The India Programme works through seven partner organisations, helping them improve their organisational efficiency. The nature of the programme is such that partners naturally evolve and so we periodically have some where we are actively working, some that are just coming on board and some where we have agreed an exit strategy.
In April 2008, we added two new partners to our network, and both address child rights issues in different ways.
Association for the Promotion of Social Action (APSA)
APSA is a grass-roots organisation working very closely with the urban poor, helping them take part in the decisions that affect their lives. They run a large variety of programmes including a school and Bangalore's version of ChildLine. They are active in organising Self Help Groups and viewed as experts in this field.
The Movement for Alternatives and Youth Awareness (MAYA)
MAYA started life rescuing street children and have evolved into an organisation that works on the root causes of the problem - namely access to quality education and development of livelihood opportunities.
The other five partners work with disability. Four of them are working across the spectrum of disability – from locomotor disabilities, through speech and hearing impairments to mental health issues. The fifth focuses on mental health.
The Association of People with Disability (APD)
Our longest serving partner, who joined us in the original programme back in 1994, APD have a good track record of taking development and using it to good effect. Over the last 5 years, they have really stepped up their impact, with resources helping them accelerate change.
Mobility India (MI)
MI started in the late 1990’s and focuses on using model programmes to provide experiential training to professionals. We have helped them develop their training facilities (which are state of the art) and put resources into staff development.
Action on Disability and Development (ADD India)
Through a link with ADD in the UK, which is chaired by Chris Gillies (Managing Director of ZIG), we have worked with ADD India since 2000. Our funding stream has come to an end, but ADD India are still active in the development of our approach and occasionally take Zurich staff on assignment.
The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu (SPASTN)
Based in Chennai, this organisation has enormous influence in the Tamil Nadu state.
As well as running their own programmes aimed at children with Cerebral Palsy, they help government deliver a nationwide Inclusive Education programme and provide resources to assess organisations for delivery of activities under India ’s National Trust Act – which seeks to protect those with disability. As such their reach is enormous.
The Banyan joined the programme in 2003. They are a young and dynamic organisation which started life rescuing destitute women with mental health problems and working to get them well and back home.
Their activities have mushroomed over the past 5 years, with increasing focus on getting others involved with the issues. Our funding has provided some welcome stability to their core funding, allowing them to focus on developing as an organisation.
To find out more about these partners, please click on the organisation name.
Associate Partners
As is natural with any relationship, there may come a point where the benefits of working together diminish. Our current approach to understanding organisations allows us to make a decision as to when it is right to let go.
We have entered an exit phase of our partnerships with four organisations, which have been with the programme for some time.
Aravind
A resource centre which supports the development of one of the largest and most productive eye hospitals in the world.
Development Action for Women in Need (Dawn) DAWN do not have a website yet
A small organisation dedicated to helping local communities through the development of self help groups.
CEDAR
Another small organisation which concentrates on training other NGOs.
LVPrasad
A world-class eye hospital which provides universal eye-care irrespective of ability to pay.
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