SCAD work with VITOL for the future of the differently-abled

The Indian charity ‘The Association of People with Disabilities’ claims 17 million people with disabilities in India do not receive support such as mobility aids. SCAD is working with VOTOL to help support young people with physical and mental disabilities. So far in the last six months we have been very busy with this mission and managed to organise

• 5 Orthopaedic and assessment camps attended by a total of 310children with physical and/or learning difficulties a total of 490 children with physical and/or learning difficulties received treatment.
• 56 parents received training and support in caring for their children with learning and physical difficulties
• 114 Government ID cards were successfully applied for in order that the children concerned will be eligible for state benefits for their condition
• 58 “at risk” pregnant mothers received training aimed at reducing the risk of birth defects and 15 of these mothers had follow up training once their babies were born
• 10 older young people received Income Generating Programme loans and support to start their own business.
• 5 older young people received vocational training in either tailoring, bicycle repair or petty shop work
• 55 school teachers received training on how to best support and inspire differently abled children in their classes and to encourage inclusive education
• CBR Training was given to 98 members of the Women’s Self Help Groups
• 3 Special Self Help Groups have been formed
• 12 children have been provided with aids and appliances

Case study

Chinnakarppagam, is 18 years old and she is from Vilathikulam. She has Cerbral Palsy and mental disabilities. Because of serious difficulties with coordination she never learnt to walk properly and has always crawled.

ChinnaKarppagam has been receiving CBR treatment and support from SCAD since 2009. SCAD arranged a Government ID card and monthly Stipend for her. She has been given progressive daily exercises to strengthen her legs and improve coordination and balance.

Field workers encouraged Chinnakarppagam to walk every day with the help of a support in the home and motivated her to help her mother with cleaning and general housework.

She has now learnt to support her mother in the home and is no longer considered a burden. After regular strengthening exercises and regular treatment she has been able to walk inside and outside since December 2011. Her mother is extremely happy. To help us to help another child like Chinnakarppagam please donate here.

Cancer Camp

Beneficiaries’ Medical History taken at the camp by a specialist from Krishna Hospital

75 women received free Cancer Screening in their remote rural village last Thursday, 22^nd March 2012, thanks to SCAD.

Screening and Awareness Cancer Camps are a new SCAD initiative, delivered in partnership with the Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai and Krishna Hospital, Tirunelveli. These community based camps aim to bring about an awareness of cancer and to screen for early detection. Women in rural villages do not have easy access to medical facilities and are extremely unlikely to go for screenings without symptoms. Through the Women’s Self Help Groups SCAD are able to educate women about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of cancer and to encourage regular screenings.

Two community based camps have been held so far and SCAD aim to deliver 4 camps every quarter in villages across the five SCAD area blocks. SCAD are ideal facilitators for this rural based enterprise because of the 5,000 strong Women’s groups and the 27 years of trust and experience within the villages. SCAD Volunteers and Animators coordinate the camps and provide a friendly face to all women that attend. Specialist administration staff, female doctors and female nurses from Krishna Hospital, Tirunelveli takes detailed medical histories and then deliver cervical and breast screening on site in a private and hygienic environment. There is also a separate area for men to receive oral screening. Women are made aware of the camps through the women’s self-help groups and through SCAD staff going from door to door prior to the camp day. Any abnormalities found during screenings will receive immediate further testing and diagnosis at the Krishna Hospital, Tirunelveli followed by referral to the Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai. Any treatment costs will be nominal, based on individuals’ ability to pay.

These camps are vital in educating rural communities on the importance of early diagnosis and in detecting cancer cases in rural villages thus saving lives.

 

Celebrating Women – Mrs Christy

SCAD’s greatest asset is not only the Chairman  & Vice Chairman but each and every team member. It is with such a dedicated and committed team that SCAD is able to aim so high and continually achieve so much.

Mrs Christy, Health Coordinator, is one of hundreds of committed SCAD staff members. Mrs Christy’s role, working with SCAD since 2006, is to provide training, support and care to pregnant mothers across all five area blocks. Mrs Christy conducts pregnant mothers training days in all SCAD villages. Village Animators and Volunteers inform any pregnant women or new mother of their next closest training and invite them to attend. For young women who have often received little education these days are essential in ensuring the best pre-natal and post-natal care for the child. It also provides a huge support and reassurance to mothers who have little access to a doctor or medical services.

