Maya Foundation

Projects during FY13-14:

• Social Integration and Education: Nabadisha one & two are the oldest education projects of Maya which provide integration into mainstream schools. In addition to their educational activity, they also focus on social and community activities with the support of Kolkata Police. Approximately 125 children have benefitted from these Centres. Maya Foundation also runs the Midday meal programme at these centres benefitting 6,500 children.
• Social Health Improvement Programme:  The NGO organizes monthly health check-ups with free medication for early diagnosis and prevention of various ailments for the children under the Nabadisha programs and for men and women in their shelters. Various awareness camps on topics such as hygiene, family planning, HIV, etc. are regularly organised. The NGO also provided medical and surgical aid to poor families suffering from acute illnesses and has reached out to 56 women, 40 men and 2,100 children during the year.
• Social Bonding Enhancement Programme: Maya Foundation organised a meet of doctors with patients and children from the Centre with those from mainstream schools. Various activities such as consumer awareness, annual picnic, children’s day, etc. were also organised. They also initiated an Urban Shelter for Men during the year to support them to become self-reliant.

• Women Empowerment: Awareness camps and workshops to educate women about their rights and responsibilities were conducted in slums of Kolkata.  Topics such as dowry, domestic violence and role of women in  society were discussed. Women were provided vocational training in sewing, ornament making and toy making along with skills to read and write. They were encouraged to form Self-Help Groups along with other income generating activities. The NGO has also provides for temporary shelter and basic amenities to destitute and homeless women.