India
- Category: Countries
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:
- 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.
- Livelihood- providing capacity-building training for parents, especially women, to assist them in finding work or beginning their own income-generating projects.
- 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.