Watch the videos below for a small glimpse into some of the projects your support makes possible. 

Women Empowerment: Giving Women the Skills and Tools to Become Entrepreneurs

The Samridhi Saksham project empowers over 500 women from 30 rural villages by providing the training, support, and materials needed to launch their own sewing and embroidery businesses. Watch the video below to meet a few of the entrepreneurs and to see how the project trains them to create beautiful, handmade embroidery. 

Educate 2 Success: Building Digital Literacy in Rural Schools

Share & Care has sponsored the creation of digital labs throughout several states in rural India through partnership with the Y4D Foundation, giving under-resourced students access to new technologies and helping them become digitally literate. In the video below, learn how these labs equip students to thrive in our increasingly digital world. 

Educate 2 Graduate: Helping Young Women Achieve Their Dreams

Share & Care partners with the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting brilliant but financially challenged young women who aspire to succeed in their post-graduate studies and beyond. Watch the video below to meet some of the program’s beneficiaries and learn more about how this foundation helps these young women develop educationally, professionally, and personally. 

Village Upliftment: Improving Quality of Life For Entire Villages

Lokmitras, or “friends of the people,” work to uplift entire villages by organizing community projects and offering support to individual villagers. In this video, hear from Anil, a Lokmitra in the Waghjipur village, and Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, a local farmer, about how they have worked together to facilitate a water storage project with the potential to benefit everyone in the area. 

English Translation

• Hello, my name is Anil, and I work as a LokMitra in the village of Waghjipur, located in Kapdwanj district. I would like to discuss how to store rainwater into the ground to increase the water level. I have a farmer friend named Pravinsingh Bhalu Singh, who has conducted experiments at his house. I would like to know his response.
• Hello, Anilbhai, our village friend. He approached me and mentioned that Pravinbhai has a water store project. I asked him what the benefits would be. He explained that we should collect and utilize the rainwater that falls by storing it in the ground. He suggested digging or boring a hole for this purpose. I inquired if we could use the existing borehole, He said yes we can but he informed me that the costs of using pipes and other materials have increased. I replied saying that it’s not a problem, and if it’s beneficial, we should proceed. We took some measurements, and since my house is closer, we decided to use 4-5 pipes. We connected them to use the existing borehole, which was already dug up to a certain depth. Anilbhai accompanied me, and said i will assist you in the process. We dug a trench and laid the pipes, ensuring that the roof water flows directly into the borehole. Additionally, I installed a water tank on the roof. If the water level becomes too high, it will now flow directly into the drain. Initially, I had stopped using this borehole, but now I have started using it again, and the water supply is much higher than that of the previous borehole. After about 15 minutes, the water flow decreases briefly but then starts again. The previous borehole used to provide less water, but this new one delivers a sufficient amount in approximately 10 to 11 minutes. After it reaches full capacity, I turn it off, and if I need water again, I can simply restart it. Therefore, I have benefited from this improvement. If you share this with others, please let them know about the advantages. Within 10 to 15 minutes, I have access to an abundant water supply. If all the villagers follow the same approach, everyone will benefit.

Healthcare 2 Unreached: Providing Medical Care in Rural Villages

Share & Care helps provide healthcare to underserved rural areas of the state of Manipur in India through mobile medical clinics, healthcare for mothers and children, and medical education within the community.

The post Reports From India: See Our Partner NGOs in Action appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Please watch the videos below to see our partner NGO’s in action.

Village Upliftment: Lokmitras Ensure Children in Village Are Cared For

Lokmitras often look out for village children like Anil and Vishnu, who are forced by circumstance to largely care for themselves and depend on the generosity of others for meals and income.

Women Empowerment: Project Launches to Empower Women in Kashmir

The “Saamartya – Power of Girls” project, supported by Share & Care, was launched in Kashmir to empower girls as community leaders. The project works to fight gender inequality and reaffirm the belief that girls can do anything.

Educate 2 Success: Supporting Highschool Students In Rural India

Share & Care empowers students in four state rural districts (Maharashtra, Madya Pradesh, Orissa & Rajasthan) by ensuring they have the supplies and support necessary to complete their education.

