Our Story
A key project of Active Canvas Foundation, the Wonder Woman Program was established in 2022, starting with a team of just two and growing to five. We’ve reached out to 400+ CCIs for candidates and received 100+ applications for each of our three cohorts so far. Together, we are building a future where every girl from CCI background has the freedom to dream, the support to grow, and the strength to lead.
Our Mission
The Wonder Woman Program (WWP) enables young women transitioning out of institutional care to build independent, dignified, and self-directed lives through long-term education, mentorship, and community support.
Our Vision
A world where every young woman is empowered to live independently with confidence, purpose and dignity.
Founder’s Note
“Potential is universal. Opportunity is not. The Wonder Woman Program exists to bridge that gap.”
— Raksha Sriram, Founder, Active Canvas Foundation
The Wonder Woman Program was founded on a simple belief: every young woman deserves the opportunity to build a life of independence, dignity and purpose. While talent, determination and ambition are found everywhere, access to opportunity is not. For many young women transitioning out of childcare institutions, adulthood begins without the guidance, networks and support systems that many of us take for granted. At one of the most defining stages of life, they are expected to navigate higher education, careers, financial independence and life’s many decisions on their own.
The Wonder Woman Program exists to change that. By supporting young women during the critical years between eighteen and twenty-three, we provide more than financial assistance—we create an ecosystem of opportunity through higher education, safe housing, life skills, career readiness and long-term mentorship. Our vision is to ensure that no young woman has to build her future alone, and that every young woman has the confidence, support and opportunities she needs to thrive and realise her full potential.
The Problem We are Solving
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Beyond 18: Leaving Child Care Institutions — A Study of Aftercare Practices in Five States of India
Udayan Care, Aug 2019
Beyond 18: Leaving Child Care Institutions (Udayan Care, 2019) is a landmark study examining the challenges Indian care leavers face when transitioning to independent adulthood by Udayan Care with support from UNICEF India and Tata Trusts. This research involved the participation of care leavers, government functionaries, duty-bearers, and civil society practitioners. The report highlights critical systemic gaps in Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan in housing, education, and employment, offering a blueprint for enhanced aftercare policies to prevent poverty and social isolation.
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Support for Youth Leaving Care: A National research Study, India
International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies (IJCYFS), 2020
This paper is a condensed version of a study entitled “Beyond 18: Leaving Child Care Institutions — A Study of Aftercare Practices in Five States of India”, conducted and published in 2019 by Udayan Care. Upon turning 18, youth transitioning out of child care institutions to independent life in India experience many challenges, such as securing housing and identity documents; accessing education, skill development, and employment opportunities; and garnering psychosocial support. This study also showed that absent or inadequate aftercare support during transition increases care leavers’ vulnerabilities to homelessness, unemployment, substance misuse, and ruptured social relationships.
