In development
Y.E.S. Artisan Lab & Unmukt
Craft training for women, and an artisan-led brand that turns their skill into paid work.
Self-reliance, not dependence · Registered charitable trust since 2021
A registered charitable trust in Kolkata helping women and youth learn skills and earn with dignity
You Empower Society (Y.E.S.) is a registered public charitable trust in West Bengal, based in Budge Budge on the southern edge of Kolkata. We create opportunities for women and young people in South 24 Parganas through skills training, livelihoods, education and community support.
Registered trust since 202180G approved (provisional)CSR-1 registered
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Special Jury Award, 2025
Association of Muslim Professionals
Association of Muslim Professionals
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Registered TrustReg. IV-1603-00247/2021
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12A & 80GProvisional, AY 2026-29
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NGO DarpanWB/2024/0422296
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CSR-1CSR00115474
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Secure givingRazorpay · UPI · Cards
Our current priority
Help us start the first Y.E.S. Artisan Lab cohort
In development · funding required
The Y.E.S. Artisan Lab in Budge Budge will train women in jewellery making and fabric accessories, then pay them for the products they make. The first cohort is being identified now.
- 10 trainees, aged 18 to 60
- 6 to 12 months of hands-on training, six days a week
- A training stipend, planned as funding allows
- Piece-rate pay with a guaranteed minimum income once production starts
Our model
From learning to earning
This is the model we are building, so support becomes a livelihood a woman owns.
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Learn
Structured, hands-on training in jewellery making and fabric accessories at the Y.E.S. Artisan Lab.
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Make
Trained artisans make products for Unmukt by Y.E.S.: jewellery, tote bags, pouches, organisers and more.
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Earn
Products reach buyers through exhibitions, partners and online, and the women are paid fairly for their work.
Photo of Sabiha Hamid
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Who leads Y.E.S.
As Chairperson, she continues to champion a vision of empowerment that is rooted in human connection and collective action. A natural mentor and a beacon of encouragement to women and men alike, Sabiha reminds us that change does not always begin with grand resources or extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes, it begins with one person, a little conviction, and the courage to believe that things can be different.
Sabiha HamidChairperson, You Empower Society · Meet the full team
What we do
Our work in South 24 Parganas and Kolkata
Some of our work is already done, some is being built. We label each one honestly.
Planned
Darzi by Y.E.S.
Tailoring and apparel production that connects traditional skills with contemporary design.
Ongoing as funds allow
Education & youth
Help with fees and learning tools for students, and a planned Youth and Community Centre.
Since 2021
Community support
Rations, medicines, blankets and essential supplies for families going through hard times.
As resources permit
Healthcare assistance
We review requests from people facing medical difficulties and help them reach essential care.
2025
Recognised for our work
Special Jury Award from the Association of Muslim Professionals at its national convention in Lucknow.
Our impact
Making a Difference, One Life at a Time
At You Empower Society (Y.E.S.), we believe that meaningful change begins with responding to people's needs and creating opportunities for a better future.
Since its early days, Y.E.S. has worked to support underserved communities through essential relief, healthcare assistance, education, and livelihood development. Our work has evolved alongside the needs of the communities we serve, from immediate relief efforts to longer-term initiatives focused on skills, independence, and dignity.
Our impact is reflected not only in the assistance we provide, but also in the relationships we build and the opportunities we help create.
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Food and Essential Support
We have supported community members facing hardship through food assistance and the distribution of essential supplies.
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Healthcare Assistance
We have helped individuals facing medical difficulties by reviewing requests for assistance and supporting access to essential healthcare where resources permit.
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Community Relief
Our earlier community initiatives have included the distribution of blankets and other essential items to people in need.
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Education and Livelihoods
We are developing programmes that connect education, practical skills, and livelihood opportunities, with a particular focus on women and young people.
Our journey
From a few volunteers to a registered trust
Y.E.S. began with a handful of people distributing rations and medicines. Every step below comes from our registration documents and records.
- April 2021Ramadan ration kits for families in need, one of our first organised drives.
- 15 Sep 2021Registered as a public charitable trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (Reg. IV-1603-00247/2021).
- Winter 2022Blanket distribution for villagers in the cold.
- Aug 2024Listed on NGO Darpan, the Government of India's NGO portal (WB/2024/0422296).
- Feb 2025Provisional registration under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act.
- Aug 2025Provisional approval under Section 80G, so donors can claim a tax deduction.
- 2025Special Jury Award from the Association of Muslim Professionals, Lucknow.
- March 2026Ration distribution for families in South 24 Parganas.
- Aug 2026Registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to receive CSR funds (CSR-1 CSR00115474).
- NowPreparing the first Y.E.S. Artisan Lab cohort in Budge Budge.
Detailed historical figures are not currently available for publication. We are working to strengthen our documentation and impact reporting.
Give with purpose
What your gift pays for
Every rupee goes to a named programme. We will publish itemised costs as soon as they are verified against real quotations.
