Hello,

Here's a link to a site about a simple form of microfinance that might work in Kootapuli.
(http://www.trickleup.org/ourwork/asia-program.html) Trickle up - Asia worth looking into.

Estelle
facilitator

Jegan,

Here's a link to a site about an organization that helps in occupational development in India, it works in your district.
(http://www.foodindia.org.in/index.html) Foundation of Occupational Development It has information of a freezing unit for fish, run by women. It has its project plan as well and shows how they go about preparing and training the women to run the unit. It looks like something that could be good for the village, since it allows the fishermen to freeze their catch and take it to other areas to sell.
Could something like this be done? If so, it'll help both fishermen and women.

Hello everybody,

I have sent this before, but this time I ask for everybody to read and examine it and let me know whether they think that this could work for Kootapuli. It is by far my favourite idea as far as sustainability, for a fishing village. Please read it and comment.

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

Foundation Of Occupational Development (FOOD), India.htm

Hello,

Going through my list of microfinance institutions, I found this one. It sounds good and does work in Tamilnadu District. I think that we should consider contacting this also. Jegan, what do you think?

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

ashram.htm

Hello,
Below, you'll find the email that Velan has written. Actually this should be in a shared document wiki, but since this task has yet to be taken up, there isn't one yet.
If you'd like to use it, copy and paste it in your draft folders to use to send to MFI's. As usual any documents needed will be provided on demand.

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

Dear Sir/Madam,
Greetings from Help Trust.

We would like to introduce ourselves as a Non-governmental, Non-profitable aid organisation working in Southern Tamilnadu. We focus primarily on educating the poor children and women in the area of Kootapuli.

We would like to enclose our Project proposal with this email. As you will be able to understand and acknowledge our honerable intentions and need, we are in need of good and constant source of income for the projects to be running.

In this regard, we request you to please consider Kootapuli project and its members for providing MicroFinance. We are ready to provide any details whatsover for the same purposes.

Thank you very much for your kind consideration and affirmative response.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Jegan
HelpTrust

Hello,

The email has been added to the wiki so that it doesn't get lost in the posts. We really should try to contact some organizations for micro-finance.
As Jegan has said, we're thinking of providing a cow for a family, for milk producing. The milk could be sold and help sustain the family. Eventually, if the family saves enough money they can buy another cow, therefore increasing their savings.. If they mate the cow to a bull, then there will be calves, which can be sold or donated to other families.

Another idea is an IT kiosk, which could be run in a persons house, this would provide services such as locating information needed regarding weather, crops,etc for villages. I have already located 2 institutions which could help for this, but that doesn't mean that more won't be needed. We have no way of knowing whether they will provide us with any assistance. Therefore, if anybody knows of any institutions that could help, please post the information here, or forward it to Jegan.

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

Jegan,

Here's a link to an organization that could help with income generating activities, maybe provide loan for cows.
It works in Tamilnadu district and has helped many families.
Check it out and try to contact them.

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

Post-Tsunami Sustainable Livelihoods Programme for the Coastal Communities of Tamil Nadu.htm

Jegan,

Here's another link to an institution that provides small loans for the purchase of a cow. CowFund
It is active in India, please try to contact it, and let us know if there has been any results in your efforts.

Sincerely,
Estelle

CowFund - a hand up, not a handout.htm

Jegan,
Here's another link to an organization that might help by providing training and help in setting up an IT kiosk in someones house. Please check it out.
Has anything been accomplished with these ideas, or am I wasting my time?

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

Tamilnadu.htm

Jegan,

Sometimes, finding an income generating activity can be difficult. There is, however, another way. Instead of finding one activity for a few people, we can help find employment for many. How? Look into this link that I found. babajob Bangalore (http://babajob.com/) It's about using technology to connect employers with employees. Maybe it can be used to find employment for some residents of the village.

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

Hello Nabuurs,

I've applied to some institutions regarding microfinance and have gotten some response. The first hopeful one comes from an institution that provides women with micro enterprise opportunities. They might be able to help the women in the village start their own business. I've sent the email on to Jegan, and if he feels that it could be useful, we'll contact them and see what can be done. It'll be the first real step towards sustainability. By assisting the families in the village, we can assist the children and keep them in school.

Sincerely,
Estelle
facilitator

hope you are doing well. I will be happy if you can go through the update and put your thoughts/inputs if any.

HUMAN EDUCATION & LIBERATION FOR POOR –HELP
EVENING SCHOOL @ VADAKKANKULAM

STATUS REPORT OF THE EVENING SCHOOL

All The 42 Children are being attending the evening school without fail. Last week, there was a local village people's meeting at the evening school about the evening school to wish them for their examination. It was highlighted that studying level , interest and confident level has been increased considerably. Most of the participants were thanked the evening school.

The children were motivated to cards in order to develop their interest and creativity skill and most of them has created wonderful greeting cards, drawing which can be also used for greeting cards. They were provide with sketch pen, markers, drawing card papers, cum, etc. also we have given one new zoometric box with all the things inside, 2 new pen to each, one set sketch pen, slide , one set sketch pencil, notebook to all the children. Hope this will be useful for them for another year too.

It is also decided that during the vocation, the children of the evening school will be taught dance practice, typing skill practice, handwriting developing, English – grammar & writing training. (It is planned that weekly 2 days English , 1 day typing practice, one day handwriting practice and one day cultural practice like dance, drama, etc.) . The days will be decided based on the availability of the resources.

At the next step of the evening school, as it has been already decided to provide with needed vocational skill to the children who crossed 14 years of age and then link them in small job

Also if any volunteers is interested to do any training, activity in the school with children , they are being welcomed. If anybody want to develop these children in any particular activities, skill, we would request you do that through your skill and resource.

Thanking you.
Yours
T.Jegan
HELP
Note: if you look closely , you can see mine there in with the children.

Hello neighbors,

You can see from Jegan's note that the school is doing very well, but the local community needs some help in finding ways to generate income and to support the school. I have put together the information collected until now in the resource section.

Jegan, would you please take a look at the resources for this task and tell me if you have contacted any of these organizations. If yes- what was their response, if no- which one do you think seems the most logical partner for the village?

Jegan,would you please explain to me the name of your organization -HUMAN EDUCATION & LIBERATION FOR POOR –HELP. Do you mean liberation form poverty or is there another problem that I am not aware of?

Best regards,

Tanja

Kyoko posted that in another forum, it may be helpful for our project...

Jegan-

What is the current age range of the children at the school?

Jennifer