PLIGHT OF WIDOWS AROUND THE WORLD
- Over 258 million widows and their children suffer in silence worldwide
- Many experience rape, prostitution, forced marriage, property theft, eviction, social isolation
- Many of them are subjected to physical, psychological and sexual abuse
- Poverty, conflict, ethnic cleansing and diseases are among the prolific causes of widowhood
THE LOOMBA FOUNDATION
Inspiration
The Loomba Foundation was established by Lord Raj Loomba CBE and his wife Lady Veena Loomba in the UK in 1997. The inspiration came from Raj’s late mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, who became a widow at the early age of 37 in Punjab in India in 1954.
The Loomba Foundation, accredited by the United Nations, has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. It is working for the freedoms and human rights of widows.
and Lord Loomba
the charity in India in 1999
The Loomba Foundation was also officially launched in Scotland in 2003, in the USA in 2005, in South Africa in 2006, in Kenya and Rwanda in 2008 and in Canada in 2009.
The Loomba Foundation, UN DPI accredited global charitable organisation in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
The Loomba Foundation launched International Widows Day, which takes place every year on 23 June, to highlight the plight of widows and their children all over the world and to provide a focus for effective action. It was announced at the House of Lords in the UK in 2005. We are proud that through our tireless campaign over five years, the United Nations declared 23rd June as UN International Widows Day at its 65th General Assembly in New York in 2010.
The date of 23 June was chosen because it was on this day that Raj Loomba’s mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, the inspiration for the Loomba Foundation, became a widow in Punjab in India in 1954.
The Loomba Foundation launched International Widows Day, which takes place every year on 23 June, to highlight the plight of widows and their children all over the world and to provide a focus for effective action. It was announced at the House of Lords in the UK in 2005. We are proud that through our tireless campaign over five years, the United Nations declared 23rd June as UN International Widows Day at its 65th General Assembly in New York in 2010.
The date of 23 June was chosen because it was on this day that Raj Loomba’s mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, the inspiration for the Loomba Foundation, became a widow in Punjab in India in 1954.
The Loomba Foundation is committed to educate children of poor widows, empower impoverished widows to become self-reliant and advocate for fundamental and human rights for widows around the world.
‘Invisible, Forgotten, Sufferers: Plight of Widows Around the World’
book published by the Loomba Foundation in 2010
‘Invisible, Forgotten, Sufferers: Plight of Widows Around the World’
book published by the Loomba Foundation in 2010
The Loomba Foundation is committed to educate children of poor widows, empower impoverished widows to become self-reliant and advocate for fundamental and human rights for widows around the world.
INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS DAY – 23 JUNE
The Loomba Foundation launched International Widows Day at the House of Lords in 2005. After a relentless campaign, the United Nations adopted 23rd June as UN International Widow Day at its 65th General Assembly in 2010.
The date of 23 June was chosen because it was on this day that Lord Loomba’s mother, the inspiration for the Loomba Foundation, became a widow in Punjab in India in 1954. It is a day of effective action to highlight the plight of widows around the world who are suffering from poverty, illiteracy, diseases, conflict and social injustice.
On the 15th official United Nations International Widows Day, global leaders, advocates, and grassroots organisers gathered at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on 23 June 2025 for an International Widows Conference, convened by The Loomba Foundation under the theme “Don’t Leave Widows Behind.”
for the International Widows Conference 2025, united under the theme ‘Don’t Leave Widows Behind.’
The event spotlighted ongoing challenges widows face worldwide and renewed calls to embed their rights within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference framed widowhood not as a niche issue, but a central concern in the fight for gender equality and social justice.
EDUCATION PROGRAMMES:
Since its inception, The Loomba Foundation has made education a cornerstone of its mission. Over 10,000 children of poor widows have received scholarships for at least five years, helping break the cycle of poverty through learning. The Foundation has supported students across all 29 states in India. Many of these children have completed their studies and are now supporting their families, creating a ripple effect of opportunity. Infrastructure projects, including school refurbishments and sanitation improvements, have further enhanced access to education for thousands.
EMPOWERMENT PROJECTS:
In 2012, a new initiative to empower impoverished widows was launched at the residence of the British High Commissioner in Delhi in India. Through this initiative, the Foundation has empowered over 20,000 widows in the age group from 20-45 years in several states in India. The beneficiaries received vocational skills training in tailoring for two to three months and a foot-operated sewing machine, free of cost, after the training was complete. We are proud that the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, launched our project for 5000 widowsin his constituency of Varanasi in 2016
International Widows Day — 23 June
Lord Loomba established 23rd June as International Widows Day in 2005, as a Global Day of Focus, to highlight the plight of widows and their children worldwide. After a tireless campaign over five years, the United Nations unanimously adopted 23rd Junne as UN International Widows Day at it’s 65th General Assembly.
The significance of 23rd June is that it was on this day in 1954 that Raj’s mother became a widow at the early age of 37 with seven young children in Punjab in India.
On the 15th official United Nations International Widows Day, global leaders, advocates, and grassroots organisers gathered at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on 23 June 2025 for an International Widows Conference, convened by The Loomba Foundation under the theme “Don’t Leave Widows Behind.”
for the International Widows Conference 2025, united under the theme ‘Don’t Leave Widows Behind.’
The event spotlighted ongoing challenges widows face worldwide and renewed calls to embed their rights within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference framed widowhood not as a niche issue, but a central concern in the fight for gender equality and social justice.
LOOMBA FOUNDATION WORK
Global Advocacy for Widows' Rights
Education for Widows and Their Children
Socio-Economic Empowerment via Skills
Past & Present
Partners, Donors & Supporters
New Project
EMPOWERING 100,000 WIDOWS AND THEIR YOUTH IN INDIA
On 10th January 2025 Her Skill, Her Future an initiative by the Loomba Foundation aimed at empowering widows by providing them with the skills and resources needed to secure sustainable livelihoods, announced at Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi.
The program focuses on addressing the economic challenges faced by widows, who often encounter social and financial marginalization. By training them with market-relevant skills, the initiative enables widows to rebuild their lives and achieve financial independence.
a transformative initiative, Her Skill, Her Future: Empowering Widows in India
The program underscores our shared commitment to empowering widows across India, offering hope and opportunity through collective action. It is a privilege to join hands with the distinguished organizations and supporters in advancing this mission and contributing to meaningful change for those who need it most.
The Her Skill, Her Future program exemplifies the Foundation’s commitment to transforming the lives of widows by focusing on skill-building as a pathway to empowerment.