Surithi, 16, is in year 11 at Mahaboobpalayam, Madurai. She writes, “My father is a painter and mother, a domestic worker. I have two brothers and I come from a poor Dalit family. My family lives in a slum. I do not have enough space and atmosphere in the house for doing my homework and clarify my doubts”. Suruthi has attended one of Mahalir Sakthi’s after school tuition centres for the last ten years and credits the centres to keeping her in school. “This helped me to gain a special place in my school and I am recognized for my studies and extra-curricular activities only because of Mahalir Sakthi. I introduce my neighbours to Mahalir Sakthi and I help other children to grow like me.”
A Dalit girl growing up in the slums of Madurai today will be lucky if she stays in school until year 10. She will struggle to do her homework in an over-crowded slum dwelling, without enough light and privacy. University will be an improbable dream. Without an education, she is unlikely to escape the intergenerational cycle of unsafe work, discrimination and violence that is the reality for Dalit women in India.
Which is why we are excited about the incredible grassroots work of our partner Mahalir Sakthi (‘women power’) in the Madurai slums.
With help from our generous supporters, indigo foundation funds Mahalir Sakthi’s after school tuition centres that support first-generation Dalit learners to stay in school. We fund an annual summer camp, a highlight of the student’s year that teaches them about their human rights and promotes pride in their much maligned culture. We fund a tailoring and typing centre to give Dalit women a route out of dangerous manual labour. And in 2014 we funded the establishment of a Domestic Workers Union to support women to stand up together for their rights and safety at work. Two years later, the Union has a full-time coordinator and over 150 members.
Mahalir Sakthi have shown that their programs are sustainable and life-changing. And not surprisingly they are in high demand. But, in the past year, the not-for-profit organisation lost an important funding source, which has put the future of the tuition centres in doubt – at a time when they should be growing. The team at Mahalir Sakthi need your help to keep these life-changing programs running.
As we head towards the festive season, please consider making a donation before 31 December to support our ongoing work with Mahalir Sakthi.
For the women and children, like Suruthi, who turn to Mahalir Sakthi for support, your donation will be life changing:
Donations to indigo foundation are tax-deductible and all contributions are deeply appreciated.
