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Newsletter — October 2024
Jeya Gell
Dear friends,
Greetings. I am delighted to meet you all through this newsletter and share many works we have done so far.
Awareness of Health - Eye camp
An eye camp was held on September 18th at Kulasekaranallur panchayat in collaboration with the Agarwal eye clinic. A team of 7optometrists, headed by a specialist ophthalmologist, Dr Anita, performed eye health checks on 58 villagers.
Most often, villagers do not get their health or eyes checked. This was an opportunity for the older and middle-aged population to become aware of their current health.
Awareness of environmental conservation
Every drop counts!
On September 5th, the residents of Osanathu village were presented with awareness of water conservation. Twenty-two of them participated in the program and the discussion afterwards.
The majority of the farmland in these areas depends only on rain. They do not have irrigation systems. We must actively conserve water through rainwater harvesting systems and other water bodies.
Management and Sustainability training
Mrs. Prema and Mr Godwin attended the 'Management and sustainability of community-based organisations' at KARI KUBEL FOUNDATION, Coimbatore. This was an excellent opportunity to meet organisations working on similar projects, gather new ideas, and reset their motivation.
As we are focusing on building Self-Help groups (SHGs) in the villages where we run the tailoring centres, this training has formed a base on which to build. As the DAIA team, we have been running self-tutorials on building sustainable SHGs. With all this training under their belts, the staff will be well prepared to form new groups.
Tuition Centres
TATA Pro Engage – Online English classes
Eight volunteers from TATA Proengage continue to run online English classes every week from Thursday to Saturday. Fifty students attend the classes. With the children completing their midterm exams, many students have greatly improved their English levels thanks to the invaluable effort of the volunteers. Thank you!
Teachers meet
The monthly teacher's meeting was held at the DAIA office on September 28th. The background of each tuition area was explored a bit, with teachers shedding more light on the unique challenges they faced starting this year and how far they have income addressing them. It brought a deeper understanding of their circumstances. They submitted their monthly reports.
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Teachers' Day celebration
On September 17th, the children made the day special for their teacher. Some prepared a cultural show, and some bought cakes to celebrate. The parents came along to show their appreciation for the teacher and thanked them for supporting their children.
Education uniting a community
Mrs Sobana came to Nachiyarpuram village as a young bride. Nachiayarpuram is an impoverished village with 90 families. It is a very divided community based on caste. With her undying love for education, she was determined to do something for the educational advancement of the children in her village. At that time, she heard about the DAIA and the provision for a tuition centre joined us in 2021.
Thus, a unique and inclusive free tutoring centre, transcending caste, religion, and status, was born in her village. Around 25 children attend the centre regularly. This pioneering initiative is the first and only of its kind in Nachiyarpuram.
After two and a half years of running the centre, she has the solid support of most of the parents of the children she teaches. They consider her a great blessing to their village and often call upon her to preside over their essential issues. The PPP (Positive Parenting Program) has played a pivotal role.
The local primary school has not only acknowledged but also celebrated Mrs. Sobana's significant contribution to their community. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we at DAIA are immensely proud of her achievements in the rural village.
Tailoring Centre
25 women continue to train under Mrs. Thangamari. We aim to ensure they have some form of employment at the end of their course.
15 years of dedicated service!
We celebrated Mrs. Prema’s unwavering service to the Community for 15 years through DAIA. This is an important milestone for both Prema and DAIA. We are very blessed to have her journey with us and to have made a lasting impact on many people’s lives. DAIA president Dr.Joe Prabhakar, Dr Mumoorthy, Shalom ministries staff, Mrs Dorothy Mani Muthu, Kiruba Samuel, Mrs.Hilda John and John Jayarajan (video call) and other well-wishers graced the occasion.
Medical Camp
On September 20th, 60 patients attended the medical camp at St. Paul's campus, Kovilpatti. Mrs Jeya Gell delivered an uplifting message. Dr. Mumoorthy examined the patients. We distributed medicines, tonics, and nutrition powder. Their weight was monitored and recorded. The camp ended with a good meal.
The unsung hero
Mr.Genesan hails from Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district. He is now 48 years old. He was born into a wealthy family as an only son with three sisters. While at university, he chose to enjoy himself to the extent which led him to contract AIDs.
At first, unaware of his condition, he married as soon as he finished his studies. As months rolled by, he saw a steady decline in his health and got himself tested. After the diagnosis, his family shunned him, except his wife. They were pushed to survive on the street and at the mercy of strangers. Eventually, they both got to a point where they lost hope of surviving and could not move. In this instance, health workers approached and connected him with the government and DAIA’s services in 2009.
Slowly and steadily, he regained his health with the support he received. Unfortunately, his wife succumbed to the illness. He started to attend the DAIA-run medical camps regularly and became strong enough to work.
He now works in the government-run office for an HIV-positive network.
He has been a strong supporter and advocate for the cause of people living with HIV/Aids and also works as a volunteer to run campaigns in universities raising awareness of sexually transmitted diseases.
He also volunteers for DAIA, bringing people together for the medical camps and being a stronghold for his community. Life’s tragedy has made him a stronger and less self-centred person.
We are immensely proud of his contribution to his community; he inspires us!
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Christmas Appeal
Christmas - The greatest love story
As we approach Christmas, we are reminded of the reason of the season. It is a time of joy sharing the amazing love story of God with mankind. We often share this love by giving gifts to our near and loved ones.
Many of our beneficiaries whom we serve, don’t have an opportunity to give or receive a gift this Christmas. We invite you to reach out to someone, because ‘changes occur only when someone cares an awful lot!’
Gifts can be donated cash or in kind.
In kind donation
• Sarees - 140 nos.
• Dhoti - 20 nos.
• Shirt - 60 nos.
• Towels - 50 nos.
• Chidren Gift - 300 nos.
Cash donation
• Meals for 100 Nos. X Rs.200 = Rs.20,000/-
• Meals for 50 Nos. X Rs.200 = Rs.10,000/-
Thank you to all our supporters
We were able to do the work just because you stood behind us. Our heartfelt thanks for your consistent support in reaching out to make our vulnerable communities better.
We look forward to working with you. Thank you once again.
Reflection: Kindness
"Always help someone. You might be the only one who does."
Let us be kind and lighten the burden of those who are suffering.
Debasish Mridha - QUOTESTATS.COM
Development Association for Integrated Activity (DAIA)
5E/95, Kirubai Nagar, Tuticorin, Tamilnadu, India. 628 008.
Phone: +91 9488373224 (0461) 2311548, 2391548, Email: admin@daiaindia.org
Founder: Mr. Gell Joseph 1945 - 2015
Bank name | A/c name | A/c No S/B | IFSC code |
|---|---|---|---|
International Needs Australia | 69 579 7035 (Donations from within Australia)
Ref: DAIA India - Donor name | BSB: 083 125 | |
City Union Bank, Tuticorin | Development Association for Integrated Activity | 085001000097607
(Donations Within India) | CIUB 0000085 |
State Bank of India, New Delhi | Development Association for Integrated Activity | 40113007625
(Donations from countries other than India) | SBIN 0000691 |
Mrs. Jeya Gell
