Women Led economic Inclusion

Made by Women, Sold by Women

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when livelihoods vanished, ZEP Foundation launched India’s first designer wellness mask initiative. This initiative:

• Trained over 5,000 tribal and rural women
• Used herbal fabrics, natural dyes, and protective aesthetics
• Exported designer masks to global markets including USA, UAE, and Europe

Beyond income, this became a model for wellness entrepreneurship—demonstrating how wellness skills can create global opportunities even from remote regions.

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Adhvada Bazaar – India’s First Women-Led Wellness Marketplace

To sustain women’s visibility in the wellness economy, ZEP introduced Adhvada Bazaar—a curated platform promoting herbal compress kits, spa accessories, handcrafted wellness goods, and daily-use wellness items. All products are:

• Crafted by rural women, trained under ZEP’s skilling modules
• Rooted in traditional Indian knowledge systems
• Packaged for modern, ethical, and conscious consumers

This platform has helped hundreds of women transition from “helpers” to entrepreneurs and from “recipients” to creators of value in the wellness ecosystem.

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Nari Samman Kendras & Shivalayas

ZEP Foundation also established Nari Samman Kendras—safe, dignified wellness and learning spaces for women in rural areas. These centers provide:

• Menstrual health awareness
• Mental health support
• Professional training in maternal and beauty wellness
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In parallel, Shivalayas (skill temples) were introduced—sanctuaries where women received sewing machines and training to manufacture massage kits, body wraps, and spa linen used in the hospitality industry.

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Through these initiatives, ZEP Foundation has enabled thousands of women to:

ZEP Foundation also established Nari Samman Kendras—safe, dignified wellness and learning spaces for women in rural areas. These centers provide:

• Gain income
• Reclaim social standing
• Contribute meaningfully to India’s growing wellness economy.