Empower 120 differently abled kids in Tamil Nadu

Although our progress toward empowering differently abled children has been limited by a lack of funding,  Voice Trust remains hopeful as we continue to leverage our talented staff to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Tamil Nadu.  

New Grant Application to Ensure Livelihoods

In connection with prior initiatives, Voice Trust has successfully trained over 50 differently abled adults to create in-demand products.  However, people with disabilities—who often face mobility limitations—are frequently unable to sell their wares, and therefore unable to support themselves.  Voice Trust staff have been hard at work completing a grant application that would enable these previously trained individuals to sell goods online, integrating them into the supply chain via internet marketplaces.  If the grant application is successful, a full-time program manager will oversee the initiative, helping to ensure a stable livelihood for this vulnerable group.

Care Coordination and Community Advocacy

Voice Trust field staff member Victoria has continued her unrelenting commitment to support differently abled people in Tamil Nadu.  She coordinates medical care for the mentally ill, and personally escorts patients to hospitals and appointments.  She has continued this important work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, save for a few weeks where she herself was ill with coronavirus.  Victoria also continues to make monthly visits to the District Differently Abled Welfare Office in Trichy.  She communicates with officials to get the most up to date information regarding government programs for people with disabilities, and then travels around to smaller villages in the district to share any helpful information.  Through Victoria’s efforts, thousands of people with disabilities have gained access to benefits they may never have learned about, but for her tireless community advocacy.

In Tamil Nadu, the differently abled and their families face a constant struggle.  Kids with disabilities that might be easily accommodated in wealthier places remain without wheelchairs, crutches, and hearing aids.  These devices could open the door to educational opportunities, and provide housebound, reliant young people with independence and dignity they have never known.  Voice Trust has knowledgeable staff on the ground, ready to put your donations toward doing the greatest  possible good.  If you are unable to make an additional gift to support this project, if you could share this giving opportunity on social media with anyone who might be able to help, it could transform a child’s life forever.

Warmly,

Janet Preethi

Greetings --

I hope you have been managing ok and staying strong during the pandemic, which has had a devastating effect on Tamil Nadu.  Many farmers, roadside vendors and beggars, daily-wage workers -- even sex workers -- have seen their income evaporate, and have been struggling to survive. 

Luckily,  several generous grants received with the assistance of Friends of the Third World, an awesome response from our GlobalGiving supporters, and the aid of our devoted and heroic volunteers have made it possible for us to provide rice and groceries to feed 900 families in need for a month, and support from local partners further enabled us to provide at least a biscuit and often a hot meal to many more who would have otherwise have had nothing to eat for the day.

For the differently abled and their families, this time has been especially trying, since their options were already severely limited.  Because of our outreach efforts to identify these families, our relief efforts were able to include emergency rations for the households of 208 differently abled people in Siruganur, C.R. Palayam, Tirupattur, M.R. Palayam, Sanamangalam, Sridevimangalam, and Maniyakurichi.

Of course there is much left to do, and we have been scrambling to find the funds to do it.  Please view our GlobalGiving COVID-19 relief project for more information and an opportunity to donate, if you can.

Although all our staff have been stretched thin trying to keep up, we have not lost sight of problems for the differently abled looming on the horizon.  While schools are shut down, children from wealthier families have had the digital resources and parental support to keep from falling too far behind in their studies, but differently abled children from resource-poor families may not have previously even been able to attend school, or had trouble keeping up if they did, widening still further the ever-growing gap between the haves and have-nots.

We know from our outreach that the 120 kids who would be helped by this project -- and in particular the three kids who would be helped by our new microproject -- are just a small fraction of Trichy's differently abled.  But helping just one child at a time get ready to attend school when it reopens in the fall is the first step in the never-ending journey towards equal opportunity for all.

We hope you'll join us along the way.  Even if you can't do more than just share our project on social media, we are always deeply grateful for whatever help you can offer.

Take care --

Janet Preethi