Healthcare 2 Unreached: Providing Medical Care in Rural Villages

Share & Care helps provide healthcare to underserved rural areas of the state of Manipur in India through mobile medical clinics, healthcare for mothers and children, and medical education within the community.

Nirmal Village Program: Lokmitras Reach Out to Communities

Lokmitras (“friends of the people”) offer relief, education, and mentorship in their villages in Gujarat. With the backing of Share & Care, they provide much-needed supplies and support.

Educate 2 Graduate: Making College Education a Reality

For some students like Manimegalai, in TamilNadu, the path to higher education is out of reach without the financial support of Share & Care. Through scholarship funding, she and students like her have a pathway to success.

The post Glimpses of Our Work in India appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Through our Women Empowerment Signature Program, we’ve teamed up with our long-time NGO partner Mijwan Welfare Society (MWS) for the “Samridhi” project, an initiative to cultivate livelihood skills and opportunities for women in two districts of Uttar Pradesh, India.

The purpose of Project Samridhi (a Hindi word meaning “prosperity”) is to empower marginalized rural women with tangible, sustainable resources to become entrepreneurs so that they may expand their income options and, ultimately, create better lives for themselves and their families.

The project, which comprises women in 20 villages across the Azamgarh and Ambedkar Nagar districts, focuses on the formation and mobilization of women collectives — also known as RWLGs, or Rural Women Livelihood Groups (“Gramin Sharmik Sakhi Samuh” in Hindi). Ten RWLGs are formed in each district, with five RWLGs forming a “cluster.” Thus, there are two clusters in two different districts.

Each group includes 10-15 members, all of whom reside in local marginalized communities. (Preference is given to widows, disabled individuals, and victims of domestic violence.) Among those members, at least two are able to read and write, and the women perform rotating leadership duties as president, secretary, and treasurer.

The year-long project is divided into four phases.

Phase One: Survey and Skill Mapping

This initial phase focuses on identifying the skills and interests of the women, then conducting a detailed market survey and listing relevant, commodifiable skills in which the women can be trained.

Phase Two: Formation of RWLGs and Clusters

In this phase, the women divide into groups as described above, and they begin working on their assigned product development. Examples include: agriculture (e.g., the group may cultivate crops on a leased plot of farmland), crafting (including the creation of clothing), pottery work, operating a shop (e.g., mechanic, grocery), or rearing cattle.

With support from their cluster, the members conduct weekly meetings, distribute sanitary pads on a monthly basis, and open bank accounts in a national or recognized bank.

Phase Three: Skill Development

In the third phase, MWS facilitates in-depth trainings designed to help the rural women not only hone their livelihood skills, but also enhance their personal health and well-being in order to enjoy a better life. The training topics include:

• Financial literacy and banking transactions
• Literacy
• Leadership development
• Digital literacy (e.g., navigating and accessing the internet, operating smartphones)
• Safety and the prevention against domestic violence and harassment
• Yoga, elderly care, and physical fitness
• Government schemes and community programs

Phase Four: Marketing of Products and Sustainability

The fourth and final phase of the project focuses on enhancing group members’ marketing skills, and empowering them to set up marketplaces (at local markets or online, in the form of websites or mobile applications) in order to sell their products. The funds raised are distributed among the group members, with a fixed percentage kept for the operational sustainability of the cluster.

If you have been inspired by our efforts to uplift women and combat gender inequality, we humbly encourage you to make a donation to create a brighter world for all women and girls. Your support is truly appreciated.

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The post Project Samridhi: Empowering a Community of Women Entrepreneurs appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Every year we set goals to better serve those in need, and 2020 was no different. We started 2020 with a plan to help 94,920 people through our lifesaving signature programs. We knew it was a big challenge, but we were up for the task.

But then, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, and we had to shift many of our plans to focus on addressing the most urgent needs facing our beneficiaries in the U.S. and India. Although 2020 was a difficult year for all of us, we are proud of what we accomplished.

In 2020 our grants of 1.5 million dollars in cash and kind helped approximately 110,000 people in our Disaster Relief, Women Empowerment, Education, Healthcare, and Village Upliftment programs.

