OUR WORK

Over a decade, since its inception in 2013, The I Love Foundation has worked with community alliances and has spearheaded 60+ community projects.

The I Love Foundation (TILF) was founded to unite Jaisalmer's communities, encouraging their active involvement in rejuvenating the city's tourism sector and fostering a sense of ownership over their urban environment, given that 70% of the city's economy relies on tourism. TILF's diverse initiatives range from enhancing tourism prospects and preserving cultural heritage to providing healthcare, advancing education, ensuring ecological sustainability, and empowering local communities, reflecting its commitment to Jaisalmer's development. Through TILF's efforts, the communities have collaboratively taken charge of their city's future, working together to create a more thriving and appealing urban landscape.
Revitalising Jaisalmer - 2013
Founded in 2013, the I Love Foundation's most active unit, I Love Jaisalmer, spearheaded a transformative initiative involving over 5000 locals to conduct a comprehensive cleanliness drive at Jaisalmer Fort. This effort resulted in the restoration of 450,000 square feet of sloped area and 180,000 square feet of ramparts within six weeks, effectively revitalising 80% of the fort's streets and communal spaces, showcasing a commendable commitment to heritage preservation and community engagement.
Empowering Women Artisans Through Innovation - 2013
Launched in 2013, TILF's ongoing initiative harmonises local arts and crafts with contemporary markets, fostering job opportunities for rural women through projects like crafting homeware and traditional handicrafts programs; with the latest cohort of 30 women trained in 2023, the initiative consistently combines cultural heritage and entrepreneurial skills to drive economic empowerment.
Elevating Jaisalmer's Landscape and Community - 2018
The plantation initiative was launched to safeguard the catchment area of Gadisagar, Jaisalmer's largest manmade lake and a popular tourist spot, through collaborations with BSF, Airforce, Police dept, local communities, and students, involving 900 volunteers planting 1,400 indigenous plants around the lake, and later expanding to the city by planting 2,500 trees in 2017.
Fostering Responsible Tourism - 2018
The 'Jaisalmera' initiative, launched in 2018, fosters belongingness and responsible tourism among Jaisalmer students, sensitising them to conservation, cleanliness, and sustainability, with active engagement in waste management, carbon reduction, heritage preservation, involving around 1400 students from 22 schools who volunteered for subsequent campaigns by TILF.
Nurturing Artistic Expression - 2019
TILF launched "Paint Your Dreams," an annual art and culture program in Jaisalmer's government schools, held every year on August 15th and January 26th, enabling rural children to creatively express aspirations and joys during special occasions.
Bridging Educational Gaps for Underprivileged Girls - 2020
Established in 2018, the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School by CIITA foundation in Jaisalmer addresses gender-based educational gaps, providing underprivileged girls with facilities like classrooms, a library, and transportation; starting with 150 students and expanding to 400, it offers education up to Class 10 along with mid-day meals to ease family financial burdens. The initiative was supported by The I Love Foundation founding members.
Revitalising Rural Health Centre - 2020
Amidst the Covid pandemic, TILF led a community-driven effort to revitalise the non-operational Government Health Centre Lodhruva, 15 km from Jaisalmer city, involving a dedicated team of volunteers who accomplished cleanliness, repairs, infrastructure provision, and plantations over four days, benefiting a population of 1488 across multiple villages. An initiative which laid down the stepping stones for the communities to take charge of their local healthcare systems.
Cultural Tourism Transformation - 2021
The following year, TILF began endorsing the Jaisalmer Desert Festival to boost local tourism, and the standout feature became the 'Dine with Jaisalmer' initiative, connecting tourists with locals for an authentic cultural immersion, starting with collaboration with local families to attract visitors to the area.
Reviving Tourism Amidst Adversity - 2021
Amidst the cancellation of the Desert Festival and a 69% tourism decline due to COVID-19, TILF pioneered India's first Citizen-Airline Partnership, uniting Jaisalmer's citizens and District Administration with SpiceJet to sustain flight operations, resulting in a successful flight restart, over 80% load factor, and a 241% tourism increase in Q4 compared to Q3 of 2020-21.
Community Revitalization During Pandemic - 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, TILF swiftly distributed oxygen concentrators and cylinders, extending aid to over 530 villages and 50 health centres across Jaisalmer District within 30 days through their 'Jaisalmer Fights Covid' initiative, also procuring and allocating oxygen cylinders and providing essential support, including ration kits, to 21 remote villages in need.
Cultivating Scientific Curiosity and experiential learning - 2021
In collaboration with IIT Jodhpur's Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, TILF received the 2nd IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant for its 'Seeing the Unseen - The Microbial Community' workshop series engaging 350 students in Rajasthan, fostering scientific curiosity about microbes and bringing experiential science education to rural communities; the 3rd IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant was also awarded to TILF for promoting innovative science outreach initiatives, and fostering scientific curiosity among students beyond laboratory settings.
Empowering Girl Education - 2022
TILF's "Scholarship Program for Meritorious Girls" offers higher education scholarships to Government Girls colleges in Jaisalmer, empowering rural girls, alongside apprenticeship and skill development initiatives, smart classrooms, and infrastructure enhancements to foster comprehensive educational growth.
Providing Clean Drinking Water - 2022
To address clean drinking water challenges in government schools, water purifiers and rain water harvesting systems were set up, positively impacting 2658 students in 22 villages.
Dhun x TILF - 2022
TILF's strategic partnership with Dhun, as it extends into Jaipur, represents a sequence of pioneering endeavours. Dhun, a visionary concept, envisions a 500-acre suburban neighbourhood in Jaipur that seamlessly incorporates working, learning, and leisure areas, with a focus on local ecology, community, individual well-being, and sustainable systems.
Makerspace Program- Self Directed Learning - 2022
Furthermore, The Nook, led by Dhun Jaipur and supported by TILF, is ushering in an educational revolution in Madhorajpura Tehsil, Jaipur. This initiative, based on the concept of Project Defy, is cultivating self-directed learning and problem-solving abilities through practical projects, resulting in empowerment and a constructive transformation of the community's educational paradigm.

The I Love Foundation's journey from 2013 to 2023 is a testament to its unwavering commitment to fostering holistic development, empowering marginalised communities, and preserving cultural heritage in Rajasthan and beyond. Through a diverse array of initiatives, TILF has managed to make a tangible and lasting difference in various aspects of life, leaving a positive footprint on both the landscape and the hearts of the people it serves.
Preserving South Asia's Artistic Heritage - 2022
Among these initiatives, the Art and Design Digital Archive (ADDA) is a collaboration between Asian Heritage Foundation (AHF) and Dhun, Jaipur, aiming to digitally preserve South Asia's rich heritage of artworks and crafts, promoting cultural understanding.
Water Resilience, Sustainable Irrigation Solutions - 2023
Furthermore, in a bid to address irrigation needs sustainably, TILF and Dhun have jointly constructed 35 farm ponds across 5 villages in the semi-arid farmlands of suburban Jaipur, Rajasthan. This effort has had a substantial impact, benefiting over 180 people (35 families), more than 225 livestock, and covering a total of 281 acres of farmland.

more initiatives

VIEW MORE