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.

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