Chandima
16650
mer1442-1
MER1442
Girl
India
October 30, 2009
14
Chandima lives in a thatch house with an asbestos in Assam, India. She lives with her parents and her older sister. She is currently in grade eight and her favourite subject is literature. Chandima always keeps a smile on her face. She enjoys studying and learning new things. Sponsorship enables children to attend class every day and have the supplies they need to complete their education, grow up healthy, and achieve their dreams.
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If you wish to pay for your sponsorship through automatic withdrawal from your bank account, please indicate this on the form that will be included with the child folder you receive in the mail.
You may also call our toll free number 1.800.776.6855 to make your request for sponsorship.

India

Chalice has been working with children and seniors in India since 1996, in 13 sites in both rural and urban communities.

In the areas where Chalice works, many of the children and families are stigmatized due to caste and tribal affiliation, and HIV/AIDS is endemic. Children with disabilities and conflict refugees likewise face discrimination and have poor access to basic public services such as schools and medical facilities. The job market is fiercely competitive, and many parents rely on daily, seasonal labour to earn income. Children are encouraged to drop out of school at an early age in order to find daily wage work. Young women are often discouraged from pursuing post-secondary education and careers in favour of marriage and running a household.

Through the support of sponsors and donors, Chalice and our local partners focus on:
  1. Education – Ensuring each child completes their education until high school graduation, at a minimum.  Our Indian sites places special emphasis on providing access to education to children living with stigma or physical health conditions.
  2. Livelihood- providing capacity-building training for parents, especially women, to assist them in finding work or beginning their own income-generating projects.
  3. Care for the Extremely Vulnerable – Providing adequate care and resources for marginalized people in extreme need, including orphans and individuals living with HIV/AIDS, leprosy, disabilities, and severe social stigmatization.

Our India Sites:

Assam - Chalice has partnered with Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod in the geographically isolated state of Assam since 2009. Sr.Bindu Chacko oversees the sponsorship program, providing educational and rehabilitative services to the children in the communities, with a special focus on improved mobility and independence of children with disabilities.

Bangalore - Chalice has partnered with Good Shepherd Sisters in the state of Karnataka  since 1998. Sr. Lissy Chacko oversees the sponsorship program which spans across seven rural, remote, and urban locations over two states. In addition to sponsorship, the Sisters provide work to improve the socio-economic status of families and communities, and offer skills development programs such as tailoring, gardening, handicrafts, and English as a Spoken Language.

Berhampur - Our Berhampur sponsor site is in the coastal city on the Bay of Bengal in Odisha state. Chalice has partnered with the Diocese of Berhampur to run our sponsorship program here since 2007. The site provides specialized medical care for children with disabilities, runs housing and latrine construction programs and trains parents to start their own small businesses.

Goa - Chalice has partnered with Congregation of Sisters of the Cross in the community of Honda, situated in North Goa, since 2015. Sr. Jyoti Almeida and the sisters run the sponsorship program in Holy Cross Corso Farm, a home for children who are orphaned, abandoned, from broken or disturbed families, or live on the streets.  In addition to sponsorship, the site provides remedial tutoring, special education classes, and counseling for migrant children with disabilities. The Sisters run a nutrition program and ensure the children have access to health clinics and medical needs. Site staff run workshops for local parents to increase awareness of the importance of education.

Imphal - Chalice has partnered with the Diocesan Social Services Society (DSSS) of the Archdiocese of Imphal  since 2011. Rev. Fr. Binoy oversees the sponsorship program spanning seven locations in two tribal villages, where public infrastructure is extremely under-developed, lacking basic resources such as schools, drinking water, irrigation systems, and adequate housing. In addition to sponsorship, the site provides capacity-building training for women and parents to promote income generation activities. They also place emphasis on sustainable rural development through natural resource management education and organic farming.  

Kerala - Chalice has partnered with the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod in two states in central and south India in 1997. Sr.Deepa Joseph runs the sponsorship program across eight sites, which includes a school for children with special needs. In addition to sponsorship, the site provides health care and nutrition programs. The Sisters work with families to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the siblings and parents of the sponsored children.

Mangalagiri - Chalice has partnered with the Good Shepherd Sisters across three Indian states since 2014. Sr. Rubia directs the sponsorship program in 7 rural, remote, and urban locations. In addition to sponsorship, the Sisters provide work to improve the socio-economic status of families and communities, and offer skills development programs such as tailoring, gardening, handicrafts, and English as a Spoken Language.

Nellore - Chalice has partnered with the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod in the Andhar Pradesh state since 2012. Sr. Matilda Soosai oversees the sponsorship program in Vianney Home for children and the very remote community of Mukwha. Vianney Home is a residence for orphaned and non-orphaned children with HIV/AIDS and disabilities, as well as children from stigmatized populations. Some rural children stay in the school hostel, while others stay at home with their family.
 