38th Annual Gala: Over Half a Million in Funds Raised

The theme of our 38th Annual Gala — “Rising Together” — recognized the changes and challenges presented by the pandemic and honored the bonds of humanity and hope that connect communities around the world. Due to COVID-19 this was our first-ever virtual gala in which all could participate.

The evening included a short film outlining our COVID-19 disaster relief efforts and our ongoing Signature Programs. There was an outpouring of support including warm wishes from Padma Shri Ashaji Parekh and from Congressman Frank Pallone, who recalled a trip to India and thanked Share & Care for the organization’s extensive COVID-19 disaster relief efforts.

“COVID has been a big issue in India. Lots of people have died, especially poor people, because all of them cannot afford to be in the hospital. I think Share & Care has picked up this issue and I am very happy that they are doing such good work for India at this time.” — Padma Shri Ashaji Parekh

“I’ve been associated with Share & Care over the years and like the fact that it also encourages a strong partnership in its mission to bring together India and the United States. One of the unique and particularly admirable aspects of Share & Care Foundation is the grassroots effort it supports in promoting development in India.” — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.

Our first-ever virtual gala, curated by global performer Parthiv Gohil (left), also featured entertainment from Manasi Parekh-Gohil, Sudesh Bhosle, Bhoomi Trivedi, and Jahnvi Shrimankar.

Sari Collection Drive Benefits More than 12,000 Families Per Year

In early 2020, we began collecting saris and matching blouses to create 10 sari banks in Gujarat for underprivileged women. Operating like libraries, these banks allow women to borrow garments at no cost for special occasions, then return the items after dry cleaning. In total, we received more than 4,800 items valued at over $320,900.

As humans, the way we look and the clothes we wear deeply influence our self-confidence. We are honored to provide this dignity for our beneficiaries in marginalized communities. Our special thanks to all the donors for this project.

COVID-19 Disaster Relief: Turning Compassion Into Action

When the pandemic took hold, our Disaster Relief Committee jumped to action. By July 30, 2020, we had already allocated $300,000 in disaster relief funding and partnered with 16 NGOs to reach thousands of people in the U.S and India — including more than 7,500 struggling families. We distributed grocery kits to families in need, served hot meals to families and daily wage earners, distributed healthcare items such as soap and masks, and served thousands of meals to local healthcare heroes. In December 2020, we also worked with Livingston Lions Club to provide more than 5,000 food boxes for local New Jersey citizens affected by food insecurity and economic instability. In 2021, we are remaining committed to providing relief and rehabilitation to those affected by the pandemic.

Creating Opportunities Through Women Empowerment

We exceeded a pledge, made during our 37th Annual Gala in 2019, to empower 20,200 women in 2020. By November, even during difficult times, we had empowered 24,192 women through our programs which provide safety and self-defense training, gender equality education, livelihood skills, character building, and leadership workshops for marginalized women. A donation of $500 to our Women Empowerment program empowers five marginalized female students with safe lodging, education, and training for personal growth.

Village Upliftment Proves that Real Change Comes From Within

Our Village Upliftment program is empowering about 50,000 people by placing trained Lok Mitras (“friends of the people”) in 12 villages throughout India. Living alongside the people they serve, Lok Mitras provide moral support while also applying their training to create sustainable, positive change within their villages.

In response to COVID-19, they have helped to educate villagers about the virus, organized efforts to implement social distancing, set up sanitation stations, and handed out “Grocery Kits of Gratitude” to more than 1,000 families when food became scarce. A donation of $5,000 empowers one village and up to 5,000 individual villagers.

Healthcare 2 Unreached Expands Access for Remote and Underserved Communities

Share & Care continues the fight toward reversing the healthcare challenges facing today’s marginalized poor.

Key achievements in 2020 include: delivering life-saving nutrients and raising awareness to benefit 5,000 women and children in Rajasthan; addressing a shortage of health professionals and poor local governance in Gujarat; bringing a comprehensive community health program to 25 villages in Maharashtra; and helping 100 women in Tamil Nadu through a program addressing the socio-demographic factors affecting pregnancy. Lastly, in five Manipur villages, we provided ongoing essential health services to children and women. A donation of $100 to our H2U program empowers one mother and her child with pre- and post-natal care.

