Claretain Society

Our Work

Education

Education plays a pivotal role in laying the foundation for a healthy and successful life. In fact, education can prevent the poor from being exploited, provide hope for the future and offer tools that allow individuals to act as advocates for economic change within a community. An educated population promotes a better educated nation and an improved social structure.

According to UNESCO, 58 million children of primary school age are not in school. In addition, two-thirds of the 793 million functionally illiterate adults are women. Yet, a child whose mother can read is 50 percent more likely to live past age five.

Child Sponsorship

Sixty one million children of primary school age are not enrolled in schools, and the consequences are severe. An uneducated child is more likely to contract disease, be subjected to trafficking, and less likely to find stable work as an adult.

We work for the children in many remote areas of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar where other organizations are not working. Sponsoring a child through us impacts children in powerful ways through education, freedom from bondage, food security, clean water, and disaster relief. By supplying essential educational resources such as books, uniforms, footwear and classroom supplies and tuitions fees, while also providing fundamental life resources such as clean water and protection from human traffickers.

 We ensure school enrollment, school retention (stay in) and continuation of education all the way through Higher Secondary and in some cases graduation. Around 151 children are helped through our sponsorship programme in Burdwan, Bishrail and Sahari of West Bengal, and in Banki, Saparom and Ghatshila of Jharkhand.

As children are sponsored, they are given hope as they realize that someone is showing concern for their living conditions and their lack of opportunity. Most importantly, as a sponsor, you have the opportunity to encourage a child by writing letters and, in return, receive letters. Through your compassion, children will have hope for a better future as we toil together to alleviate poverty, suffering and to eradicate injustice in their lives.

The needs of children here are complex and deeply interconnected. Child sponsorship through Claretian Society utilizes multiple program areas to complement one another and act as a comprehensive response to poverty with a specific emphasis on the child. Through the love and encouragement of their sponsor, sponsorship affirms that every child has been created in the image of God, has been named, and has a story worthy of being heard!

Animal Husbandry

Our Animal Husbandry Program creates a way for the rural poor to build assets in the form of cattle. The cattle, which are used for plowing, milk, food security, or income, are helping farming families fight the cycle of poverty in Jharkhand. Cattle are distributed amongst families, and owners are educated on animal husbandry. Once the cattle give birth, a certain number of offspring are passed on to another family in the community, creating a sustainable cycle and creating a sense of belonging and “We Feeling”.

Agriculture

In the developing countries, agriculture is the most prevalent form of livelihood and the backbone of the economy. However, lack of proper infrastructure, disasters both natural and manmade, disease outbreaks and lack of modern technical knowhow often plague agricultural advancement, causing productivity to suffer and the cycle of poverty to continue.

By introducing the world’s most impoverished communities of the tribal and the poor to best practices, sustainable farming, and livestock development techniques, farmers are able to better their production and preserve their land for future use. Our agricultural programs in 30 villages at Basmata of Dumka district in Jharkhand help the poor and the marginalized farmers grow more food for them and thus provide food security for themselves.

Human Rights

The Rights Based Approach project is meant for the personnel of the Church and the NGO to educate them on the issues of right base approach so that they can bring the intended social change in the state of Jharkhand. The project development training is especially for those who are involved with the social development network and likeminded persons who want to transform the society in a strategic way.

1. To enable poor people to receive their entitlements from Government.

2. To enhance the capacity building of the local communities through Rights Based Approach activities of FBOs and NGOs.

  • Around 76% (414) participants from FBOs and NGOs participated in RBA trainings
  • Around 90% (60 FBOs/NGOs) of the participated FBOs and NGOs gained knowledge with the capacity building trainings in RBA.
  • Around 62% said that they have increased and enhanced knowledge on RBA.
  • Around 30% said that trainings have helped them to include RBA in their work.
  • Around 23% (56 people) visited resource centre

Health and Nutrition

As our works are mostly with rural and vulnerable communities, the majority of vulnerable communities we serve face dire situations in the areas of health and nutritional problems. We work with the marginalized and the voiceless to help alleviate poverty, suffering and to eradicate injustice. A few progrmmes we run are daily health check-up clinics practice at Sahanagar and weekly reflexology clinic at Claret Nivas. Around 150 people benefit from these services.