Orissa - Chalice has partnered with Sisters of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul across three Indian states since 1997. Sr. Dibya Stella Dung Dung, DC, oversees sponsorship for both children and seniors in seven locations, including a girls' and boys' hostel, a rehabilitation center for differently-abled children, and a home for elderly women who have no family or have been abandoned.  

Tamil – Chalice has partnered with the Diocese in the urban temple hub of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu state since 1999. Fr. Bosco runs the sponsorship program. The site provides the children with nutrition and health care. The site is also implementing an ambitious and wide-reaching  water and sanitation project in several remote villages. The site works with families to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the siblings and parents of the sponsored children, which includes the Skills@Chalice employment skills program.

Madurai - Chalice has partnered with the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod in rural, urban and remote tribal communities of Tamil Nadu since 1997. Sr. Amala oversees the sponsorship program for both children and seniors in eight sub-sites, which include schools and residences, a hostel for children, and a home for the elderly. In addition to sponsorship, the site runs tutoring programs, and children are encouraged to pursue extra-curricular activities including arts, sports, computer and cultural programs.



Sponsorship FAQs


What should I know before I become a sponsor?
  • That you are going to make a great difference to a child (or elder) and their family!
  • Sponsorship is $42 per month or $504 annually. There are multiple methods of payment.
  • Children are enrolled for sponsorship based on need and family circumstances, regardless of race, age, ability, gender, or religion. The children are not necessarily Catholic, although many are.
  • Sponsorship does not necessarily end at age 18. If your child pursues further education, you can still sponsor (at the same rate) for as long as s/he is studying.
My charitable giving decisions are based on research and financial trustworthiness. Why choose Chalice?
  • Chalice has an A rating and is ranked in the Charity Intelligence Top 100 charities.
  • For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management, Chalice commits 90.2 percent of its spending in support of programs.
  • Chalice’s sponsorship model pairs one child with one sponsor. Read more about our family funding model, which is unique in Canada.
  • Chalice is in control of distributing funds. The distribution of funds is mandated by Canada Revenue Agency regulations. We are audited by an external auditor and internal auditor. All the funds that are sent to the sites are audited on a quarterly basis.
  • You can read our Annual Reports and financial statements at any time. Check out Annual Report & Financials.
  • Chalice respects our supporters’ privacy. We keep all information on our supporters (and sponsored children) in a very secure system and do not release names or other information to other organizations.
  • Chalice is a registered charity in Canada under the Income Tax Act. Our CRA Registration Number is 13759 1012 RR0001.
There is so much need in the world... how can I choose a child/elder?
  • There are no “wrong choices”- every child or elder is in significant need of sponsorship. If there is a country, age, or gender that speaks to your heart the most, then feel free to let that guide your decision.
  • You can also contact us and we will help you choose.
  • If you are concerned about the duration of your sponsorship, perhaps consider an older teenager who may only need a few more years of support to complete their education.
I’m a sponsor! What does that mean for me?
  • You will receive correspondence from your child every year at Christmastime. This will include a new photo, a letter from your sponsor child and a status report from a Field Worker. You will also receive a Christmas card along with a sponsor site update from the Site Director.
  • If you need to change your mailing address or anything else about your personal information, just contact us.
  • You can write to your child at any time. We highly encourage this! Your sponsored friend would love to know more about you and your family. Many sponsors build strong bonds through their letters. Learn all about how to write to your child. 
  • We do not facilitate email correspondence or encourage social media connections. This protects both you and your friend’s safety and privacy.
  • You will get an official tax receipt for the full amount of your sponsorship. Income tax receipts are issued each February for donations processed in the previous year.
Can I do more?
  • You can send your child/elder extra funds, of any amount, any time you wish. These are called gifts of ‘special money.’ Many sponsors like to send extra amounts around Christmas or their child’s birthday.
  • If you become aware of any special needs for your child or their family, please contact us. We will contact the site on your behalf to get more information on how you can best help.
When does sponsorship end?
  • In a perfect world, either when the young person finishes their studies and enters the workforce, or their family reaches a level of income stability that they no longer need your financial support.
  • However, sometimes they must exit the program because they or their family moves or chooses to withdraw for personal reasons.
  • When your current sponsorship relationship concludes, we will contact you about your decision to sponsor another child or elder.
What if I can no longer sponsor?
  • We understand that personal circumstances change, and you may contact us to cancel your sponsorship at any time.
  • Please be assured that your child/elder will not lose their benefits. Chalice will continue to support them until they are paired with a new sponsor.
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