work by fostering conversations, collaborations, and community. We’ve hosted two events so far as part of the series.
The first event, Built for Balance, explored how the construction ecosystem can balance comfort with a low environmental footprint, bringing together around 65 participants from across architecture, materials, and policy spaces.
The second event, Climate Careers AMA, saw 40 participants join a conversation on entering climate jobs. Aastha Bharadwaj from Climate Hires alongside Abhinav Chidella from the Rainmatter team, shared insights on transitioning into climate work through fellowships, volunteering, and alternative entry points—opening up possibilities for those looking to find their way into the climate space.
From the Community
New Partners
Malabar Awareness & Rescue Centre for Wildlife (MARC) joined Rainmatter as a partner last month, working to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in urban landscapes through rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Their community-supported model strengthens local ownership of conservation efforts, making coexistence more sustainable and scalable.
Youth Conservation Action Network (YouCAN) is reimagining how young minds connect with nature. With a vision to place an Earth Educator in every school and learning space in India, they are helping students build a local relationship with the environment and engage in climate action.
Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF) works with communities to transform rural livelihoods by centering local aspirations and positive place ownership. Their ‘Locality Compacts’ approach empowers communities to shape solutions that prioritise both economic opportunities and ecological balance.
Udhyam Learning Foundation is building a platform of service solutions to support vyapaaris (entrepreneurs). This partnership is focused on enabling local enterprise potential and strengthening community-driven economic growth.
Platform Commons (PC) is building digital platforms that foster knowledge-sharing and equitable opportunities for communities and impact-driven businesses. As part of the GRE Consortium, PC contributes to platforms like Manthan and the Green Rural Economy platform, scaling regenerative agriculture solutions across regions.
Partners Updates
Waste Warriors organised a three-day event bringing together 40 warriors—NGOs, community groups, and individuals, from across the Indian Himalayas. The gathering facilitated peer learning, MRF visits, discussions with panchayats, and knowledge-sharing on waste management efforts.
WRI with BBMP organised Namma Raste, a three-day road safety and mobility event in Bengaluru. The event brought together experts, policymakers, and citizens to explore solutions for safer, more sustainable transport.
The Narayani Bioregional Samagam convened over 50 experts for an immersive two-day gathering addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and environmental challenges in Purvanchal (Eastern Uttar Pradesh). The discussions, held under the Bioregional CoE of JECP, explored regional challenges and solutions for a sustainable future.
Pangi, in the Himalayas, is emerging as a model of sustainability through Himalaya Unnati Mission (HUM)’s Model Landscape Development Program. The community-driven model empowers local governance, women-led enterprises, youth entrepreneurship, and cultural preservation through traditional crafts and responsible tourism.
Uttarayan Wildlife’s work was featured in WOCAT and ERA publications as a unique restoration practice. ERA highlights their mission to regenerate barren fallow lands in southern West Bengal, while WOCAT documented their work under “Community-led participatory and self-sustainable land restoration in India.”
Dasra Philanthropy Week (DPW) 2025 brought together leaders, philanthropists, and changemakers to explore collaborative pathways for an equitable and resilient future. Rainmatter Foundation members participated in sessions on place-based solutions, coastal resilience, built environments, and green economy, contributing to conversations on climate, community and collaboration.
Launched at Dasra Philanthropy Week and anchored by Dasra and Socratus, The Climate Narrative Hub bridges hyperlocal voices with broader climate narratives to drive meaningful action. By integrating community-driven storytelling with policy, philanthropy, and sectoral priorities, the Hub fosters an inclusive movement for climate resilience. If you wis to engage with the hub you can reach out to them at [email protected]
Opportunities
OASIS invites NGOs to its Website Development Program, supporting selected organisations to build or revamp websites on Ghost.io — a Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) platform. The program strengthens digital infrastructure with a focus on storytelling, engagement, and sustainability. Interested NGOs can share their problem statements here.
ATREE’s MSc in Environmental Studies (Conservation Practice) is accepting applications for 2025-2026. The programme blends field-based and classroom learning, equipping students with practical skills in conservation. It prepares young environmental leaders for careers in government, NGOs, and sustainability. Last date to apply: April 5, 2025. Apply here.
The All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALTEFF) is accepting submissions for its 2025 edition. The festival showcases stories on environmental issues and action. Filmmakers worldwide can submit films exploring people-planet interconnections. Submit by May 4, 2025. Apply here.
The Jijivisha Fellowship 2025 is a year long Art Education Fellowship calling professionals from every field who believe in the power of arts in classrooms. These fellows will work in classrooms across Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, and Bangalore, using visual art, poetry, storytelling, and theatre to ignite curiosity and imagination in children who rarely get exposure to creative expression.Last date to apply: 13th March, 2025. Apply here
Parting shot
The landscapes we build and inhabit are inseparable from the landscapes we seek to protect. As conversations across the Built Shift space remind us, reimagining our habitats is not just about materials or techniques, it’s about rethinking our relationship with land, resources, and each other. Whether through community-driven restoration efforts, knowledge-sharing platforms, or storytelling that brings unseen voices into the fold, these shifts are already underway.
Thank you for reading and for being part of this journey.
Team Rainmatter Foundation