nandri – Page 3 – Nandri Blog

October 14, 2014

The sewing machine is putting food on the table

Angelammal has two children namely Santhosh Verma studying 9^th Standard and Akash in 4^th standard. Santhosh is in Children sponsorship programme . Their father who was a coolie, (a daily labourer), died three years ago. Thereafter Mrs Angelammal settled in her mother’s house without any job. And the life became very difficult for her without the basic necessities to look after her two beloved children.

At that time we supported her through micro-finance income generation Loan with Cheque of Rs.20,000/- to buy a sewing machine. With this sewing machine she had repaid her loan and now she is maintaining her family.

To add to her dismay, three months ago, her brother banished mrs Angelammal from the mother’s house where she was staying with her brother due to a small quarrel. And now she lives in a rented house.Widows have a very difficult time in India. In many cases where a mother and her children are living with the father’s family and if he dies, they can be removed from the house.

She earns through this tailoring machine around Rs.3000/- and when there is village festival or other auspicious days such as “Diwali” – ‘festival of light’ she may earn Rs. 3,000/- to Rs. 6,000/- exceptionally and thus the amount she gets from the sewing machine, she pays her house rent Rs. 1,000/- and Rs. 2,000/- for provision, food and other expenses. And now she thanks NANDRI whole heartily for its support.

If you would like to make a donation, once off or regular, to help us continue this good work. Please click the following link

http://www.nandri.org/donate/

October 7, 2014

“I need to sell one of my 18 month old twins”

Six months ago I wrote that a mother who had just joined a mother’s self-help group announced that she needed to sell one of her twins as she could not afford to feed them and her other two children. Through our help and support we managed to convince her not to do so.

Today I met her with the twins and everybody is very happy.

We went to school in a slum area in the local city. During a visit the children were eating their lunch. I saw one child of about five walking from the school with her dinner plate partly eaten. She was evidently bringing the food home for her mother.

We visited a small village this evening with a local mayor. He had arranged for solar based electricity lighting in this small village where they’re often without electricity for three or four hours in the evening. This good man also supports the education of 60 children. We passed by one home where one teenager said she could not do her homework as her bottle of ink had run dry. The cost is about €.15.

We take for granted being able to keep our children, having enough food and having electricity and biros. Many of our client families don’t have this luxury.

Thank you to our sponsors because without you I would not be here and experiencing some of the good stories and the way we are able to change peoples lives forever.

October 6, 2014

Down on our farm

For those of you who don’t know, in December 2013 we leased a 10 acre farm. Well it was just 10 acres of bare ground which we have now turned into a farm.

We built an accommodation unit for the people who work there. We have just completed a cow shed for 30 cows and calves.

We built a number of chicken units to accommodate the organic free range chickens we are producing.

We have installed three solar panels to ensure constant temperature for the chicks and electricity to pump water for irrigation.

Our organic free range chickens will have a much higher value and of course the chickens will have had a much better life as they are free to run around in a large enclosure. Today I believe we have 3000 chicks.

We also have 300 ducks, a fish pond a rice paddy, peanut fields and we are growing feed for the cows.

We have a few goats and our next plan is for sheep.

Using our micro finance income generation program we are going to roll out small chicken producing units for our mothers.

We have two new trustees in Chennai who are setting up a website to market our free range organic chickens.

Our plan is well underway to make almost enough profit to cover the costs of local salaries and overheads. We are also going to start training some of our mothers in better ways of looking after their cows.

It’s amazing how much you can do with 10 acres of land. A number of our local people are working very hard.

October 4, 2014

It’s not always smiling faces

Most of my photos show happy children but this does not show the full picture. Included in recent photos is a boy who saw his father setting fire to his mother and killing her. Alcoholism may be the reason or family pride. The boy (not featured here) is now adopted by his mother’s sister thank God. He is included in our sponsorship programme. The money which we receive from our sponsors every month make a huge difference to lives such as this child. Please keep it coming sponsors.

Today we are meeting 30 children or should I say adults who graduated this year.

October 3, 2014

2 maths grads will work in the fields.

Life ain’t easy for 2 sisters who did a maths degree. As they could not afford to pay 3rd year fees of Rs.14,000 (approx €180) each plus Rs.8,000 transport each the college won’t give them their certificates so they will work in the fields to pay the fees and then they need Rs. 50,000 each to do post grad to become teachers.

Their mother had received an income generation loan from us last year. She used the money to purchase a grinding machine. She grinds rice to make rice flour etc. She grinds rice for other people and also for herself and then with her own rice she makes a local rice product called idle, like a small pancake. The husband is a carpenter and earns relatively good money but he works in one of the cities and rarely sends money home.

We will assist them next year with our third level loan programme to ensure they complete their education and achieve their full potential.

I met the two girls today and have a
photograph which I will send to the sponsor of one of them but for privacy reasons I’m not showing it here.

October 2, 2014

India – country of contrasts

India today is a country of huge contrasts.

Indian TV news reported that parents in this state of Tamil Nadu were arrested today for burning their daughter for marrying a Dalit, (low caste untouchables in India and these are the people which we mainly help)

A few days ago a satellite which was launched three years ago reached Mars much to the pride of all India.

Today Mr Modi the new Prime Minister launched a campaign called clean India. The whole country is absolutely filthy, lacking in sanitation, sewerage and people don’t help by the amount of litter which is thrown around.

Mr Modi evidently revolutionised his state of Gujarat. If he can do for the whole country what he did for that state then things will change.

October 1, 2014

Arrival in India

I arrived yesterday with Caoilfhionn, my daughter, who is joining us for a week. She is flabbergasted by India. I am used to it but she finds amazing the numbers of people everywhere, the cows on the streets, colourful saris, beautiful women, gorgeous children, the constant beeping, noise and litter but most of all the friendliness of everyone.

Today we went to the farm where they are making great progress. Cowshed almost completed for 30 cows, free range organic chicken unit finished. They also have ducks and have filled a pond with fish. There is also a turkey running around who won’t be there in January 🙁

Afterwards we went hunting for a site. More anon.