Who are you trying to help? What issue are you trying to address?

The Association for Community Training – ACT is a non profit, non Governmental, secular Social work organization working for the cause of the weaker sections of the society for the past twenty three years in Villupuram District, India.

ACT initially was promoted in the year 1983 by a Team of young educated and like-minded individuals who had hands on experience of educating and organizing the agricultural landless labourers, both women and men, Quarry workers children and youth and such other community development activities in Mugaiyur and Thirukoilur region of Villupuram District of Tamilnadu with a vision of socio economic, educational and cultural development.

These individuals are from the same district belonging to Dalit community who had the shared/common vision of empowerment of marginalized/impoverished segment of the society.

Initially they started of with organizing the agricultural labourers for the empowerment through awareness education, community health education and promoting small savings among women, environment protection, and literacy programme for adults and children and evening coaching classes for children.

ACT also concentrate on focusing several issues pertaining to the vulnerable/weaker communities including discrimination against Dalit.

What is your project and how will it help?

This project is about abiding the UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and allow the tribes to take a suitable place in the society.

To take them into self contended, secured, independent life style by providing technical assistance and relevant standard setting activities. Promotional activities to improve their culture, health, human rights the environment and socio, and economic development

We did a comprehensive survey with the support of local young volunteers which covered 185 quarries in 28 destination where we met 4062 tribe families and have collected socio, economic, health, educational, environmental data.

Thanks to 63 young volunteers who stood in our mission. Collected information’s are documented in the form of papers and Audio cassettes and kept in our office with the availed enumeration we have organized them as quarry workers unit in every villages, taken for registration, every families are provided identity card (family card) issued by ILO Indian Labours Office, Government of Tamil Nadu through our intervention with the proven record they able to cast their vote, buy food commodities at Government run fair price shop, to claim accident and death relief. Thus a total of 2468 tribe families have got their social identity.

They now face the big problem of finding a permanent job to protect themselves, to lead on dignified, self sustainable life. We fear that if they are not provide such support then they may have chance of go back to quarries and undergo trials and tribulation as hostile loosing social identity. Therefore we have evolved this project.

How can other people partner with you on your project?

People can partner with us many different ways – but we are in need of funding to get the project running.

Please see attachment to learn more about the project or contact
DR.Bennet Benjamin
Development consultant
Human Resource Development Center (HRDC)
YELLAGIRI Hills, Tirupattur
Vellore Dist, Tamilnadu, INDIA
Email: bennetben@rediffmail.com

Please detail the resources that you need.

Total starting sum: US$ 11,026

1. Life skill training for 3 batches 50 beneficiaries per batch (women, children and young boys and girls) respectively

2. To set up sewing school (tailoring skill training centre) for both illiterate and literate young girls, 1yr training aged ranging from 14 to 25 years 40 girls per year basis. It will be continuous program, non-stoppable to cover all tribal neediest girls

3. To setup Auto mobile technology workshop to train 40 tribes boys for 1 year, for 14 years to 25 years old

4. Goat and milk cow support for 20 tribal women. An unit of the goat kid to 10 women (couple of kids) worth Rs.5000/- and milk cow for 10 women worth Rs.15000/-