Since its founding in 1995, ODAM has focused on directly improving the lives of the rural poor in Tamil Nadu and with special focus on the local development of its community members. Unfortunately, our environment is still plagued with public perceptions that devalue women’s education, uphold caste disparities, and exclude the rural poor from social advancement schemes. ODAM’s strategies to address these issues have made a signficant and positive impact in improving these conditions locally.
Self Help Groups and Microfinance
Remote, rural communities in Tamil Nadu still uphold traditional belief systems that often subject women to a great number of disparities. In addition, remoteness of these communities also prevents women with practical tools to support her education or empowerment. ODAM has helped in the formation of Women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) and microfinance loans in order to provide women with new political, economic, legal, and social channels that enable them to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.
Girls Primary Education
The challenges facing female education are based on both a traditional definition of gender roles in society as well as the practical barriers to supplying rural children with quality educational opportunities. Poverty in rural communities has further degraded the value of education for girls, as desperate families often subject daughters to hard labor in order to earn supplemental income to support the family. ODAM has reached out to these families and opened up a school to re-integrate these child labourers into the government schooling system. The KGBV Narikudi School provides girls with an opportunity for education, fun, safety, and the drive to forge their own futures.
Girls Hostel for Secondary Schooling
After passing the 8th standard, government funding ceases to serve these girls. Therefore, girls that seek to pursue further studies must find alternative sources of funding to support their higher education. Often, when unable to find this alternative support, educated young women return home for marriage or to provide for their family as labourers. ODAM has formed the Barathi Girls Hostel to provide these young women with a safe home and financial support as they pursue further studies. This program is dependent on your financial generosity.
Rural Sanitation and Health
In many rural settings, access to public healthcare options and services are often non-existent. Villages are often removed from many government services and even lack awareness that any medical services exist to serve them. In some cases, uneducated or poor village members lack basic knowledge on health and sanitation practices as well. Since 1995, ODAM has worked to raise awareness on rural health conditions and simple sanitation practices to improve health amongst its district members. ODAM has also brought government health services to its communities and continues to improve health awareness and outreach services locally.