Give Farm training to Indian HIV Families

Community farming and fostering come hand in hand at the Himmatgram, our farming project. Not only does this innovative project offer an environment where people living with HIV and AIDS can live without the fear of prejudice and violence, but we also provide PLHVA who don’t have a roof over their heads, like a family home, somewhere safe to lay their heads at night. We are currently working with 26 beneficiaries that are reaping the fruits of our farm project. As we demonstrate a balance of environmental sustainability with retention and protection of valuable farmland, we also welcome, with open arms, all which are outcast or don’t have a secure place in society, and raise them to give them an active role as an accepted member in society.

Involvement and belonging to a working community is an important factor of our farming project. Often women and children that have fled from vulnerable and dangerous situations at home, in the slums, or in the red light districts and before have been disenfranchised, isolated, suppressed and lonely, now feel a sense of belonging to a family.  They find refuge in us and a place to live and contribute actively and positively in farm life and therefore in society whilst our farming contributes to local food security. Our beneficiaries find in us opportunities to be actively involved in society. We provide effective and timely training opportunities to up skill and our beneficiaries learn new skills and techniques to be able to engage in society as well as accessing our main services, such as shelter, food, clothing, medical aid and counselling.  We recognise that by teaching our beneficiaries to participate in farming duties we are building their confidence and skills base to be able to stand independently and with dignity.

We have recently received a large grant and funding from MPT to build a new hospital to supply much needed care and assistance specifically for people living with HIV & AIDS so to you, all our supporters and The Mercury Phoenix Trust thank you.  A short video of the hospital foundations being laid here

We are currently in full swing with our renovation of our fields, and we are removing mulching paper and preparing old beds for new produce. As this quarters harvest has exceeded our targets we have seen the production of milk, fodder, cabbage, cauliflowers, and corn just to name a few.  We begin preparations for future crops and engage in training provided by Mahatma Phule Agriculture University, Rahuri. They organized a two day training program on the 7^th and 8^th of Oct 2015 for our beneficiaries.  The training program was based on micro irrigation and the drip system. It was a great opportunity for our HIV positive family to increase their “Himmat”, meaning courage.  

We recognise our beneficiaries as human beings and respect their need for community and cultural involvement, with this in mind we share in celebrations and festivals. “Kojagiri Pornima” was our most recent celebrated festival in the Himmatgram. It was full of joy. Together we boiled some milk, harvested from our own cows, then we added our harvested betel nuts in the milk. On the occasion of “Dashera” we tied flowers to our doors. Our joy is not only found by tending the land and providing food and shelter, but also tending to the mind and providing lifelong learning and dignity to those in society that have been left behind and neglected.

In other news we have made headlines internationally with our campaign to give back #HerVoice and make India a nation safe for women.  Please read our press and visit www.withhervoice.org to learn how to get involved.

www.change.org/hervoiceindia

you can also donate and receive 50% extra on your donation at no cost to you here

Links:

• Recent Press for #HerVoice Campaign
• Snehalaya's Headteacher Pratiba in Times Educational Supplement