Women “adopted” through our H2U Pregnancy and Maternal Care project receive medical and nutritional support.

With Educate 2 Success, Learning Is Not on Lockdown

As part of our 2020 goals, we aimed to reach 4,050 students across nine village schools in Gujarat through a program designed to create an educational pathway to current and future job markets for secondary and high school students. As the coronavirus took hold, we adjusted our support, enabling our partners to identify and act on solutions to fit with the world’s challenges. To accommodate social distancing and other safety guidelines, teachers shifted to a virtual learning model, incorporating conference calls with students and home “visits” via telephone or video. A donation of $130 empowers one at-risk child under age 13 with a secondary education.

In some regions, E2S sessions were conducted effectively in their respective villages while practicing all safety norms like social distancing, wearing masks, and using sanitizer.

Young Professional Committee

The Young Professional Committee (YPC) is a group with a mission to volunteer and fundraise for the causes Share & Care supports while fostering a community of young professionals to connect.

Kids4Kids

Kids4Kids (K4K) is a committee hosted for students by students (ages 13-18), with a vision to help underprivileged children in India receive the education they deserve. Before the pandemic started, each member recruited three new members, which increased the total funds raised. These funds provided an additional 23 students in India with tuition and school supplies and raised the total number of children educated to 255. They also raised $2,900 to benefit COVID-19 relief, and pivoted their events to be social-distance friendly, hosting activities such as a virtual yoga class and a walking challenge to raise funds for those in need.

Educate 2 Graduate Continues Blazing New Beginnings for Impoverished Families

Our Educate to Graduate program fosters secure futures for brilliant students from low-income families. Seventy-three students were enrolled in the 2019-2020 school year. Although there were some delays in college opening due to COVID-19, the admission process began smoothly with several colleges now operating on a digital platform.

We are putting increased emphasis on supplementary skill development to improve job prospects upon graduation. Of the 1,614 E2G beneficiaries so far, more than 850 graduates are already employed in well-paying jobs. A donation of $1,000 empowers one bright, low-income student with a college scholarship.

Your donation makes a brighter future possible for families who come from generational cycles of poverty. They can do it, and we can help!

There Are Far, Far Better Things Ahead Than Any We Leave Behind

2020 was tough, but Share & Care made a way. We served:

• The widow with no means or education to provide for her family.
• The young girl living with sexual abuse as part of a traditional and still-tolerated patriarchal structure.
• The teen hungry for knowledge but forced into manual labor because his family knows no other path.
• The newborn at high risk of dying before her fifth birthday because of who she is and where she was born.
• Entire villages living with cultural norms that promote inequality.
• Entire families at risk of disability or death from treatable diseases due to poverty, malnutrition, and poor sanitation.
• Migrant laborers who need economic relief and rehabilitation due to COVID-19.

Our wide-ranging programs continue to thrive thanks to the support of our generous Share & Care community. If you have been inspired by our efforts and would like to create positive, lasting change for marginalized people in the U.S. and India, we encourage you to make a contribution today. Every gift is appreciated, and every dollar makes a difference.

SEND A GIFT

The post Changes Amid Challenges: ‘Share & Care 2020 Year in Review’ Featured in News India Times appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Last year, Share & Care hosted a Sari Collection Drive to support multiple “sari libraries,” pioneered by our partner NGO Gramshree Trust (located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat), to provide saris for women with limited finances. The sari is a traditional Indian garment that is worn and admired throughout India; however, due to financial limitations, many cannot purchase saris for special occasions such as festivals and weddings. Through this unique program, women are able to borrow gently used saris and blouses at no cost! We only ask that garments are dry-cleaned before being returned to the libraries.

When we launched these efforts, we aimed to support six sari libraries in Lilapur, Punadra, Narshinpura (Viramgam), Kada, Chadotar, and Rahpura. This month, we are pleased to announce the inauguration of a seventh library, located at Vahjipura Cluster in Punadra Village. Six additional libraries are scheduled to open in 2021.

