The Naz Foundation (India) Trust

The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, (Naz) established in 1994, started with work addressing issues of HIV and AIDS and sexuality. Over the years, Naz has conducted thousands of sessions to help CBOs and individuals understand sexuality and mainstream HIV. Naz has worked to strengthen the care and support services provided to People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) as well as counselling and referral for the LGBTQI+ community. In 2001, Naz has set up one of the first homes for orphaned Children Living with HIV in Delhi. The Naz Care Home provides care to 19 children living with HIV. This Centre serves as a Model Care Centre and provides training to other Child Care Institutions across the country building their capacities to Care for children living with HIV and AIDS.

The years of intense HIV prevention work brought out that Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) were among the most vulnerable members to be infected with HIV. To realize a just and equal society, it was critical to engage with AGYW. With this objective, in 2006 Naz piloted a Women’s Empowerment program using sport and life skills to empower adolescent girls from economically marginalized communities. Over the last 14 years, Naz has reached out to more than 110,000 Adolescent Girls and Young Women and implements the Young People’s Initiative (YPI) in 3 cities: Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru and through implementing partners.

Advocacy is critical to Naz's work. Naz has challenged the archaic Law under the Indian Penal Code under Sec 377 which criminalized homosexuality. Naz conducts awareness sessions on LGBTQI+ issues and workshops with individuals and companies sensitizing them on understanding sexuality, diversity and need for an inclusive environment.

Naz has been certified among “Great Place to Work with” by Great Place to Work® Institute. This recognition is a testament of the organization’s high-trust, high-performance work culture.