Mrs Christy importance was highlighted yet again last month after giving training in a very poor salt pan village, Thuppasipatti. A young pregnant mother called Mrs Muthu Selvi attended the training. Mrs Muthu from Thuppasipatti village had recently moved to Chennai with her husband but returned home to be with her parents when she realised she was expecting her second baby. She started suffering from abdominal pain and bleeding so went to hospital but with no successful diagnosis. The bleeding continued so the parents phoned Mrs Christy. Mrs Christy told them to go to the hospital where she joined them and insisting on Mrs Muthu having a scan. Mrs Muthu was diagnosed with hydatidiform mole which is an abnormal form of pregnancy where a non-viable fertilised egg implants in the uterus; it requires surgical removal as soon as possible after diagnosis. Without quick diagnosis hydatidiform moles can develop into a rapidly-growing cancer.

Mrs Muthu is now recovering. It is through caring and committed SCAD professionals that thousands of people’s lives in Tamil Nadu are saved and benefitted.

SCAD Team – we are so grateful to you all.

Testimonials from the SOTE 2012 tour

Salt of the Earth have just returned from another ‘Incredible India’ trip this January. A wonderful time was had by all and here are some testimonials to wet your appetite for 2013. Get in touch if you are interested in joining in!

“It was an outstanding trip, very well organised and led. The individual SCAD projects were very good , and the caring and sensitive approach to disability just what one would hope for. What impressed me most though, was the wide scope of SCAD and the ambition to uplift the whole region, with many hundreds of women’s groups and now, some 250 women elected onto local councils. This is rural development with real oomph, and makes our little contributions go an incredibly long way. The holiday section was wonderful, the houseboat trip was pure bliss “

Jonathan Seagrave

“Really, what can I say!! It was a truly amazing trip, I can’t call it a “holiday”, it was analmost overwhelming experience! The organization and planning was very thorough, with very little left to chance, and one must always be prepared to cope with the vagaries of India and “life”!! The itinerary was very good and very interesting and I felt I had really “been to India”! Thursday I think of as my “Michael Pallin” day, meeting our maharaja … and then the train … all good stuff. There was always a feeling of being cared for, and no need to feel anxious as help would always be at hand. Our experience with the children and around the villages is almost beyond words.”

Caroline

Salt of the Earth 2012 tour of SCAD and Kerala

The first Salt of the Earth Supporters two week visit to India went very well ably led by Eddie and Anne Walker. A week seeing the great work that SCAD does with our money was followed by a tour around Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Participants all enthusiastic and we already have 15 interested people for next years tour. Book now to avoid disappointment!

It has been great to visit some of the projects we support and meet with the managers and staff. It brings all the administration work in the UK to life when you can see for yourself what is being achieved with our support. It was good to meet with the Head Teacher of the school for children with learning and physical difficulties. Guythri had only just joined when we met her last year so it was grand to hear how many new developments she had brought in like parent teacher meetings and dancing for the children. It is so good too to spend time with these special children. With them language does not matter at all and it is great fun for all concerned just to hang out with them. The boys particularly like to “high five” and can’t get enough of it.

It was also special to open a large rain water harvesting tank at a school in a fishing village and to plant some trees. The teachers, children and some parents were all so pleased to see us and it was a joy to interact with them. It was certainly worth the four hour round trip on poor roads dodging thousands of on foot pilgrims flocking to the Hindu temple in Trichendur. They mostly walk barefooted and think nothing of travelling over 150 kilometres in this way. Their devotion is very moving and it certainly makes you wonder.

Finally we have had a bit if fun in the last few days doing some filming. It is Salt of the Earth’s 25 th anniversary next year so we thought one of the ways to celebrate would be to make a short film. It won’t make the Oscars but I hope it will entertain and please our thousand plus supporters.

Written by Murray Frankland

Introducing Kate Hartley – a SCAD volunteer

My name is Kate Hartley, I am 24 years old and I live in the South East of England. At the age of 18 I went travelling on my gap year to India, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. Following this I completed my Music degree at Southampton University in 2009. Whilst continuing with my performing and teaching the harp I started a new job for a Community Interest Company which made films promoting environmental and sustainable education to Primary Schools. In 2010 I embarked on a new more challenging role as the PA and Office Manager for the internationally celebrated artist Alexander Creswell.