Sari Collection Drive: More Than 4,200 Saris Donated in 2020

Although 2020 was a challenging year, we were still able to accomplish many milestones within this program — including our overall goal to collect 2,020 saris before 2021. In fact, on October 15, 2020, we exceeded our goal with a total of 4,289 saris donated by our incredible community of Share & Care supporters! We also received 413 blouses, 101 Chaniya Choli sets, 38 petticoats, and six shawls and other accessories in addition to the saris.

We are grateful to those who donated to the sari drive last year. The drive was valued over $320,900! Although we do not have another sari drive planned in 2021, please subscribe to our email updates to receive information on many of our other programs that could use your generosity. We look forward to continuously serving those in need. Thank you for your help!

READ MORE FROM OUR PARTNERS IN THE FIELD

The post Sari Drive Success: More Than 4,200 Donations for ‘Sari Libraries’ Will Help Indian Women With Limited Finances appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Our story starts when our partner NGO, Pradan, addressed the issue of persistent poverty for Amnari village goat farmers and their families, in spite of the area’s ideal conditions for raising goats.

Upon investigation, they found farmers were purchasing goats to replace the approximately 100 goats that were dying each year, which of course compounded the losses.

Looking deeper into the problem, it was discovered that 30% of the goat deaths were a result of improper food, unhygienic shed maintenance, and predator attacks. The other 70% were, shockingly, due to a disease outbreak, which was easily linked to a lack of knowledge of important deworming and vaccination practices to prevent outbreaks.

While vets were occasionally called on, they were scarce and of course, expensive. 

Amnari Looks for a Solution

The local self-help group, originally organized and trained by Pradan, participated in a village-level meeting held to discuss how to address the outbreak and its adverse effects on the community. Somewhat surprisingly, Amnari Ajivika Gram Sangathan chose a woman from the self-help group — Jogni Devi — to serve as the village Pashu Sakhi, or “friend of livestock.” Pashu Sakhis, also known as para-veterinarians, are part of an alternative community-led livestock service and are trained to provide essential services to livestock farmers.

While it may seem that choosing a woman demonstrates a more enlightened mindset, the truth is the idea of Pashu Sakhis was originally created with the idea of training young men for the job. Among the many reasons this approach failed is that many were men — not youths as intended — who were reluctant, both psychologically and socially, to reach out and work with the majority of livestock caretakers: women. 

Why women? Women were often left to care for small livestock in their husband’s absence, or because the family needed the added income. They also are traditionally caretakers of the sick, including animals.

Jogni Makes Her Decision

Jogni first worried that it was inappropriate, as a woman, to take on the role of a Pashu Sakhi, or that she was even capable. Like most women, her mobility was restricted so she also worried that her family wouldn’t allow it, or the community wouldn’t accept her.

But in the end, because she had been trained on gender equity as a member of the self-help group, and because of the encouragement from the other women, she accepted the role of Pashu Sakhi.

Her newfound confidence motivated her to work hard to build her skills and to serve her community. She also decided it would help supplement her husband’s income working as a mason. 

The village sent her to attend a three-day workshop on Integrated Livestock Rearing, which gave her hands-on training for administering vaccinations.

Once she was back home, she surveyed the villagers about their needs, and began organizing a vaccination camp. While there was plenty of resistance to a woman doing all of this, she successfully funded the first camp by convincing a number of families to pool their resources. She used the money to conduct that first camp and 90 goats from 30 families were vaccinated. 

She continued trying to involve the entire community with door-to-door visits. She also enlisted the help of other self-help group members, training them on how to help motivate the families who had not yet signed on.

They eventually had a second camp where 130 families participated in vaccinating their livestock. The following year, 150 more families joined in.

It was a tough hill for a woman in a rural village of India to climb. She lost some of her own money when she fronted the cost of vaccinations and families later backed out. But she persevered, motivated by the successes rather than the struggles, and became a role model to many in her village. She also enjoys personal joy from what she’s achieved.

Jogni Today

Today she is a master trainer and supporter of other Pashu Sakhis, who are working together to mobilize their communities and conduct regular vaccination and deworming camps.

Jogni has extended her work to 250 households in seven hamlets. More than 160 families are now enrolled in a formal system for livestock services, including scheduled vaccinations and recordkeeping.

