ZWILLING Foundation India is a Public Charitable Trust founded in 2011. It is an initiative taken by the Werhahn Family in Germany to enable and integrate the differently abled into main stream of life.
The ZWILLING India foundation was registered on February 4th, 2011 and set up a “Training Centre for a better life”. Young Indians with disabilities are helped to learn handicrafts activities such as sewing and leather processing. They earn, sometimes for the first time, their own money, are able to contribute to the family income and get a new professional perspective. These activities are start-up funded by the Werhahn Foundation and are now funded out of the funds of the local companies.
It took quite a few months of preparation, to kick start the program. The premises for the project were occupied from June 16th, 2011 and the training program has taken off from July 1st, 2011.
Objectives of the Foundation
- Skill Development Programs for persons with disabilities
- Inclusion through training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities
- Educational support for children with disabilities (Sponsorship Project > Godchildren Project)
Tax Benefits
ZWILLING Foundation India is registered as a Public Charitable Trust under Section 12AA of The Indian Income Tax Act 1961. Donation to the ZWILLING Foundation India is exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Further ZWILLING Foundation India is licensed by the Ministry of Home, Government of India to receive donations from abroad under the Foreign Contribution Registration Act.
In cooperation with the Werhahn Foundation and the German Centre for Foundations (Deutsches Stiftungszentrum) the Sponsorship Project got declared in 2017 as a permitted funding project of the Werhahn Foundation (by so-called “Auslandsprüfvermerk”). Result: Donations for the Foundation in India are in future tax deductible. As fiscal preconditions have now been created, the Werhahn Foundation would like to extend the Sponsorship Project to relatives and employees of Wilh. Werhahn KG, who are interested in making donations.
ZWILLING Foundation India is further expanding its engagement to people with disabilities at a new location
Seven years ago, ZWILLING launched an exceptional initiative at the Tweezerman manufacturing site in Pondicherry in southern India. In a special training center, young people with disabilities have the opportunity to learn a profession and live an independent life.
In the beginning, 20 young women acquired craftsmanship and business skills in 6 to 12-month courses; over time, increasingly many further candidates have asked to be included. Larger premises need to be built to meet the growing responsibilities. Within one and a half years, the ZWILLING Foundation India has established a completely new site six kilometers away from the production site. Located in the middle of a green belt, the approximately 850 square meter building can accommodate 50 workers. It no longer houses only the training center, but also a production area, an administrative wing, a business center as well as conference and meeting rooms. The building can expand in 3 stages so in the end more than 100 employees can be employed. On June 18, 2018, the new building was inaugurated in a solemn ceremony.
The investment has been financed by donations from ZWILLING and the Werhahn Foundation. Founded specifically for this purpose, the ZWILLING Foundation India is responsible for the organization and management of the numerous local activities. In addition to the training of young Indians, the Foundation is taking care of up to 27 godchildren who suffering from a disability. In addition, learning aids and medical care are available for own initiatives as well as for third-party projects. An engagement at the new location which will be beneficial to even more people in the future.