Respecting the elderly

“Orphan elders”are older people who have outlived all their family and are neglected by their kith and kin, therefore they don’t have any caregivers. They are a largely ignored population whose numbers are expected to burgeon with the medical explosion that has paved way for a longer life and smaller families. Neglect is the most common form of abuse towards orphan elders at 48.7 % followed by emotional, financial and physical abuse.

SCAD helps give the orphan elders a life of dignity through programmes including a monthly old age pension, medical assistance, elders’ self help groups and annual exposure visits for elders.

One such exposure visit was organized for the elders by SCAD’s Mr. Velmurugan, who is responsible for the Elders Programme and is loved by the elders just as he loves them. Around 50 elders excitedly took part in the exposure visit to Kanyakumari on Sunday, 22^nd April, 2012. The group left with a prayer in the early morning. Everyone enjoyed the travel time with the elders and the SCAD staff dancing and singing and cracking jokes. On the way to Kanyakumari, they visited Thiruparappu Falls and all the elders enjoyed taking a bath in the waterfalls. Shamsudheen, a differently abled elder, happily said,

“Being physically challenged, I have never had the chance of visiting any tourist spot or places of interest. This is the first time that I am taking bath in a waterfall and I am thankful to SCAD for having given me this wonderful opportunity.”  

From there they went to a place called Maathur to see the Hanging Bridge and visited a temple. Finally, on reaching Kanyakumari, the elders visited places of historical importance such as Vivekanandha Rock, Gandhi Memorial, Thiruvalluvar statue and most of all enjoyed seeing the sun-set at around six o’ clock. Then they went on a shopping spree and enjoyed buying themselves little things. With their shopping they started for home, but with heavy hearts as this memorable day had come to an end.

On Friday, 27^th April, 2012, around 25 elders enthusiastically took part in the exposure visit to the hilly area of Kaaraiyaar, where they viewed the dam, went on a stroll amongst the herbal garden, visited the Pabanasam falls and the temple nearby and played a few light games. Next they went to the river banks of Mookudal, where the elders enjoyed bathing for some time.

Mrs. Petchammal cheerfully said, “All my life it was my dream to go on a picnic to some nice place for a day, which was never fulfilled. This dream of mine has come true towards the end of my life; thanks to SCAD.”

Murray and Janet visit SCAD

Murray & Janet Frankland, founders of Salt of the Earth, visit the ‘model village’ Sevalkulam, in the Ottapidaram block to view the new fish culture initiative at the village ooranie (rainwater harvest tank). SCAD have been working with this village for around 20 years and have successfully established: Women’s Self Help Groups, supplementary education, energy management, sports youth groups, vetinary camps, income generating initiatives, health education, micro insurance, nutritional demonstrations, tree plantation, organic kitchen gardens, bio-char trial plots – as a result village life has changed dramatically for these 120 families.

The fish culture initiative alone brings in a significant annual income that is managed by the Village Water Committee (a voluntary group of dedicated village members). This income provides 1% interest loans for families for income generating purposes as well as ensuring the sustainability of the project through ooranie maintenance. The fish are also extremely important in supplementing the village diet. Tree saplings have been planted around the ooranie which will provide vital shade and will reduce water evaporation rates. With these successful trials SCAD aims to roll out the fish culture initiative in 25 more villages with access to ooranies in 2012.

Salt of the Earth

My name is Katie Allen and I am new to Salt of the Earth. I spent six months last year working with Cletus and Amali Babu at Social Change and Development (SCAD) in Tamil Nadu. Now I am back in the UK and I am promoting the wonderful work that the teams at SCAD and SOTE do.

I am appealing for your help either by setting up a regular donation for planting trees or sponsoring a child or by supporting us on our twitter and facebook pages or by just putting us in contact with people who you think could help us.

Sponsor a child

The Child sponsorship scheme at SCAD is a chance to show a child in India that you care about their welfare. The money helps the families and the communities to go to school and get an education for a better future for the whole family. It also helps them support their families to work in self help groups so that they can learn how to save small amounts of money and plan for their collective futures.

To sponsor a child you can set up a direct debit for a minimum of £12.99 per month. You will receive a school report from the child once a year so that you can see their development and also a personal letter once a year. You are also free to write to the child if you wish. You can find out more about child sponsorship and sign up here

Sponsor a village 

SCAD specialises in facilitating communities through a development process from poverty and marginalization to self sufficiency and empowerment over a period of approximately 10 years. Throughout this process SCAD supports the community with setting up self-help groups, diversifying their income generation, social and political empowerment, school and health committees and environmental protection programmes.

If you want to support a village for one year you can give £2,000 and if you want to support a village for up to ten years you can donate £20,000. You can find out more about village sponsorship here

Help SCAD plant trees

SCAD have in place three large nurseries. One at the SCAD campus, one in FX collage and one at the KVK centre in Tuticorin. The SCAD campus is an oasis of green in a typically dry region. Tamil Nadu suffers dreadfully from drought. Rapid deforestation has lead to an even hotter and dryer climate.

SCAD is committed to planting trees to green as many areas as possible. They offer incentives for communities to take saplings and nurture them as they grow and they have experienced that areas where they have planted trees are cooler and experience more localised rainfall.

If you are looking to offset any carbon use from travelling then you can plant trees with SCAD. Each tree costs as little as 80p to plant and care for. You can find out more about our tree planting programme here