Projects supported in India

The FIOH Education and Development Fund
48 Churchward Avenue
Swindon
Wiltshire SN2 1NH
UK
Tel/Fax 01793 532353

Registered Charity Number 1047953

THE NEW HOPE RURAL LEPROSY TRUST

In 1984 Eliazar Rose, with some of his friends, established a Research Trust to help the the tribal people in the Rayagada District of Orissa suffering from leprosy, cholera, malaria TB and hepatitis. Although this early work was focused on these diseases, it was soon recognised that addressing the needs of the people required a more holistic approach that would increase incomes whilst at the same time preserving the natural environment on which the tribal people depended.
In 1985 an organisation named the New Hope Rural Leprosy Trust was established to develop this approach. The FIOH Fund has supported some of the smaller projects of New Hope since 1995. FIOH UK has also supported projects before the charity was established.

FARM AND TREE PLANTING NURSERY AT MUNIGUDA, ORISSA

An 11 hectare plot of land was purchased near Muniguda. The land was used for several purposes:

To provide tree seedlings to tribal people living in the surrounding hills where the gathering of fuelwood had caused a large amount of deforestation.

To grow cashew nut trees on the site

Provide buildings for vocational training for leprosy and polio patients.

The bricks were made from clay on the site and rice husks were used for firing.

CYCLONE RELIEF - THE GREEN EYE CLUB
This project was started after the severe cyclone that hit the coast of Orissa in 1999 to involve children in (i) growing tree seedlings and green vegetables to reduce vitamin A deficiency (the main cause of night blindness) and (ii) the identification of old people with eye cataracts.

The red mark on the side of the school at the village of Kiada, Ersama Block, indicates the level at which the water settled on 29th October 1999 after the cyclone.
Children started planting seedlings in March 2000 when the project was launched.

After water levels subsided, New Hope staff found people in the villages affected who had not eaten for nearly a week. A food emergency and temporary shelter programme was launched and thousands of women were given seeds to grow vegetables.

New Hope Rural Leprosy Trust, PO Box No. 1, Muniguda, Rayagada District, Orissa, India 765020

HEALTH, EDUCATION, AWARENESS, REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT SOCIETY (HEARTS)

TRANSIT CENTRE FOR STREET CHILDREN IN GUNTUR, ANDHRA PRADESH

In 2000, Mohan Rao and his brother and some friends established HEARTS to help poor and marginalised people. One of its first projects was to rent lock-up buildings close to Guntur railway station to provide the 'street' children with accommodation, some education and vocational training and games facilities. In 2003 the FIOH Fund provided a grant for a permanent home for the children at a rural site about 6 miles from Guntur city centre on a one and half acre site which HEARTS had acquired with a bank loan. The home was inaugurated on 19th Feb 2004 during a visit by FIOH Fund chairman, Mike Thomas, Plans for the future include a row of vocational training workshops, playing area, sheds for buffaloes and chickens, small neem tree plantation and organic vegetable plot. The boundary will be defined by rows of coconut trees. A 60m deep borewell and pump have been provided for the home and the crops and animals.

 

HEARTS, PO Box 247, Arundelpet, HPO, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India 522 002
EMail: Indiahearts@hotmail.com

RURAL ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION SOCIETY
(RACES)

INCOME GENERATION ACTIVITIES FOR TRIBAL PEOPLE IN TAMIL NADU

The project provided tribal women with goats and cows. Some of the offspring were passed on to more women to extend the programme.

RACES, South Street, Radhapuram, Tamil Nadu, India 627111