Tamil Nadu homestay accommodation, India

Environment

We are developing a number of projects to make development in Kanchipuram more sustainable and less harmful to the environment. Many people in this region have no access to toilets, so we have worked in a number of local villages to build toilets as well as educate local people about health and hygiene.

Waste disposal is a big problem in India and we are in the early stages of implementing a waste management programme in some local villages. We are working to develop more environmental education and awareness so local people can learn about waste disposal, recycling, water and sanitation, and environmentally friendly agriculture. At one of our centres, where we have a school and training centre, we are growing medicinal plants as well as mangos and bananas, and we would like to develop a nursery so we can distribute seeds and seedlings to villagers, promoting self sufficiency and a healthy way of life.

Community

We actively campaign to address local issues and help our community to have a better quality of life. Our vision has always been to establish a just society. We are working to do this primarily through education and empowerment, though we also develop creative approaches to meet the needs of our community as they arise. We will continue to strive for the total eradication of child labour, the empowerment and equal treatment of women, and ongoing improvement in the quality of life for disadvantaged citizens of our area.

We have helped hundreds of children become free from bonded labour and gain a valuable education, through a variety of ways, including:
• supporting economic alternatives for families and empowering women
• camps for child labourers and released child labourers
• day and night schools
• seminars and workshops for parents, teachers and the general public
• campaigns and rallies against child labour
• support programmes to prevent child labour and create a supportive home environment

We support local people and businesses and will be able to recommend other things to see and do in the area. Kanchipuram is also known as the ‘silk city’ and we can recommend local silk merchants if you would like to buy some Kanchipuram silk or saris, where we know the production is free from child labour and workers are paid a fair price.

All our tours and accommodation are helping to support the local economy and the running of an NGO, and showing you the wonderful things that Tamil Nadu has to offer! Many of our guests come back to volunteer with us, we are always happy to accept volunteers, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the running of a grass-roots NGO and contribute to one of our projects.