Mission
The Sambhaavnaa Institute of Public Policy and Politics’ mission is to nurture value-based leadership by encouraging individuals, especially the youth, to reflect, discuss and develop a critical perspective on the ideals and ideas that define a ‘just’ society.
Philosophy and Vision
Sambhaavnaa’s initiatives are driven by the objective of transforming society built on the principles of 
Social Harmony, 
Economic Justice, 
We believe there is an overlap in the hegemony and exploitative processes across the social, political and economic structures as well as between human beings and nature. This has become more prominent with the emergence of a powerful, dominant class serving its interests instead of those of the polity, society and ecology.
There is a need to question and challenge the inequities in social, economic and political structures that exist and their dominance by vested interests of some. There is a need to radically change these structures and their functioning to better serve the public interest with the principles of equality, justice and freedom.
This change has three essential components:
- Strengthening resistance and political action
- Creating and supporting alternatives across existing socio-economic and political models
- Bringing about personal transformations
In the quest to fulfil these beliefs, Sambhaavnaa is creating a space that will,
- Facilitate collaboration, exchange and innovation in political action
- Lay the foundation of a politically active citizenry, especially the youth
- Initiate and assist the process of personal transformation for those who desire it
Campus Philosophy
Built using locally-sourced materials and traditional architectural design and practices, the Sambhaavnaa campus celebrates the surroundings in which it stands. Didi Contractor, a renowned architect specialising in traditional eco-friendly construction methods of the Himalayas along with local carpenters, masons and workers, has helped give shape to Sambhaavnaa’s core values. The Insitute is managed and run by a small team of locals and visiting volunteers.
Sambhaavnaa’s campus also hosts a farm, cowshed, and tea gardens that provide organic food and ensure the sustainability of practices and consumption. Currently, a seed bank is being built to collect and conserve a wide variety of local food varieties from across the region.
Financial Contribution Philosophy
Sambhaavnaa Institute is a not-for-profit organization, and our sole aim is to ensure that monetary capabilities do not hinder the learning of our participants and access to educational spaces like our Institute. Per se, the primary philosophic motivation of the Institute does not depend on fees or monetary contributions. Each year, the Institute strives to completely utilize its entire budget for its residential workshops.
The charges for the workshops and for stay at the campus are based on a sliding scale, as we try to cross subsidize other workshops through higher contributions. The rationale behind the contribution for each workshop is based on a combination of various factors:
- Our annual budgets and funds available to the Institute at any given time of the year
- Cost of travel for resource persons
- Occupancy levels of the institute and the time of the year (Summer months and the months from September to December are generally a busy period)
- Economic profile of the participants (we try to provide more waivers to participants from marginalized communities)
- Type of engagement of the resident (from volunteers to scholars)
- Politics of the workshop in question, and its target audience
- Strength of application of the potential participant
We try to ensure that there is transparency in the processes through which we finalize our contributions. We also have conversations with the participants. The participants can reach out to us in case of any apprehensions.