About Us
Sustainable Development through Nature-Based Solutions
Nature-Based Solutions for People and Planet
Mr. Mariaselvam leads as Managing Trustee ensuring vision and values, while Project Manager V. Sekar oversees project execution and community engagement.
Learning through farming nature and sustainability builds knowledge promotes responsibility encourages growth supports environment and empowers communities.
Education through farming nature sustainability builds awareness develops skills strengthens communities protects ecosystems fosters long-term positive change.
Nature sustainability promotes education awareness community growth environmental protection and long-term development.
- Protect natural resources
- Support green technologies
- Educate future generations
- Enhance ecological balance
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Empowering communities through learning sustainable nature conservation eco friendly practices for building a better future together.
Where Ecosystems Heal and Livelihoods Grow
Integrated Ecosystem Restoration & Sustainable Livelihoods
Who We Are
Annai Theresa Social Welfare Trust (ATSWT) is a secular, grassroots non-profit organisation founded in 1986, working across Tamil Nadu to restore ecosystems and strengthen community livelihoods. Rooted in community participation and guided by scientific approaches, ATSWT addresses environmental degradation, climate vulnerability, and socio-economic challenges faced by rural, tribal, and coastal communities. With nearly four decades of field experience, ATSWT has implemented large-scale tree plantation, mangrove restoration, agroforestry, habitat conservation, and climate-resilient livelihood programmes. The Trust has planted and restored over 10 lakh native trees across terrestrial and coastal ecosystems including around 3 lakhs mangrove saplings, engaging local communities—especially women, youth, fishing communities, and the Irular tribal community—in every stage of implementation, from nursery development to long-term protection. ATSWT believes that healthy ecosystems and resilient communities are inseparable. By integrating environmental conservation with livelihood generation, skill development, and community ownership, the Trust delivers sustainable, long-term impact aligned with national and global sustainability goals.
Our Vision
To build resilient ecosystems and self-reliant communities through inclusive, climate-resilient, and community-led development models.
Our Mission
To restore degraded ecosystems, including mangroves, forests, wetlands, and biodiversity-rich landscapes. To promote sustainable and climate-smart livelihoods for marginalized, tribal, and coastal communities. To empower rural and tribal youth through vocational training and skill development. To strengthen community stewardship and ownership of natural resources through participatory approaches. To deliver science-based, transparent, and measurable impact aligned with CSR and ESG frameworks.
Focus area
Environmental Conservation & Ecosystem Restoration
CSR, ESG & SDG Aligned Impact Programs
Education, Training & Skill Development
Community Engagement & Inclusive Participation
Sustainable Livelihoods for Marginalized Communities
Climate Action & Carbon Sequestration
Transparency, Monitoring & Impact Reporting
Employee Volunteering & Partnership Opportunities
Scalable & Replicable Sustainability Models
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Testimonial
She is S. Vembatha, 44 years old, her husband is Sekar. They have one daughter. She works as a coolie in the lake area. This is the first time they are working continuously for 16 days and earn some money, so feels very happy.
She is P.Reena, 23 years old. Her father name is Palani. She has studied up to 10th std. She wants to become a teacher but there is no source for her studies. There are 5 members in her family. She is having one older sister and younger brother. Her father and mother work as a coolie around Kulathur area. She was very happy while working for mangrove plantation and promised to take care of the saplings.
She is S. Jayapriya 23 years old, and her father name is Sekar. There are 4 members in her family. She is having one younger brother, who is studying. She studied up to 10th standard and there is no source of income for continuing her study and hence works on a daily-wage basis. Her brother is doing some work in the hotel. They don’t own a house. She likes to study nursing but there is no source of income for her.
She is S.Selvi and her husband name Sellamuthu, she is 45 years old and she is having one daughter. She and her husband work as coolies and they are living in a small hut. She was very happy in working for the plantation of mangroves, as both she and her husband worked for the plantation for more than 16 days and earned some money. Sometimes she goes to salt farm for sifting salt, and likes to do any work to earn money and live.
She is Amutha, 56 years old and her husband died 10 years ago, and she is alone and living with her brother’s family and works as a coolie. She worked with us for mangrove plantation for 16 days and earn some money and was happy.
She is Alamelu, 49 years old, her husband name is Elumalai who dies 25 years back. She is having 1 sone who works on a daily-wage basis and 1 daughter, got married. She is very hard working. She is the only woman taking care her family. She doesn’t own a house, they are living in small hut which belongs to one of their family friends.
She is D.Radha 49 years old, her husband is Dhanapal, and they have 1 daughter and 1 son and got them married. Her husband works fencing the farms and she also works on a daily-wage basis. During the Mangrove plantation she worked with her husband.
S.Mala, 50 years old, her husband is Ashok who died in accident 4 years before. She is having 3 children, 2 daughters studying 10th and 9th standard respectively and a son studied 10th standard and left the school and working on a daily-wage basis. They are living in a small hut. She works in the Salt farm at times. During the Mangrove plantation in their village, she and her son also worked with us and earn some money and they felt very happy.
She is K.Poonkodi, 40 years old, her husband is Kathiravan and they have 2 school-going children. Her husband works in a hotel. She also works on daily-wage basis. She worked for 16 days with us in mangrove plantation. They are living in a small hut. There is no other source of income for them.
She is M. Shanthi 50 years old and her husband is Marimuthu. They have 4 daughters, each got married and one younger son, doing some daily-wage work. They are living in a small hut. During the Mangrove plantation she worked with her husband and earn some money and was very happy.
She is S.Mala 35 years old, her husband is Sudhakar, died 4 years before. She is having 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls. They all are small children and going to school. Sometimes she may go to salt farm for work on daily-wage basis. She is the only member going for work and taking care for the entire family. She was very happy because for 16 days she worked in planting mangroves and got the wages.
She is S.Vinothini. Her father’s name is E,Sekar, She is 22 year old, and finished B.A Economics and going for the police selection training. She is very interested in planting trees and she is from very poor family. In their village there is no other income source. She enjoyed the plantation of mangrove in this village, and she promised to take care of the plants. She knows very well about the usage of Mangrove trees. She has also worked for 16 days and she wants to use that money for her training programme ( She wants to become a police officer).