“This assignment has now become a passion for me. I have learnt many things during the last couple of years. I feel proud while supporting my fellow Pashu Sakhis. It has been helping me in enhancing my skills and knowledge on livestock. In addition to this, my earning out of this has helped me in enhancing my own dignity.”

—Jogni Dev

The post From Homemaker to Heroine appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Unfortunately, the shutdown left thousands of vulnerable people and families — including daily wage earners, single women, and migrant workers — without food on a daily basis. 

Share & Care was ready to respond to this emergency. Our Disaster Committee met and evaluated proposals from various NGOs, including Pradan, the Anjali Mental Health Rights Organization, and Grameen Vikas Sodh Avam Takniki Kendra (GVSTK).

We immediately released funds to help.

Five kitchens were opened in partnership with Pradan and associated self-help group members at various community levels. The kitchen volunteers were trained in safe practices for working in a kitchen, as well as social distancing, and were given a supply of gloves, masks, and sanitizers. 

On day one, the kitchens provided 600 people with kichadi (a dish of rice and beans). On day two they served  rice, curry, and vegetables.  

The volunteers also distributed groceries to needy families in rural areas, often in locations where no other help was available. This is Chavi Devi’s story.

Birsaram Village, Population 1,721

Chavi Devi lives in Birsaram, a village in Jaridih block, Bokaro district, Jharkhand. After her three children were born, she lost her husband 10 years ago at the age of 25.

Because of a mental health disorder, Chavi is unable to support herself. Now widowed, she and her children moved in with her aging parents. Today, her oldest son, 16, works in Bangalore and is the family’s sole wage earner.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced a lockdown, her son was in Bangalore, which meant he could not visit their village to bring money for his mother.

After a few days, Chavi’s food ran out. One day, when she hadn’t eaten for two days, a Pradan volunteer knocked on her door. Her name was Samla Kumari and she invited Chavi to come with her.

Samla escorted Chavi to where Pradan had set up a rations station. There Chavi was given 10 kg of rice, 1 kg dal, a packet of salt and turmeric, and two bars of soap.

Shocked, but happy and thankful, Chavi asked if there was any more help coming from the local or national government, to which Samla had to inform her that no, Pradan is the only source of rations for vulnerable families like Chavi’s.

“I have lost hope and our conditions are deteriorating every day, the help I received from Pradan brings happiness in my family’s life for some days.”

—Chavi Devi

Share & Care continues to monitor the situation and deliver help to those most in need. So far, across six blocks in Jharkhand:

• 5 Community Kitchens in support of 597 households
• Dry rations in support of 1,274 households

The post COVID-19 in Rural India: Who Will Help the Vulnerable? appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

Believing that gender equity is your right isn’t easy when you’ve been told your entire life that you need your father’s, then your husband’s, permission to do most anything. Or when you witness the disappointment when a newborn turns out to be female.

These prejudices are ingrained in women, especially those living rurally and without real-life examples of how it could — and should — be

The Women Empowerment Program

Share & Care has focused on empowering women since our founding nearly 40 years ago (1982). In 2006 we defined our stance for women empowerment, then in 2014 we formally established the Women Empowerment Signature program, which over the last three years alone has empowered 25,000 women and children — and earlier this year we announced  that our 2020 goal is 20,200.

We’re able to reach so many and set seemingly impossible goals by partnering with trusted and highly vetted NGOs who share our mission to bring equality training, personal safety education, livelihood opportunities, character building, and leadership skills to India’s most vulnerable women, teens, and children across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Jammu, and Kashmir.

Self-Help Groups: Women Helping Themselves

A few short months ago (pre-COVID-19), three Share & Care Women Empowerment Committee members — Sharad Shah (Share & Care president), Dr. Ketki Shah (Women Empowerment program director), and Jyotsna Shah (Pradan coordinator) — visited Jharkhand  for a field visit with Sukanta Sarkar and his team from Pradan, a partner NGO founded on the belief that well-educated professionals working within communities can bring both the empathy and knowledge needed to help poor people improve their lives.

COVID-19 in Rural India: Who Will Help the Vulnerable?

As of Mother’s Day, India will be on day 47 of the country-wide lockdown. Unfortunately, the shutdown has left thousands of vulnerable people and families — including daily wage earners, single women, and migrant workers — without food on a daily basis. Read more.