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Training stipends and trainer time at the Artisan Lab
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Sewing and jewellery starter kits, tools and materials
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Fees and learning tools for students
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Ration kits, blankets and medical help for families
Give towards a livelihood
Give ₹1,000 every month
UPIGPayPhonePePaytmVisaMastercardRuPayNet banking
🔒 Secure payment by Razorpay. Eligible for 80G deduction (provisional approval, AY 2026-27 to 2028-29). Indian citizens only. Cancel a monthly gift anytime.
Donor promise
Looking for a genuine charity in Kolkata to support? Here is our promise
Trust is earned in small, steady steps. Here is what you can expect from us after you give.
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Receipt within [X] days
A payment receipt instantly, and your 80G receipt by email. Form 10BE after the financial year.
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Updates on your cause
Photos and progress from the programme you support, in plain words.
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Open records
Our registrations are public today. Annual reports and audited accounts will be added to our Transparency page as they are completed.
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Stop anytime, visit anytime
Cancel a monthly gift with one email, and visit us in Budge Budge by appointment.
A story from our work
From educational support to software engineering
Photo of Jamal
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Syed Jamal AhmedB.Tech graduate
SupportSemester fees and a laptop
TodaySoftware Engineer, Netherlands
Coming from a background where pursuing higher education was a financial challenge, Syed Jamal Ahmed's journey through his B.Tech degree was shaped by determination, hard work, and the support of You Empower Society (Y.E.S.).
Y.E.S. supported his semester fees, easing the financial burden on his family and allowing him to focus more fully on his education. The laptop provided by the organisation became an invaluable resource, enabling him to practise coding, complete projects, access online courses, and develop technical skills beyond the classroom.
That support helped him build not only his technical competence but also the confidence to pursue his ambitions. Today, Jamal works as a Software Engineer at a startup based in the Netherlands, a milestone he attributes in part to the timely assistance and encouragement he received.
For Jamal, Y.E.S. did more than support his education. It helped change the direction of his life and opened doors to opportunities he might otherwise have struggled to access. He hopes to carry that spirit of support forward and contribute to society in the future.
Support a student like JamalStories & updates
From the field
Ration distribution 2026, South 24 Parganas
Y.E.S. volunteers distributed ration kits to families in need across South 24 Parganas.
Blanket distribution for villagers in the cold
When winter settled over the villages, volunteers registered families and handed out warm blankets to those most at risk.
Ramadan ration kits so no family goes hungry
During Ramadan 2021, Y.E.S. packed and distributed ration kits so families could break their fast with dignity.
Get involved
Other ways to help
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Volunteer or become a member
Students, professionals and NSS groups help with drives, fundraising, mentoring and social media.
Join as a volunteer🎓
Intern with us in Kolkata
Gain real field and digital experience with a grassroots charitable trust working with women and youth.
Apply for an internship🤝
Partner through CSR
Y.E.S. is CSR-1 registered (CSR00115474). Fund the Artisan Lab cohort and receive regular progress reports.
Explore CSR partnership
Recognition
Special Jury Award, 2025
In 2025, You Empower Society received the Special Jury Award from the Association of Muslim Professionals at its national convention in Lucknow. It recognises community-led work and our commitment to women's livelihoods and inclusive opportunity.
See photos from the ceremonySee it yourself
Visit us in Budge Budge
Visitors, donors, and institutional representatives are requested to contact us in advance to arrange a visit.
Ground Floor, 87, Chanditala Road, P.O. and P.S. Budge Budge, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal 700137
Donor questions
Questions donors ask us
Is You Empower Society a registered charitable trust?
Yes. You Empower Society (Y.E.S.) is a public charitable trust registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (Reg. IV-1603-00247/2021, 15 September 2021). It is listed on NGO Darpan (WB/2024/0422296), holds provisional registration under Section 12A and provisional approval under Section 80G, and is registered for CSR (CSR-1 CSR00115474). Every document is on our Transparency page.
Will I get an 80G tax benefit for my donation?
Yes, if you file under the old tax regime. Y.E.S. holds provisional approval under Section 80G (URN AAATY8683MF20251), valid for AY 2026-27 to AY 2028-29. Share your PAN when you donate and we email your receipt, then issue Form 10BE after the financial year.
Where does my donation go?
Your gift goes to the cause you choose. Our biggest need right now is funding the first Y.E.S. Artisan Lab cohort: training stipends, tools, materials and a workspace for 10 women. Choose 'where it is needed most' and we use it where the gap is largest.
Can I donate every month and stop anytime?
Yes. Monthly giving is the most useful way to help, because training runs for 6 to 12 months. You choose the amount, Razorpay collects it each month, and you can stop anytime by writing to info@youempowersociety.org.
Can people outside India donate?
Not at the moment. Y.E.S. does not hold FCRA registration, so we can accept donations from Indian citizens only. If you live abroad and want to help, contact us and we will suggest other ways to support the work.
Where does Y.E.S. work?
Our base is in Budge Budge, South 24 Parganas, where the Y.E.S. Artisan Lab is planned. We have also distributed rations and medicines in Mazdurpara, Kolkata, run Project Horizon in Betberia, and supported community-centre work in Homra, South 24 Parganas.
YES to People. YES to Possibilities.
A monthly gift helps us start the first Y.E.S. Artisan Lab cohort and keep it going.