Give Farm training to Indian HIV Families

When we set up our farm the land was dry, scorched and rocky. We had nothing but our drawings and a desire to create a safe haven for our most ostracised and down trodden families to rebuild their health and develop new practical skills while building their self confidence.

Back in 2010 with a small but dedicated team and a big dream ahead of us we began tilling the land one rock at a time and work began. Now with over 23 clients on site we have a dairy farm with 7 milk producing cows producing ample milk for our adoption centre and all the children in our long term care centre and our primary school.

We planted 1500 sap and fruit trees and erected 2 poly tunnels to grow year round green vegtables to feed 360 clients in our rehabilitation centre. Our reservoir and water well, after some set backs are working well and we are so proud of our accomplishments. Under the great expertise of our honorary director Girish Khundanpur one of the worlds best food scientists we have the potential not only to produce a nutrishous and bountiful harvest we also look on track to generate 25% of our entire organisations operational costs and a positive about becoming more self sufficient, less dependant on outside support and above all we are empowering our clients to become important members of their comminities with hard skills that mean they are fully emancipated and independant.

Sangita one of the farms first beneficiaries and is one of our most dedicated team members. She found us when she was destitute and in extremely poor health both physically and mentally. She had fallen out with all her family members and was working in a dangerous and destructive world that was diminishing her self confidence and making her feel worthless. Contracting HIV was not a reality she was able to cope with, with no legal paperwork she also had no rights or access to any life saving ART medication to help her manage living with HIV. She also had a young infant to care for and an estranged husband. She was close to death and we discovered her at one of our health camps that her brothel keeper permitted us to hold and Sangita to attend in her village.

That was 24 months ago and today Sangita, who has been staying with us for the last 18months is the picture of good health. Her platelet count is good and her immune is strong. She has gained 30lbs and is great in the field and is our fastest milk maid too. Sangita and her son Deepak are thriving with us. Thankfully Deepak is clear of HIV and Sangita's husband Sanjay has recently come to join his family and is living on the farm too. He and Sangita are receiving counselling and are working towards a joint future together living and working on the farm as a family. Farm Beneficaries are admitted on a needs basis, all their drugs, food and board are provided free of charge along with any legal support they may need.

Placements are for 36months in which time agricultural skills are learnt and rehabilitation is made possible through structured support to reintegrate people back into their communities in good health with practical skills to offer. We are delighted with the farm both in its ability to empower HIV families to take control back of their lives and in our farms ability to nurture our organisation to be self suffient and entirely sustainable whilst also being ecological. As far as we are concerned it's a win win win situation.

With your support families like Sanjay, Sangita and Deepak have a real shot at so called 'normality' instead of a life on the road in constant fear of being labelled an untouchable. A mere 70 will enable us to add another cow to our dairy farm that can produce 15-25 litres of milk a week. At 33rps a litre retail and with supply being surplus to our needs you would literally be providing a fishing rod and not just a fish in giving a cow (you know what we mean). Help us reach our full potential in butildung capacity at our farm to house 400 family members (currently we have 23 members here). As we said its a win win win situation. Thank you!

Links:

• Http://www.snehalaya.org