TakingITGlobal: Inspireer, Informeer, Involveer

SAFP, in partnership with the poor, fosters conditions that promote healthy families and communities so that they can contribute to sustainable development.

• Lack of participatory decision-making and necessary action with respect to conditions that affect the livelihood of the...
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SAFP, in partnership with the poor, fosters conditions that promote healthy families and communities so that they can contribute to sustainable development.

• Lack of participatory decision-making and necessary action with respect to conditions that affect the livelihood of the poor is an obstacle to achieving Sustainable Development; SAFP, in partnership with the poor, will achieve sustainable development through self-help groups strengthening developmental activities

• Socio-economic conditions of the alienated segment of society has a direct impact on access to basic human needs; SAFP, in partnership with the poor, will help in the development of opportunities through skill development and efficient use of physical and human resources

• Social justice is an essential condition for the poor to increase their sense of self- esteem, dignity and hope; SAFP, in partnership with the poor; will provide its partners with the awareness on their rights and be responsible citizens of their country.

• Gender inequality affects human and economic well-being; SAFP, in partnership with the poor, will foster gender equality and awareness

• Environmental degradation affect human and economic well-being; SAFP, in partnership with the poor, will provide its partner with the awareness for protecting the environment on which human, community and economic health depends

• SAFP believes in families, the basic development unit of our society where parents are able to support their families, women are free of abuse and children to access education

• Communities and families lack seed support, technical assistance and training to undertake various activities to enhance the quality of their lives; SAFP in partnership with the benefactors and funding agencies will offer financial support, technical assistance, information and resources (through education, promotion, fundraising, technical expertise)

• Bring awareness to and educate the developed world about developmental issues leading to understanding, personal involvement and informed action

• Engage in dialogue with the various levels of the organization towards an understanding of SAFP’s mission

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Development Objectives

Save A Family Plan is committed to poverty reduction in India through sustainable development and the overall strengthening of families and communities. This is accomplished through the financial assistance of donors, whose support to impoverished Indian...
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Development Objectives

Save A Family Plan is committed to poverty reduction in India through sustainable development and the overall strengthening of families and communities. This is accomplished through the financial assistance of donors, whose support to impoverished Indian families and communities is made possible through the transfer of funds from SAFP Canada to SAFP India, where, with the cooperation and facilitation of local partners (NGO’s/Diocesan Social Service Societies/self-help groups/community-based organizations), vulnerable families and communities are assisted.

Family Development Program

The Family Development Program has been the core program of SAFP since 1965. Through economic and social development initiatives, poor families are able to realize their overall development, leading ultimately towards sustainable communities and a healthier society. This is accomplished by identifying the most vulnerable families in targeted areas and providing them with financial assistance for six years to help begin and maintain an income generating livelihood, leading to eventual self-reliance. Local community financing/resource mobilization is encouraged, and families undergo entrepreneurial development training. Involvement in sanghams or self-help groups helps individuals gain the confidence and skills necessary for success.

SAFP is also in partnership with 22 Institution Based Rehabilitation Centres known as Healing Homes and financially supports these institutions. These provide shelter and support to children who are orphans, disabled (physically and mentally challenged), and the elderly.

In 2006-2007, almost 15,000 families were supported in the Family-to-Family Development Program, in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

Community Development

SAFP has been involved in community development programming since 1968. Funds raised for these programs are strategically targeted toward specific activities in certain priority sectors to alleviate poverty in the long term. SAFP has been collaborating with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for the past 29 years in community development, strategically planning and implementing sustainable rural development projects and programs in India. SAFP is committed to participatory approaches that involve local partners (NGO’s and community based organizations) and promote local level empowerment through capacity building. The current program, SPED II (2006-2009), involves partnerships with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), 51 Indian Non-Governmental Organizations (mostly Diocesan Social Service agencies), and over 52,000 sanghams (grassroots community-based organizations) in 116 villages in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

Other community development funding supports various special projects and disaster management and rehabilitation. The latter is in response to needs that arise due to natural disasters within India such as flooding, earthquakes, drought, etc.

Aiswaryagram, constructed in 1988, houses the Indian administrative office of SAFP, and is a 30-acre model farm and training/research centre. Its key goal is to empower and strengthen the agricultural sector of Kerala and thereby contribute to sustainable development. The web site is www.aiswaryagram.org.


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Our organization survives on volunteers!! In Canada, although we have only 6 full-time staff, we have from 70 to 100 volunteers (and all of our staff began as dedicated volunteers!).

Volunteer opportunities can involve anything from helping us work in the office to cooperating in...
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Our organization survives on volunteers!! In Canada, although we have only 6 full-time staff, we have from 70 to 100 volunteers (and all of our staff began as dedicated volunteers!).

Volunteer opportunities can involve anything from helping us work in the office to cooperating in public engagement initiatives with other youth and organizations. We have partnerships in a number of schools and the number of schools is growing all the time. Can we make a partnership with your school?
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