During the visit, our team was introduced to seven women who had been involved with self-help groups for various lengths of time. We’ve written about women’s self-help groups before, an approach pioneered by Pradan to mobilize poor communities and improve their livelihoods. (First introduced in 1987, self-help groups are now used by other grassroots NGOs as well as public organizations.)

Meeting these women proved to be very emotional. “What occurred at the meeting was profound!” Jyotsna Shah told me. She continued:

During our meeting we immediately observed that the women were very vocal, open, confident, and had great aspirations. They seemed determined to advance in life with their hard work for their family and community. They also had a cordial and respectful relationship with each other. These women are considered trailblazers for their community.

These are just two of the women they met that day, both were housewives with no exposure outside of their home until they joined a self-help group:

Madina

Madina was barely able to support her family, then one day she joined a self-help group. 

Through the self-help groups she learned about gender equity, farming, and animal rearing. From there she was elected as head of the watershed with earnings of Rs2200, which allowed her to place her two boys in boarding school. 

She also has a savings account under her own name, and had her name added to their land and house deeds.

“[They] educated me about all these matters. Now I feel confident I can do ANYTHING ANYWHERE! I have gained great respect in my family, as well as in the villages. We respect each other although they are from different backgrounds.”

—Madina

Mitha

Mitha had been a homemaker with no exposure outside of her home, then one day she joined a self-help group. 

Mitha has worked with Pradan for the last three years as head of her community self-help group. She calls on women to join the group by telling her story, and how it could become their story.

Her family, and the families of the women she spoke to, were opposed of course, but she persevered.

Once they joined, Mitha trained them in gender equity, their rights, and law and order of an equitable society. Knowledge and awareness made them stronger.

Through the self-help group, they also created a microloan program, with each woman contributing. The fund is used for members needing to borrow money for farming, home repairs, even marriage. Mostly, it strengthened their ability to advocate for themselves.

She also reports that abuse has gone down too. (If only it would go away completely.)

“The women as one self-help group are stronger, and we are raising our voices, we want CHANGE!”

—Mitha

Our Important Work Continues

Share & Care’s dedication to women empowerment is stronger than ever.

Our work with Sabarmati Ashram is an example of reaching women earlier in their lives to drastically change their outcomes. Our support actively addresses safety, gender equality, character building, and leadership skills for these young women, so that gender biases are not carried down from generation to generation. 

Working in rural communities where poverty and patriarchal traditions affect women most, Share & Care and Pradan are aligned in the belief that people with knowledge and empathy should work with underprivileged communities to bring about a social change. We thank and congratulate Pradan for the important work they’ve done over the last 30 years, and for the work we’ve accomplished together to promote sustainable livelihood and social change in the poorest areas of India — including the women of Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand. These women suffer under the worst forms of gender-based discrimination. They are left alone to care for their family, with too little money, as their husbands leave the area seeking employment. Even worse, when the men are closer to home, the patriarchal tradition means also dealing with domestic violence.

We continue to support the concept of self-help groups to collectivize large populations of women to work toward increased food security, increased household incomes, and a safer, more equitable community.

When you support Share & Care, you support all women.

DONATE NOW

The post A Witness to Empowerment appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

What is a “grassroots” organization?

Grassroots organizations work with a bottom-up approach, engaging people on a local level in order to ultimately effect change on a national (or international) level.

For example, gender inequality is an immensely complex issue that’s deeply rooted in traditions and institutions. Combating it requires collective efforts within every level of society. Through our Women Empowerment Signature Program, we’ve teamed up with multiple NGOs that are helping rural women overcome barriers to equality within their own societies and cultures. Some of these organizations utilize self-help groups and peer mentoring to educate communities about gender issues, while others focus on livelihood or personal finance training.

While the approaches may vary between villages, the goal is to employ locally tailored solutions that create ripples of change throughout larger regions.

What is a “holistic” approach?

Working with a holistic approach means to take all aspects of an issue — i.e., emotional, economic, societal, and environmental factors — into account. In short, it means to look at the big picture.

