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April 2009
Dear Friends,
In 2009, Nalamdana is faced with an extraordinary situation, a financial crunch, which we have managed to avert over the last four years! We ask for your help at this time, so that we may continue to provide essential services.
We have managed by by very prudent and careful planning, to keep our various projects going. Two of our major projects came to a successful conclusion this March. Other deserving projects, listed below, are in need of funding in order to continue.
Education
The Nalamdana student leadership program has been helping 35 deserving students a year from local slums/communities to study in corporation and matriculation schools. We have been fortunate in getting support in the past for this program (at least 200 deserving students have benefitted through the past 6 years) This program helps students learn skills, build character, gain confidence and go on to higher studies. Already, two former scholarship students have returned to support two more children. We do not want to stop this important program but are lacking sufficient funds to continue. Any contribution towards this program will be most welcome. Cost per student ranges from Rs.4000 to 5000/year ($100 for each student per year) depending on the school they go to.
HIV/AIDS: Prevention, Care and Support
partially supported by "Make ART /STOP AIDS, UCLA, California Nalamdana is funded to do monthly drama and role plays on crucial preventive health issues and also runs daily cable radio, linking 200 beds (music and participatory programming that helps patients and care givers to get better results). This ongoing, innovative cable radio program and the dramas and role plays are of crucial importance and take place at Tambaram TB hospital, where the largest number of HIV infected patients also get free treatment. Our monthly commitment is Rs.60,000 and we only have funds until August 2009 to continue. Organizations or individuals can support us monthly or make a one time donation, which could also help us link more wards to the radio broadcasts. Cost per drama is Rs.20,000 ($400) and per role play is Rs.12,000 ($220)
Working with Children
Nalamdana has adopted three local schools and one slum in South Chennai and has run annual programs for them for the last three years, such as "Girl Child Project," Safe Child Project," etc. These programs have been funded, and basically teach about health and hygiene, early nutrition, protection against common infections including HIV, basic facts about reproductive health issues and the importance of education. All of these topics are covered first through our special dramas and then through various forms of art and entertainment education.
This intervention is now yielding outstanding results and it is critical to continue at this time. These schools and communities want us to continue and be part of their regular curriculum. We are training the children themselves in theatre and also the teachers through a participatory teaching program. This is enabling them to handle issues on sex education with comfort and confidence. All such innovative interventions are documented by us and evaluation reports are shared in many forums, ensuring further growth/expansion.
Any donation towards this project will be most welcome as all of the previously funded programs are over this year.
Training and Capacity Building
Nalamdana is today, a recognized resource group, which uses theatre and participatory learning techniques to train factory workers, office staff, unskilled labour, women's groups, students and others in specific areas, through strategic communication. We have developed many workshop modules on various issues. Our trainers handle a variety of participants, from rural to urban, with comfort. Their Tamil skills and the ability to communicate using humor, has acheived great success with all audiences.
Each ten day workshop costs $700 and trains approximately 40 participants in theatre. As paticipants learn basic techniques of theatre, they discuss topics and identify their own needs and interests. This enables them to become agents of change.
Examples of Ongoing Training Programs
1. Theatre workshops for Village Communicators, identified by UNICEF in Krishnagiri district: focus on health and sanitation
2. Theatre workshops for Disabled children, identified by World Vision: focus on gender and child rights
3. Theatre workshops for College students (MGR Janaki college, Q.M.C., MCC, Vaishnava college, Stella Maris, WCC, etc.) through NSS and other voluntary groups: focus on social issues
4. Theatre workshops for other NGO staff, who partner with us in various projects
5. Theatre workshops for Children in local corporation schools funded through local donations
6. Theatre workshops for Medical College Students: focus on developing the ability to communicate with target groups of patients and family members gathered in a government hospital setting (for example: Stanley Hospital and Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram)
We seek your support in continuing our work in any of the above mentioned programs and are also trying to raise general donation money to be used wherever the most crucial need arises.
We thank you in anticipation...
For donations from within India, we request that you to make the checks in the name of "Nalamdana" - and state the program you wish to support, if you have a preference. We will be happy to send you the receipt with a copy of the 80G IT exemption.
If you wish to donate from outside India - please see details for this on our donation page >
If you have questions or want more details please do not hesitate to contact me.
For Nalamdana,
Nithya Balaji
Executive Trustee
Nalamdana
I Floor-Kadambam Apartments,
4/192, Elliamman kovil Street, Neelankarai,
Chennai 600 041
Tel: 24491422 & 24493772
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