It's not too late to make a life changing gift
FROM DIRECTOR's DESK
Father Ben Chinnappan
President & Executive Director
bchinnappan@hotmail.com
bchinnappan@hotmail.com
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Dalit Solidarity — a charity giving voice to the voiceless, established in 2000 to promote dignity, equality and justice for all Indians, regardless of one’s caste, race, gender and religion. Dalits (once called “Untouchables”) still remain marginalized, invisible and oppressed. But there is a key way to break the cycle of poverty and untouchability – through literacy and empowerment. Dalit Solidarity, Inc., has been uplifting the poor and marginalized for many years! Thank you, friends and families, for making this possible through your generous support to Dalit Solidarity. We are actively serving a population often forgotten and oppressed. We have been serving them with pride and joy for the last 20 years, and have promoted their wellbeing and development. Dalit Solidarity has worked steadily to provide India’s Dalits with the tools they need to make better lives for themselves and their families.
Our continued work in the vital area of education, healthcare, empowerment and development relies increasingly on the generosity and support of individuals and organizations. Dalit Solidarity serves as a lifeline to those living at the fringes of society, encouraging and developing them. Please join the Dalit Solidarity family today by making a contribution, sponsoring a child, or offering a loved one the gift of a donation in his or her name. Your support will enable us to continue our mission.
May God abundantly bless you and your family, for keeping His poor near and dear to your hearts.
more about us
our programs
Dalit Solidarity has worked steadily to provide India’s Dalits with the tools they need to make better lives for themselves and their families. Thousands of Dalits now have access to quality health care. Hundreds of children are being given the opportunity to attend good schools, from elementary through graduate school. Several hundred Dalit widows are learning that they too can be productive members of Indian society, deserving of dignity and respect.
About Us
Dalit Solidarity, Inc. was established as a 501(3)© charitable and tax-exempt organization in 2000 to promote equality and justice for Dalits who have been marginalised and segregated for centuries under the shadow of Caste oppression in the sub-continent of India. Even today, at the dawn of twenty first century when India has become a super power, the pain of untouchability is strongly felt as ever before by more than three hundred million dalits. We have become the voice of the voiceless.
our mission
Dalit Solidarity is committed to the principles of justice and equality for all Indians, regardless of caste, race, gender or religion. This commitment is expressed by providing access to quality health care and education, by making economic opportunities available for India's poorest citizens, and by working to protect human rights.
Get involved where it matters
Everyone can help change the world, one step at a time. Whether it is one volunteer hour or one dollar, you can make a difference with our projects.
sponsor a child
Most of the adults in our villages have no more than a sixth grade education. We are working hard to ensure that all Dalit children finish high school, and have the opportunity for further studies.
support a widow
Dalit Solidarity strives to empower the poorest members of Indian society, particularly the women and especially the widows, by providing them with new economic opportunities.
What we do
20 YEARS OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we gratefully remember all those who walked with us during these twenty years. We express our deep gratitude to every one who marched with us in our journey in empowering the Dalits to live with dignity and respect in India. Without our friends and supporters, we could not have achieved so much in making great difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters who have been considered as impure and untouchables all their lives. Dalit Solidarity has touched many lives in this short period by turning their lives around. We have taken the plight of dalits to the international forum by which both the North America and the Europe have come to know more about the dalits. Recently USAID/ASHA has recognized our dedication for the education of the poor children at St. Patrick’s Academy with an award.
Our milestones
- Some of our students have become engineers, teachers, nurses and business men and work some big companies. A few of them have got jobs in abroad and support their families.
- We are now educating over 750 students at St. Patrick’s school. Currently twenty students get vocational training at St. Patrick’s community college.
- With the help of our Community College program, many of our students have become health care professionals and School teachers. Kodaikanal Community College students succeeded very well in securing jobs from banks and import companies.
- St. Mary’s Health Center treat over 300 patients each month from more than ten villages. It is fully staffed by health care team.
- We have trained over 150 volunteers to act as First Responders and provide first aid in their villages.
- We have built over 80 homes for tsunami victims and for many widows.
- We have formed 10 self-help widows’ groups to build their own business and to support their families.
- We have organised the first ever conference for widows on International women’s Day.
- We have two successful milk-cooperative societies run by widows toward their empowerment.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
how you can help us
sponsor a child
By sponsoring a Dalit child you are effectively giving him or her a life-changing opportunity - a future with real prospects away from poverty and oppression
support a widow
Empower the poorest members of Indian society, particularly the women and especially the widows, by providing them with new economic opportunities
health care
Provide quality health care for the poor when it is needed and support Village Health Program (VHP) to provide community health care for over 36 villages in Villupuram, India.
clean water
Provide clean water and sanitation to every man, woman, and child in every community, including the most vulnerable populations in the hardest-to-reach places
empowerment
Support women to afford better food, necessary health care and to achieve the dream of providing their children with quality education
vocational training
Provide vocational training for qualified high school graduates in nursing, computers and tailoring
CURRENT UPDATES
Ground breaking event, dec 2019
American Schools and Hospitals Award (ASHA) has donated St.Patrick’s with additional classrooms in order to provide enough space for computer & physics lab and library. Mr.Matthew Jelacic, USAID and Mr.Moulik D Berkana, Cultural Affairs Officer at Chennai US Consulate participated in the ground breaking ceremony on Dec 9th, 2019. His Excellency, Dr. A. Neethinathan, Bishop of Chingleput blessed the foundation stone.
US volunteers, Jan 2020
Dalit Solidarity is very grateful for three premed students, Claudio Ordonez, Tommy Tu and Jon Patel from Baylor University and one more, Vikram Patel who volunteered to come St. Mary’s Health Center, Odiayathur and St. Patrick’s Academy for a ten-days trip. They wanted to have an exposure of our health system, culture and history. Leenus Thiag, a staff-nurse from North Carolina supported their initiative with all logistics and program.
So far we have helped
3000
students from st.patrick's academy, india
7000
patients from st.mary's health centre, india
700
widows from rural villages of villupuram district, india
OUR ENDORSEMENTS
