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| ORGANISATION: | INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RURAL POOR (IRDRP) |
| AREA: | NAMAKKAL DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA |
| GRANT PERIOD: | 2004-2007 |
| BENEFICIARIES: | 185 ORPHANS & THEIR FAMILIES |
IRDRP are working in a very rural area of Tamil Nadu where they found high levels of poverty, stigma and discrimination towards AIDS orphans. EJAF funded them to reach all the orphans in this area and support them and their caregivers with livelihood support, access to education and vocational training for older children.
Each family has received 2 buffalos from which to produce, drink and sell milk. Some of the families have now grouped together in a milk cooperative which sells directly to the market and cuts out the middleman. Families also received goats to breed and sell to cover larger expenses such as medical bills or wedding celebrations.
Older children received skills training in order to gain employment or set up their own business such as bike or mobile phone repair.
The programme has proved very successful with:
All families increasing their monthly income more than tenfold - from around £2.50 to £30 per month
All families reporting improved nutritional intake and weight gain.
All eligible children now able to attend school.
Families able to repay loans taken out to cover medical expenses.
60% of vocational training graduates were helped to start their own small business and 25% found jobs using their skills.
The programme also conducts trainings for families and local communities to reduce the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS with the result that:
4 villages repealed village "laws" prohibiting HIV infected or affected children from playing with other children.
A School that had turned away AIDS orphans changed its policy and admitted these children.
Families that had previously kept separate plates, glasses and sheets for those infected with HIV were shown that this was unnecessary and stopped this exclusionary practice.