In December 2011 I finally took the plunge and gave up everything that I had built up to pursue an itch that I had had since 2006 when I fell in love with India. I had done a variety of fundraising and volunteering in the UK but I wanted to sink my teeth into a real challenge. I chose SCAD for that very reason and decided to volunteer for between 3 – 5 months in 2012. I was particularly interested in SCAD’s focus on women’s empowerment through the women’s self-help groups and the sustainable approach throughout. As a rural NGO based in Tamil Nadu, I knew that SCAD would give me a real insight into local, low caste village life, as well as an opportunity to experience a completely different world. I chose SCAD because unlike a number of other charities they put the needs of the project and the local people above the needs of the volunteer. It is not a money making exercise tailored to suit the needs of the western visitor, but an opportunity to be welcomed into the community which values the extra help whilst offering an insight into how a visionary organisation operates.

For me this will be a life changing venture through which I hope I can help in some small way. I will also gain an experience which will benefit not only my career, but the rest of my life.

We support organic alternatives

At SCAD we are concerned with any initiative which will help us to protect the environment locally. One of the best projects that we have is the Soil Fertility Project. This is an ingenious initiative which provides SCAD farmers with two different organic products to use on the land to increase fertility.

The first product that we use in the soil is called Biochar. Biochar is a very nutrient rich type of charcoal. The charcoal is made through a specific process called pyrolysis which entails burning organic materials such as straw, rice husks and wood at very high temperatures so that they keep all their good minerals.

The biochar that is created is then mixed with the soil when saplings are planted. Biochar has a very large surface area in which good minerals and nutrients can live and feed the roots of the plant thereby promoting healthy growth.

The second product that we use is an organic fertiliser which is produced by our SCAD bio-digester. This bio-digester takes organic waste including the left overs from the student mess halls and local foliage and processes it into fertiliser. An additional benefit from this process is that it releases methane which is then captured and used to run all of the street lighting on the SCAD campus.

Watch this video about the work we do to protect the environment

If you want to support us you can donate online. Thank you

December Salt Seller

Our Salt of the Earth December Saltseller is out!

This quarter the features include the big news that we have passed the £3 million pound donation mark. Murray Frankland earlier this year appeared on local radio to announce our wonderful achievement. It is down to the dedication of our generous supporters over the years that this has been possible. The second feature is the role of the village level volunteers who work at SCAD and keep the organisation reaching out to people. There is an update on our projects that we support out there and a write up by Kim Roberts and her daughter about their visit this summer. The breaking news at SCAD this summer has been their venture into biodigestion at the main SCAD campus. Tons and tons of waste is now being regenerated into biofuel and biofertiliser.

To download a copy of the saltseller please click here and to see more information on the website please click here

Employment & Sabbatical Teaching Opportunities in India

Not-for-Profit Institution in Tamil Nadu Seeks UK Teachers for New International School.

Social Change & Development (SCAD), a not-for-profit education provider in Southern India, is offering UK teachers opportunities for employment or sabbatical as it establishes a new international school in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

SCAD World School will open in May 2012 with preparations beginning Dec 2011. It is seeking experienced teachers from the UK to help prepare for the internationally recognised English medium Cambridge Syllabus. SCAD is looking for head teachers and staff for primary and secondary schools, overseeing examinations at IGCSE, AS and A levels. There are also places for subject teachers and administrative staff.

The offer includes one return flight to India and all accommodation, food and local travel plus a salary package based on position and experience.

Speaking during his recent UK visit, SCAD Founder Dr Cletus Babu said, “Our intention is to bring the high standards and quality of UK education to the young people of Tamil Nadu. We invite teachers in the UK to join us for this exciting adventure and in the process enjoy an extraordinary personal experience with us in India.

SCAD is a not-for-profit organisation that currently runs 11 schools, colleges and technical institutions educating over 10,000 students. The proceeds from these institutions are reinvested in local education initiatives. These benefit very poor people in rural villages creating opportunities for further education and a better life. Some 500,000 people currently benefit directly from SCAD rural development projects.

For more information and job descriptions please contact Katie Allen on 07900 214608 or at development@salt-of-the-earth.org.uk

A full house

We are delighted with the interest our supporters and friends have shown in the 2012 SOTE tour to SCAD, which is now fully booked – in fact we’ve squeezed in an extra person! Our tour allows us to see first-hand the great work SCAD is achieving with your generous donations … and take in some of the spectacular sights of Southern India.

With such a positive response, we hope to run more tours to visit SCAD. If you couldn’t make it this time, now is your chance to come in 2013 – 4 to 19 January. Please email me:  eddie@thehay.greenisp.org  if you’re thinking of joining us, or if you would like to know more about the tour…

…I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Eddie Gaylard  Tour Leader