Launched in February 2024 with funding from the Isabel Marant Foundation and in partnership with local NGOs SEVAI, GRAMIUM, and ACT, the Kalakari project aims to help integrate vulnerable women into the labour market by providing training in various craft trades. These women can then be employed by the NGOs or establish their own businesses.

So far, SEVAI has trained 30 women in carpet weaving and 38 in textile production, hiring 51 of them in its factories. With the support of GRAMIUM, 20 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed, and 222 women have received training in sari weaving. 

ACT is focused on upcycling saris in collaboration with women from the Dolora tribal community, having trained 19 women, 8 of whom are currently on work placements with the local NGO.

By financing these training programs, supporting the women, and collaborating with local partners, OFI fosters economic autonomy while promoting traditional crafts and a sustainable development model.

In Tamil Nadu, with financial support from the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation and in partnership with GRAMIUM, 80 women's toilets have been renovated. This initiative is crucial for women's health and rights. However, renovation alone is not sufficient. The project also includes hygiene training provided by social workers to ensure the correct and sustainable use of these facilities. By focusing on hygiene education, this initiative plays an essential role in protecting women's health while enhancing their dignity and safety

The center, operated by our local partner DIN in Trichy, provides a safe space for individuals with mental health issues. The home offers comfortable dormitories, regular medical check-ups, a specialized diet, and various recreational and rehabilitation activities. Its primary goal is to fully rehabilitate the residents while ensuring their rights and dignity. To support the centre and remain active, residents also assist in preparing snacks that are sold near schools and shopping centers. This initiative not only helps in funding the center but also helps the residents in integrating into society.

Since July 2024, OFI has been supporting Shalom Ooty (Tamil Nadu), an NGO that has been teaching traditional embroidery to the Toda community for over 20 years.

This collaboration aims to train 100 women in traditional embroidery over a 9-month period. The women work from home, with flexible hours. The sale of their products brings them an additional income which they use to educate their children in an English school, combining the preservation of traditional crafts with social progress.

Following several years of drought exacerbated by climate change, the hot weather and lack of rain in April and May further reduced water reserves, creating a water crisis for fami

lies.

In 10 villages, OFI financed the delivery of water by more than 150 tanker trucks, organized by its partner NGO GRAMIUM. Some 4,675 people benefited over a 15-day period.

There was no shortage of water in the villages where OFI-funded reservoirs and wells were dug. A great success.

The Trophées de l'étranger, a breathtaking journey!
The 12th edition of the Trophées de l'étranger, organized by petitjournal.com on March 19, 2024 at the Quai d'Orsay, highlights the tremendous talent and dynamism of French communities abroad by rewarding six winners with remarkable career paths (from over 500 entries).

Benjamine Oberoi was rewarded for the social impact of all the actions carried out with OFI in collaboration with local NGO partners, particularly the empowerment of women through self-help groups and micro-credit.

 

Given the progress of digital technology and its increasing importance in everyday life, within our different NGO partners in Tamil Nadu, such as SEVAI, GRAMIUM, and HUT, we have established computer centers to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban populations. These centers play a crucial role for young people by assisting them in their job searches. For women, they provide the opportunity to expand their skills, particularly in managing their businesses, as part of our SHG/JLG programs. OFI will continue to implement these programs in 2024 to reach a maximum number of students and women throughout Tamil Nadu.

This month, thanks once again to your donations, a new project was born: the “Smile mission” within the Shanti School of our partner SEVAI. Funds were raised to purchase oral hygiene kits: kits consisting of a toothbrush and toothpaste contained in small bags for transport. These bags were notably sewn from old masks used during the COVID period. The “Smile Mission” will benefit 131 kindergarten children. Agathe, a volunteer in civic service in this school, will be responsible for teaching the appropriate gestures, both simple and sometimes complicated, to these children who do not necessarily have parental figures allowing them to reproduce these gestures. Thank you again for making this project possible!

At our partner NGO – ICOD in West Bengal, we have successfully completed the first phase of the roof construction project. The objective of this project is to create a safe and adequate environment for the residents and also to obtain the necessary permits for the continuity of ICOD's actions.

The new concrete roof construction will also meet the Indian building standards. The roofs will replace thatched roofs that are more vulnerable to climate change.

The project is starting with 2 houses - Tagore Bhavan: A home for the Old and unwell Woman  at Mother Teresa Bhavan:

A home for the intellectually and physically disabled Women.

As part of our efforts to reduce the CO2 impact, we are creating Miyawaki forest at our project sites in Tamil Nadu, India. Over the months, around 6000 trees have been planted as part of this afforestation Program. Miyawaki method of afforestation is a method of growing dense forests on small patches of land. These forests grow much more quickly compared to a conventional forest that may take over 100 years. And as part of this, our partners plant a diverse mixture of trees close together to maximise density and create balance. Through this method, it restores native habitats using native trees.

7 volontaires de OFI et de ses partenaires (SEVAI, ABC) se sont rendus à l’Alliance Française de New Delhi pour célébrer la journée du volontariat Français le 07 octobre 2022, organisée par l’organisation France Volontaires. 18 volontaires français.e.s sont venus des quatre coins de l’Inde et une centaine de personnes ont participé à cette journée.
Les volontaires français et des étudiant.e.s indien.ne.s ont partagé leurs expériences lors de tables rondes. Des sujets comme l’interculturalité, les apprentissages et le volontariat de réciprocité ont été abordés. En cette occasion, les volontaires ont célébré le volontariat comme un moyen de réaliser les Objectifs de Développement Durable (ODD), au coeur de l’agenda 2030 de l’Organisation des Nations Unies (ONU) pour vivre dans un monde de paix.

The end of the year 2023 has been marked by the accomplishment of many of our projects focused on education and childhood. For instance, SEVAI Shanti School has been able to purchase two new school buses, enabling the transportation of 160 students from remote villages. This project, called "The Paths of Knowledge," aims to re-establish student transportation, thereby reducing school dropout rates. With schools having been closed for 2 and a half years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the older buses were damaged and couldn't be repaired, leading to the inability of students living farthest from the school to return.

Busy Bees est un programme d'apiculture de l'ONG Issai destiné à 40 femmes de villages tribaux dans la région de Dindigual. La production de miel est adaptée à ces populations qui n'ont pas de terre. D'autres projets avec la création de groupes d'entraide sont prévus.