Illuminating Futures: Enabling children

Summary

Educate and empower the children in slums and rural areas of Puducherry by offering evening remedial classes, counseling services, awareness and community-sensitizing programs.

Challenge

Children born into poverty are affected by a variety of societal challenges that prevents them from achieving their goals. For example, factors such as unemployment and alcoholism within the family, single parenthood, neglect and abandonment forces children to become laborers either during or after school. Illiterate parents can't assist in doing homework, worsening children's disinterest in education. Additionally, limited educational resources, poor infrastructure leave these children behind.

Solution

Evening school educates through remedial classes and experiential learning. We will also frequently conduct awareness programs related to physical, psychological and social issues faced by children. We will also provide counseling services during these hours. We will also teach them their rights and how to access them. The evening school will provide children with a structured after school environment; helping them spend time in a productive way towards their education.

Long-Term Impact

The main goal is to empower and reenergize the children to pursue their dreams. The awareness programs and counseling services will address the childrens' needs holistically. We hope that awareness about oneself and society will help these children to develop a strong personal identity paired with coping and life skills. In addition, we hope that the children take these lessons into their adulthood.

Updates

Now we are strengthening our first Evening School which supports 35 children. The School has got a dedicated teacher and international volunteers are involved with teaching English. With the continuous support, we could see the improvement in their education and scoring marks in their exams. We are finding out possibilities to raise support to start four more schools in the slums of Puducherry.

Resources

http://www.primetrust.org
Prime Trust Webpage
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Summary

Empower 50 women start or expand small businesses of their own by providing micro-credit loans or grants.

Challenge

Many studies show that bringing people out of poverty cannot be done through charitable efforts alone. It requires empowering disenfranchised groups to become self-reliant. Women, in particular, face a range of societal ills that puts them at a distinct disadvantage. For example, alcoholism, low literacy rates, limited employment opportunities, predatory lending and the resulting "debt trap" restrict women from having an expendable income, let alone start small businesses of their own.

Solution

This project will provide small grants or loans (free or low interest) to women pursuing small businesses of their own. The awarding of loans and grants will be based on established small businesses or clearly outlined new ideas. Prime Trust already has a fair trade store in Puducherry that sells products that are made by women from our self-help groups. These women have voiced their need for additional funding to expand their businesses.

Long-Term Impact

This project empowers women to become self-reliant and self-sustaining. It gives them the financial independence that they rightfully deserve. Additionally, there are added opportunities for employment opened. They are also able to meet other small business owners through our Akshaya store meetings. This ability to form networks with other women gives them access to support systems and safety nets that they otherwise would not have within their own families.

Resourceshttp://www.primetrust.org
Prime Trust Webpage
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter