Micro-enterprise for orphanage expansion, India
Who? Children Are the Future (CAF), a Brussels-based nonprofit (asbl), has funded a project from the Margaret Social Development Society (MSDS) to expand social services for destitute orphans in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. MSDS is an India-registered voluntary institution.
What? MSDS has created a micro-enterprise, raising goats, which would provide sustainable financial support for expansion of programs for destitute orphans. The program expansion provides food, shelter, education and skill development to children aged 5-18 years who have suffered physically or mentally and have no one to care for them.
Why? A recent survey of the Thanjavur district discovered 3,110 orphan children. Many of these children are totally alone and have no extended family or other adults to provide food, clothing, shelter or education. Unhealthy children cannot attend school or contribute to their communities' well being. We hope to help a small number of children grow to a healthy adulthood and create an opportunity for community growth and development.
Where? Thanjavur is one of the major cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which is located on the south-eastern corner of India. Fifty-two percent (52%) of the 26 million people who live in Tamil Nadu, India live below the poverty line. Conservative estimates indicate that 3,000,000 children in Tamil Nadu are involved in labor including hazardous industries. An additional 300,000 children live on the streets.
Oversight and Quality Improvement. In addition to seeking funds for this project, CAF Belgium is serving as a quality/accountability review board for the MSDS micro-enterprise. The Local Community Advisory Council in Thanjavur provides local quality oversight.
Cost. 8.750€ includes total start-up costs for the orphanage expansion. The goat-rearing micro-enterprise assures financial sustainability of the project in the future. Details can be made available upon request.
Status of the project: Funded
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