BLESS, is the creator of the Open School.

Since January 2007 the Open School in Reddichavady in the district of Cuddalore has opened its doors to thirty Adi-vasi children who have dropped out of the traditional school system. The children were generally not passing their classes, psychologically fragile or forced to go to work instead of school.

This new establishment is complementary to the traditional school system in that the children attend the local school during the day before coming back to the Open School at 4 o’clock p.m where they live during the week. The program insures that the children learn through independence and emancipation. One of the most important aspects of this program is the emphasis put on environmental issues with the use of a garden where the children participate in picking the vegetables. Furthermore, the buildings follow ecological construction practices (Mud block bricks, dry toilets). The children also participate in the preparation of meals and the upkeep of the facilities. The Open School provides after-school help with homework, drawing and art classes as well as athletic activities and many other extracurricular activities. Uniforms, food, school supplies, and medical needs are also provided by the Open School.

Many of the children come from the Irular tribe, a semi-nomad tribe surviving off the hunt of snakes and rats in the forest. They are from the village of Shanmuga Nagar where BLESS implemented a program to improve the environment and living standards in partnership with Solidarite, France and Bob family, Boston.

     

SELF HELP GROUPS:

A Self-Help Group (SHG) is a registered or unregistered group of micro entrepreneurs having homogenous social and economic background voluntarily, coming together to save small amounts regularly, to mutually agree to contribute to a common fund and to meet their emergency needs on mutual help basis. The group members use collective wisdom and peer pressure to ensure proper end-use of credit and timely repayment thereof. In fact, peer pressure has been recognized as an effective substitute for collaterals”.

• To promote women, youth and unskilled farm workers organizations.


• Way back in 1990’s.


• 3000 SHGs & 20 federations .


• Internal savings of Rs.10,00,00,000.


• External lending with nationalized banks of Rs.30,00,00,000.


• Present OSB Rs.10,00,00,000.


• Current demand from groups Rs.100,00,00,000.

     

LIVESTOCK PROMOTIONS:

Objective 1

To empower project groups and contribute to family and social harmony
Objective 2

To Create livelihood opportunity for sustainable and increased income
Objective 3

Participating families will have improve nutrition hygiene and sanitation and well demonstrate understanding of the environments production and preservation by following environmentally friendly practices

     

REHABILITATION PROGRAMME FOR CYCLE FISH VENDOR:

During the tsunami disaster many NGOs, INGOs and Government departments worked for the fish vendors as a temporary relief activity in organizing meetings, distributing relief materials, conducting awareness camps etc. These fish vendors were unable to adopt the government tsunami relief schemes as they were not registered in Fisheries Department. As the communities involved in this occupation are from various villages, they were not recognized by any organization. Initially a survey was made by Bless where it was emphasized that these vendors are bonded with the debts with huge interest rates (A cycle fish vendor receiving debt from money lender for their business, has to repay Rs. 50 /- as interest on daily basis). Considering these factors, Bless, grouped all these scattered vendors under one roof under the micro credit programme. As the major objective, Bless with its management team conducted a survey and formed cycle fish vendor groups with the following criteria:

• Age above 18 to 60 years.


• Below Poverty Line.


• Fish vending by bicycle (Male) .


• Fish purchasing limitation ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1500/-.


• Member should be regular in meetings, trainings, savings and repayment etc.

So, we rated this component objective as best practice as we have involved nearly 92% of the fish vendors into groups based on the criteria.      

MICRO ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT:

A new initiative of identifying self help groups who comes for collective income generation activity. BLESS identified three groups assisted both financial and technical support with c@p based on the experience extended the same support two more SHGs. It’s a pilot adventure the outcome will be shared to scale-up.

     

WATER, SANITATION AND LIVELIHOOD:

BLESS since 1996 implementing water sanitation projects in Cuddalore District. It has supported other NGOs to undertake WATSAN programmes in their operational areas. BLESS offers technical support and conducts impact studies. Recent years in collaboration with WTN promoting ecological sanitation, water purification plant s and livelihood programmes to upkeep the hygiene practices for better healthy communities.

     

SHELTER:

Building a village is building a nation – Fr. Windey S.J.

BLESS strongly believes the community is the subject for its own development. Building house can be done by anyone. But building a community is a process. We experienced in practical in many villages where people becomes the manager to manage their village and the environment.