OTHERS
GG1524801 – WoMEn 1000+
WOMEn 1000+ is a project of the Rotary International under Global Grant 1524801 with major collaborations from Rotary Geleen in partnership with Rotary Belgium, Rotary Germany and Rotary Club of Chennai Galaxy.
The project primarily aims to promote Women Entrepreneurship by way of microlending. This project visualizes that the small women entrepreneurs no longer have to depend on the money lenders to set up their enterprises. The private money lending practice is not making any telling impact in the lives of these women. The private money lenders charge very high rate of interest therefore all the money the women make from their small business is paid back as interest. This further pushes them into the vicious cycle of poverty.
This is one the factor which further urges the need for this project. Through this project, the women would be given a loan to the extent of Rs. 15000/-, which they would use to set up their business enterprise/IGA (Income Generating Activity) or to expand their existing business. But the difference this project would make is the rate of interest is set at a bare minimum so that the women get benefited to the maximum extent. The women borrowers repay this in 10 fixed monthly instalments of Rs 1500 along with a monthly instalment of 1.6 percent.
Aim & Objective
To disburse 400 micro-credits per annum among these women and provide them intensive training, coaching and guidance in setting up and growing their business or IGA. During the project phase of two years, 500 women will be provided with a microcredit.
This project is funded by Rotary International under Global Grant 1524801 with major collaborations from Rotary Geleen in partnership with Rotary Belgium, Rotary Germany and Rotary Club of Chennai Galaxy.
In Basin Bridge, the project is implemented through DBSSS (Don Bosco Social Service Society) and administered through SURABI (Strategic Urban-Rural Advancement Backing Institute, Chennai), Provincial Development Office of the Salesians of Don Bosco of Chennai Province. DBSSS has been working in the field of Women Empowerment from its inception. They have initiated close to 300+ Self Help Group from Basin Bridge. They also work on various other projects.
Basin Bridge is located in the Northern part of Tamil Nadu in the capital city of Chennai. This is one of the oldest settlements in Chennai. This locality consists of mainly slum dwellers and people from lower economic status or the urban poor. The groups underwent a rating process after which they have been selected to benefit from the project.
Cauveri, Developmental office for the Salesian Trichy Province is the partnering organization for the project administration in Vilathikulam. The actual field implementation is done through Vembu (Vilathikulam) Empowering Movement for Building the Underprivileged), a Salesian Ngo working in Vilathikulam.
The beneficiaries from this project location are economically backward rural women. They are mainly agricultural labourers, small farmers or cattle rearers and very few have taken up other forms of income-generating activities. They all come from different social and cultural background.
The project has been totally handed over to the local partners after the project period.
Stand By Me – A Skill Training Program for Transgender
SPS India Foundation and Cheer an NGO in association with Niraivagam and DBICA jointly organized a three day skill training programme for transgender from 7th to 9th sept 2016 at Don Bosco Institute of Communication Arts, Chennai. The objective of the training program is Skill Development and Capacity Building of transgender persons who have so far been looking for employment, without success and those who have lacked proper guidance.
The training program was promoted by Ms. Kiruthiga Udayanidhi & Fr. A. Raj Mariasusai SDB who have along vision to bring a positive change in the lives of the transgenders.
Ten transgender persons participated in the training sessions span over three days. Fr. Joseph Jeyaraj, Mr. Thaddeus & Dr. Jothi Thomas were the resource persons for the training program. They are all professionals and are highly skilled in trainers.
The Participants were trained on various life coping skills and personality development like problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, relationship building and work place etiquette among many other skills. The participants are assisted towards building self-confidence and self-esteem necessary to face the challenges at a work place. The participants also felt that the training was very intensive yet interesting.
The training program concluded with a fashion show followed by the valedictory ceremony where the participants were awarded the training completion certificate. Ms. Meenakshi Santhosh Narayanan, Dr. Selvi, Physiotherapist and Ms. Grace Banu were the Chief Guest for the valedictory. Ms. Kiruthiga Udayanidhi announced that they are in the process of making music videos on Transgender to raise awareness among the people and to remove the stigma attached. The music is being composed by Santhosh Narayanan and lyricist Vivek is penning the lyrics.
Following the workshop, the participants will be placed in employment based on their interests and skill. This initiative is an effort to better integrate the transgender persons in mainstream employment with the hope that discrimination and the stigma attached to being transgender fades away in the society.
#StandByMe – Music video
#StandByMe is an effort to raise public awareness about the lives of the transgender community by a music video. The music video was officially launched at an exclusive event held at Don Bosco, Egmore on 11th February. It was directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, music composed by Santhosh Narayanan and the lyrics are penned by lyricist Vivek. This effort is not only to raise public awareness, but also an attempt to wipe out the stigma attached with the transgender from the society.
This music video holds in itself a deep message to the society.
“I am a Transgender. I am Human.”
Organic Garden Festival 2016- Successfully Concluded
SPS India Foundation in association with VGP Parijatham Trust and A2Z Organic Gardening organized the “Organic Garden Festival 2016”. It was first of its kind event where organic farmers, from across Tamil Nadu gathered in VGP Golden Beach Resort on 3rd and 4th of September to exhibit and showcase their products. This event intended to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of using organic products.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Mr Kannan Adityan, Managing Director of Malai Murasu, Dr Mariazeena Johnson, Managing Director of Sathyabama University and Dr VG Santhosham, Chairman, VGP Group of Companies. Fr Raj Mariasusai sdb welcomed the gathering followed by the inaugural session. Ms Usha Rajkumar, Mr Rajadas, Mr Prasaddas and Mr Raghu Kumar were also present during the inauguration.
Over 100 stalls were on display, exhibiting variety of organic products ranging from food grains, farm produce, herbal cosmetics, seeds, handicrafts and many more. Mr Sadasivam an ecologist from Thiruppur interacted with the school children about the importance of organic farming. Cheer, an NGO also performed a puppet show for the school children who visited the festival.
On the second day of the event Mr Prabhu Raja spoke about health is wealth and the importance of going organic to lead a healthy lifestyle. The event also hosted experts from organic farming and terrace gardening to guide people interested in the urban farming. The event was also supported by 50 student volunteers from DMI College of Engineering.
Competitions were held for terrace gardening and the best terrace gardens were awarded. The event ended with the valedictory function where the dignitaries were felicitated followed by the prize distribution.
The event was a massive success with a huge public turnout of over 10000 people, general public as well as school and college students. The objective of the event to raise awareness among people about organic farming is realized from the participant’s feedback. This success is motivating us to have one such event every year.