We Share

Vijayapuram Social Service Society

WE SHARE PROGRAMME

IN THE DIOCESE OF VIJAYAPURAM

INTRODUCTION

WE SHARE Programme is a non-governmental voluntary organization in the USA with Vijayapuram Social service Society as its Indian Partner, with the aim of poverty reduction in the families of the Diocese of Vijayapuram through sustainable development and the overall strengthening of families is now acting as a major force of change in marginalized families and communities in Vijayapuram.


Following a long history of working with the families “We Share” USA and its Indian partner, “Vijayapuram Social Service Society”, have systematically developed projects to support poor marginalized families in the Diocese of Vijayapuram. This program is referred to as the Family Development Program (FDP). The underlying basic assumption was that any development work with underprivileged families had to include social guidance for their capacity building and future sustainability. The methodology has progressively evolved from problem-solving to addressing the root cause of problematic issues in poor families, though the main goal has remained to respond to the needs identified with and expressed by the beneficiaries. The FDP approach aims at supporting poor families’ capacities to solve problems on their own by giving adequate guidance and support, in order to progress towards increased autonomy, stability, and reduced poverty. Individual follow-up and personalized guidance to deprived families have turned out to be an efficient method to build up confidence and awareness within the family.

HISTORY

The WE SHARE program was started in 1994 to help the Vijayapuram Diocese - the poorest Catholic Diocese in Kerala, India. WE SHARE program was started in a providential way, as a response to Kathy and Dave Rennie, living in India for several years and seeing the poor in India firsthand. They had close contact with the diocese of Vijayapuram through Father, the present Bishop, Sebastian Thekethecheril, who was the spiritual son of Kathy’s mother Rose Mayor. The poverty situation of the families in the diocese led Kathy and Dave Rennie to start the WE SHARE program.

THE BACKGROUND HISTORY

WE SHARE is a tribute to Mrs.RoseAnn Mayer, who had been the motivating force behind the organization of the WE SHARE program.

Mrs.Rose Ann Mayer was widowed at an early age and had to raise her only daughter Katherine (Kathey). Even though this situation provided many challenges, she felt it important to support the Priesthood through sponsoring a Seminarian in India, with a view to have a spiritual son. In the 70's, she started sponsoring a Seminarian from the Diocese of Vijayapuram, Sebastian Thekethecheril. The relationship continued even after his ordination to the priesthood in 1980. He used to write his news often. He became a part of the family and participated in all the events of the family whenever possible. Mrs.Rose Ann Mayer would say that she has a son, Father Sebastian, and a daughter, Ms.Katherine.

After his Ordination, Father Sebastian was assigned as the Secretary to Bishop Cornelius Elanjikkal. During a pastoral visit, he happened to visit a family of a widowed mother and four small children in a place called Dindukomb. The mother was not mentally healthy too. Among the news of the month, he wrote of this family and wished if some financial support is given to the family. Mrs. Rose Ann Mayer readily came forward to support this family and promised that she was willing to support a few more such poor families. After a while, he was sent to Rome to get his Doctorate in Canon Law. After completing his studies, he became the Director of the Vijayapuram Social Service Society.

As the Director of Vijayapuram Social Service Society, he travelled far and wide the diocese and studied the situation of the families in the diocese. The learning was passed on to Rose Mayer, Kathy, and David Rennie. This lead Ms.Kathy to find out more of her friends to support the poor families in the diocese. In 1994 they systemized the support, giving birth to an organization WE SHARE.

OBJECTIVES, VALUES & PRINCIPLES of ACTION

Poverty alleviation also depends on the capacity of individuals, families and communities to have access to various opportunities of social development. Therefore, the core objectives of the FDP are:

  • To make the families Happier, Confident and Empowered
  • To Support the poorest families in the Diocese of Vijayapuram
  • To Foster the capacity and self-confidence of deprived families in addressing the issues and needs they have identified, through individual guidance proposed by trained Social Workers
  • To support the families in their efforts to satisfy basic needs such as health, nutrition, education, habitat, safe drinking water or income level as key elements for the development and sustainability of the family
  • To develop a participatory approach, involving each family in decisions and actions with all due respect to the family’s sense of autonomy and responsibility

THE PROCESS

The programme primarily focuses on the poorest of the poor families. First, we identify the families who need a helping hand, as per the choice of the sponsor. The needs may be support for treatment, sustenance, construction of safe housing and sanitation, access to safe drinking water, education of children, and other basic human requirements.

The family of choice of the Sponsor may be one with more children, with more girl children, with mentally or physically impaired children, with aged people, with students who are bright at studies, etc.

Once the family of the choice of the sponsor is identified we send the profile with the photo with a narrative abstract of the requirements, to We Share USA. The family and the sponsor are linked and send their support through We Share. The amount is deposited in the Bank Account opened jointly by the beneficiary and the Director VSSS. The amount is released when the beneficiary puts up his/her genuine requirement or purposes specified in the proposal.

The coordinator in charge of the programme visits each family and gives guidance for the proper utilization of the funds. Every year the beneficiary families are gathered at zonal level and a status assessment is made interviewing each family besides the assessment on visits. This is an occasion to share the success stories which could be replicated by others.

SEVEN-YEAR PLAN

When the number of needy families increased we designed a programme of supporting the family for seven years, after which a progress assessment is made and dropped out from the programme.

WE SHARE PROGRAMME

In many cases, we found that, even after getting support for seven years, the pathetic situation of the families has not been reduced. It was difficult to continue the support indefinitely. Therefore we made a shift in approach. We found that with the right support families are able to build a sustainable income for themselves. We initiated skill training for the families to take up a feasible enterprise of income generation. These skills helped the families develop and thrive in life. We guided them to identify a feasible project. In case they had no money to take up the enterprises, we recommended the proposal to banks for a loan and differential rate of interest.

ACHIEVEMENTS

306 families got benefitted and are dropped out to date

326 families continue in the programme availing all the facilities and benefits

157 new houses were constructed

16 Income generating enterprises are being carried out

21 beneficiaries utilized the amount for the marriage of their daughters

56 families got their houses maintained

General needs of education, medical treatment, drinking water, toilets were met with the regular support given to the beneficiaries.