Through our Educate 2 Success Signature Program, we work holistically to provide at-risk students with the tools and support they need to flourish. For instance, E2S beneficiaries receive much more than school supplies and classes. They also receive personal counseling, nutritious food, weekend confidence-building workshops, and peer activities.

While it is important for these children to do well in school, we know that guidance and support are the real keys to unlocking their full potential.

When considering how to help any marginalized person or group of people, we aim to truly empower — to guide them toward self-sufficiency so that they may continue helping themselves and, eventually, uplift others around them.

How you can help:

Our holistic, grassroots approach has provided thousands of individuals in rural India with education, gender equality, livelihood opportunities, lifesaving healthcare, and much more.

To contribute to our mission to create a happier world — one person at a time — please use the link below to make a donation today.

CREATE A HAPPIER WORLD

The post It Takes a Village: Creating a Happier World, One Community at a Time appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.

According to the World Health Organization, at least half of the people living in the world today do not have access to the basic health services they need. And in India alone, nearly 600 million people — mostly in rural areas — have little to no access to healthcare at all.

That’s why our Healthcare 2 Unreached program has joined forces with GRAVIS, a renowned NGO making incredible strides in improving healthcare access in remote areas of India.

For more than 35 years, GRAVIS has served marginalized communities in the Thar Desert — which, despite its long history of severe droughts, is the most densely populated desert on the planet. In addition to living with virtually no basic health services, people in this area also face issues like food and water scarcity, feudalism, and extreme gender discrimination. These conditions have resulted in the widespread neglect of women and children, high pregnancy and miscarriage rates, and significant malnourishment among children under 15.

In early 2017, Share & Care and GRAVIS initiated the Improving Child and Mother Survival project to improve life for the most marginalized members of society in this desert.

How the Project Works

The Improving Child and Mother Survival project is estimated to affect 600 women, 1,200 children, and 400 adolescents in the Osian block of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. The objective of the project is to reduce infant and maternal mortality in three specific villages in this region. To meet that objective, we are using four main strategies:

1. Conduct trainings tailored to the needs of women, children, and adolescents.

Share & Care and GRAVIS both operate according to the Gandhian philosophy of self-reliance and working toward the sustainable development of rural areas. Because of this, community-wide education is a core component of the project.

For women, regular group trainings are conducted (with 30 to 40 participants) on topics like reproductive health, nutrition, hygiene, and the prevention of diseases. As a result, these women feel more confident in taking control of their health and well-being.

For adolescents, training camps focus on similar health and personal care topics. These camps, held separately for boys and girls, also address relevant subjects such as puberty and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Younger children receive nutrition training sessions, in which they are educated about dietary needs and the importance of a balanced diet.

Since early 2017, there have been 12 group trainings for women, 24 training camps for adolescents, and 12 nutrition camps for children.

2. Empower locals to work as peer educators.

Village health workers assist with organizing health meetings, household discussions, and home visits. Known as VHWs, village health workers are local women with a desire to serve their communities. They are trained by GRAVIS and work in their respective villages as volunteers and health educators.

Currently, six VHWs meet regularly with hospital members and project staff. These women have not only shown improvement in their own abilities, but they’ve also begun playing important roles in the overall development of their communities.

3. Provide pregnant women with lifesaving antenatal care.

Twelve antenatal camps have been held in the project area to provide pregnant women with health checkups and pregnancy information. In just one year since the project launched, these camps have benefited over 370 women.

4. Introduce tools to enhance food security.

Nutrition training — aimed at reducing conditions caused by malnutrition, like anemia and vitamin deficiencies — is not helpful if nutritious food is unavailable. To address this reality, GRAVIS has introduced Arid Horticulture Units, an effective way to grow fruits and vegetables even in a harsh desert ecosystem. So far, 50 of these units have been established for the poorest and most vulnerable households, and the beneficiary families have been trained on techniques to properly care for them.

How You Can Help

The Improving Child and Mother Survival project is supported by Share & Care, which means it is ultimately made possible by generous donors like you. If you’d like to help us create safer and healthier lives for India’s neediest women and children, we invite you to contribute to our Healthcare 2 Unreached Signature Program.

Ready to make a difference?

DONATE TODAY

The post Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality in the Thar Desert appeared first on Share & Care Foundation.