1. Also this month marks 16^th anniversary of our Goodwill Mission – Snehan organization.
2. Marks 5 year of Snehan Tailoring Centre.
3. Also for protecting Velankanni from the dangerous accidents.

After the thanks giving, we all had special lunch with laughter and ended with photography.

A 75 year old Venkatraman is Snehan beneficiary, and works in the income generating activities with Snehan NGO. He is single and homeless, and lives on the streets. One year back he was rehabilitated and given employment opportunities in Snehan income-generating activities. At the age of 75, getting employment is highly impossible especially in Pondicherry. Our argument is that every person can be productive with their own abilities and strengths. We Snehan assessed what Venkatraman is capable of.  Now he is working and earning for his daily expenses without looking at someone’s hand. He was struggling with cataract in the eyes. This week we Snehan supported him for the eye surgery and medication in the GH, after the surgery he can see very clearly. He is very happy and would be more efficient in his work. Snehan is happy to bring smiles on the life of the deprived. 

If you like and want to buy for personal use or for your shop call us to order. “Perfection with Smile”

Vani, a bright little girl, would rise early in her village home to complete her household work and walk 5 km to reach her school on time. This was her routine; she would never miss her school, even on rainy days. After she passed her 7th grade and was waiting to start her 8th-grade classes, her world turned upside down.

On the day she attained puberty, her mother decided that it was time to get the girl married off. Being a girl child, she needed “protection” and a “secured life” under the care of a man, the mother felt. Before even realising that her dreams were fading quickly, that her life would never be the same, Vani got married. Before her 22nd birthday, she was a mother to four children.

Did she give in quickly? No, she cried for many weeks leading up to her wedding day. She cried even after her wedding day but her voice was unheard and her cries for help were ignored. She did have a dream that was now shattered. Stuck in an unhappy marriage, she was staring at a long road to nowhere.

Like Vani, there are millions of girls who are stopped short of their rightful access to a life of their choice. They all have dreams, their own paths to explore but their wings are clipped, by parents, life partners or children. For many of them, life halts in the face of this disappointment. They don’t dare to dream again but for some, dreaming on is not a matter of choice — they just have to do it because it’s their only way out. .

Poornima Krishna was a catalyst at kanthari and mentor to Anumuthu, in the 2017 batch. She visited Snehan, Puducherry, to meet and engage with people at the organisation. She spoke with women in Snehan for about two hours — the conversations were anchored in the importance of following dreams and the mental fortitude to tide over challenges to those dreams.

The women opened up about their personal lives with Poornima and shared with her the struggles that have defined their lives. Poornima said she was inspired by the manner in which these women were finding their way back to life, after years of abuse and hardships. She also motivated them to regain their long-lost joys and revisit their unfulfilled dreams.

We thank Poornima and her son, Mihir, for their time at Snehan and all the feedback and suggestions.

Today we are happy to celebrate women’s day in our Snehan Tailoring Centre with high tea and photo shoot. They are trained tailors who make eco-friendly cotton traditional jhola bags for Snehan livelihood project. Our bags are sold around India and many parts of the world. This activity not only gives employment to themselves but even to homeless people and the organization.

“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Margaret Thatcher

Snehan always believes that empowering a person to be self-reliance is better and sustainable. We are closely working with homeless people and marginalized women in the community. For the long run they all need means to survive in dignity, for that we run a programe called livelihood activities according to their abilities. For a woman we impart easy hand skills like tailoring, embroidery and screen printing. These skills enables them to make beautiful eco-friendly cotton items such as traditional jhola bags, tote bags, kitchen apron, kitchen towels and others. These products are given to willing unemployed homeless adults to sell in the tourist spots and in the market areas. This simple act generates income for the unemployed homeless, employment for women and support for the organization to meet the basic needs.

Today we have started new shop in the Auroville area. This is our first customer who bought our products with big smile on her face. She is Hama, very found of our simple bag for the daily use.  And moreover our bags are in affordable price range to every person.

Friends our bags eco-friendly, affordable in price and your purchase bring smiles on many deprived individuals.

Family is a vital part of every person in this world. We all learn every good and every bad from our family and friends circle. Think about a person who grows in a less privileged family, where a father is an alcoholic addict, who doesn’t care wife, children but his only focuses is pleasure? Another side mother struggles to feed her hungry kids. Can you imagine the mind statues of a mother and her children? When these children grow, what would be their mindset or character?  In India, every 1 in 3 women goes through domestic violence according to a WHO study.

I know a lady, at the time of her marriage she came with big wealth to her husband’s home.  The happiness could not stay more than 3 months for this woman; little by little she could see the real color of her husband. He would not go to work but steal money from family to drink and spent it in lavish ways. The woman would go through hell, every night with her husband. Soon, she gave birth to a baby and the needs became even more; every wealth she brought from her parent’s home is washed in her husband’s alcohol. Poverty and hunger are breaking in her home, still, the unchangeable husband remains the same and never understands the reality. Every day the cry of a woman can be heard on the streets. Now, who can take the responsibility for this woman and her kids?

Like my beneficiaries, there are so many family women who suffer violence due to irresponsible husbands. Many committed suicides due to violent torcher and many brave women struggle to bring up their kids. For such women, Snehan gives counseling support along with income-generating skills and employment opportunities. Join us to bring value to the lives of marginalized women.

Sundaram is a goldsmith; he used to work 14 hours a day to feed his only small family. In ten long years gap, he became a father for an only son. He loved his son so much that he worked hard to give his son the best. The boy was sent to English medium school along with other rich kids, a day came for his son to become independent with a good job and a beautiful wife. Within few months of his son’s marriage,  Sundaram was corned at home, by this time Sundaram drained his strength, not able to work anymore, and moreover, his eyes became dim. The new daughter-in-law could not accept him anymore at home. Conflict erupted within husband and wife, this made him uncomfortable for Sundaram, where he takes a challenging step to come out of the family and live on the street. Now, he lives on the street by means of charity from the public. Added to this he is an asthma patient.  Snehan is happy to reach out and support physically, mentally, and medically. Like Mr.Sundaram, many old people suffer due to family rejection. We Snehan wants and got a plan to open home for the neglected disabled old people, wherein their last stage of life can have a peaceful life and happy death with dignity.