Aikyam Foundation, established in 2024 by Manisha Dhawan, is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to strategically funding and incubating projects in areas that are both underserved and personally significant to Founder Manisha. Aikyam's mission is to support transformative initiatives in mental health and heritage conservation, two sectors that hold immense potential to impact India's future.
Aikyam’s goal is to create a lasting impact through projects that not only address immediate needs but also contribute to systemic change. The Foundation emphasises on building sustainable ecosystems, influencing policy, and fostering collaboration between key stakeholders in these areas.
The name ‘Aikyam’ signifies oneness, unity and identity. These values are core to Aikyam Foundation’s philosophy - of bringing together diverse voices and unique perspectives to work towards shared goals.
Aikyam reflects the belief that meaningful impact arises when individuals, organisations, and communities unite with a collective sense of purpose. This principle of unity and collaboration drives the Foundation's work to support transformative initiatives in India, beginning with mental health and heritage conservation — two areas deeply important to our founder and closely aligned with our vision of creating sustainable change.
Focus Areas
Mental Health
Aikyam Foundation is committed to addressing mental health challenges across India, with a focus on young adults (ages 11-25) and preventive mental health interventions. The Foundation prioritises resilience-building and early-stage interventions to promote mental well-being and prevent the escalation of mental health issues. Aikyam's broader mission is to provide systemic solutions to mental health challenges affecting individuals and communities across the country.
Heritage Conservation and Restoration
Aikyam seeks to unlock the full potential of India’s rich cultural heritage through conservation and restoration efforts. The Foundation’s focus is not just on preserving historical sites but also on creating pathways for economic development through heritage tourism and community engagement.
Ongoing
Initiatives
Founding Strategic Partner of the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA)
Aikyam Foundation serves as a founding strategic partner of the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), a coalition founded by Vasvi and Ashish Bharatram, aimed at addressing the mental health crisis in India at a national level. Through IMHA, Aikyam supports research, policy advocacy, and best practices that create a robust framework for mental health interventions. As a founding partner, Aikyam plays a role in shaping the vision and strategy of the Alliance, with a long-term focus on systemic mental health solutions.
Mental Health in Higher Education
In partnership with Ashoka University, Aikyam is co-leading an initiative to address the mental health needs of students in higher education. The initiative begins with a comprehensive survey of these institutions, generating a ‘State of the Sector’ report to identify gaps in current mental health support systems. Aikyam will develop a toolkit of resources for universities, offering guidelines on establishing well-being centres, training faculty, and creating peer support networks. The project will culminate in an annual convening of key stakeholders to promote collaboration and the dissemination of best practices, ensuring these wellness centres can sustainably support student mental health.
Heritage Conservation Collaborative
Aikyam is spearheading the creation of a Heritage Conservation Collaborative, an initiative designed to establish a field-building intermediary for heritage conservation in India. The Collaborative will bring together key players from the private, public, and civil society sectors to create a sustainable framework for heritage preservation. The initiative includes conducting a landscaping study to map the current heritage conservation ecosystem, producing a public report to guide future interventions, and advocating for policy reform that integrates heritage conservation with local economic development with tourism. The Collaborative aims to unlock funding, build capacity, and foster community engagement around heritage sites across the country.
Manisha Dhawan is the Founder of Aikyam Foundation and an Advisory Board Member of The Convergence Foundation (TCF), which works towards accelerating India’s economic growth and development. At TCF, she champions the causes of women’s empowerment and strategic philanthropic giving.
Manisha serves on the Advisory Board of The Udaiti Foundation, supporting initiatives that work on women’s economic empowerment. and as a Core Founder of Accelerate Indian Philanthropy where she advocates for strategic philanthropic giving in India’s high net worth community.
Manisha is also a board member of the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), where she champions systemic solutions for mental health challenges across India.
Manisha holds a B.A/ M.A in Philosophy from Lady Shri Ram College and an M.Phil. from Delhi University. She is passionate about history and wants to see India as the leading cultural contributor to the world in her lifetime. She lives in New Delhi and has three children - Ayla, Anya and Armaan.
Manisha Dhawan
Founder, Aikyam Foundation