Responding to need
Khandel light has always responded to the needs of the community in Khandel. Nirman Sanstha, our NGO, holds monthly meetings where needs and priorities are established. Chairman Peter Gough joins the meetings in India by telephone, and the trustees agree expenditure at monthly meetings in the UK.
From survival to development
Over the years the priorities have changed, and although Khandel light still funds basic needs for health care and clean water, we are also moving from survival to development. Initially the charity responded to the most basic of needs; obtaining clean drinking water, storing water for a family to access, funding the building of water tanks. From this starting point we started to address the dangers of migration to the big cities, by providing employment in water harvesting initiatives, setting up health camps, funding the building of houses and toilets.
Our next steps were community led again, setting up monthly meetings, antenatal care, funding health workers who also worked on literacy programmes, adolescent girls’ fairs, temple visits for community cohesion in times of drought.
At this point we were able to set up bursaries to enable and empower young people to stay at school and continue their education. 2015 saw our first Khandel light sponsored student graduate from university.
Most recently, as always in response to the community's requests, we are funding a girl child project, where the mothers of girl children receive extra food for the first 3 months of the child’s life. We are also funding a tailoring programme for young women, supplying them with the tools and the skills to make their own living, as well as funding training in computer literacy for young people.
The Gift of Giving
For just £10 to £50, depending on your budget, you can give the gift of water, education, employment and empowerment through our gift vouchers.
100 students per year are offered Educational Bursaries. Of these 90 will be students who are orphans, from poor families, or those with parents with a disability.
Raising funds
Our funds are the lifeblood of our charity. Find out how you can have great fun, and make a real difference to those that desperately need it.