Kristalaya Mercy Mission

Key activities are:

• Free Edu-Care Center:  Through its seven free edu-care centers in districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur and West Midnapur  400 under privileged children are getting opportunity of free coaching to meet their educational, socio-cultural, spiritual needs etc. They are also provided books, notebooks, stationery items, school bags and warm clothes. Children come to the Ashalaya (the Shelter of Hope) center every day for 3 hours. To enhance skills, seminars are conducted regularly to give orientation to youth regarding different skills, which they can learn and utilize for career development. Spoken English classes are held in Pradhan Nagar and Devidanga. Besides this, sports activities, cultural programs, art competitions are encouraged and festivals too are celebrated.
• Adult Literacy, Self Help Groups and Social Awareness Programs: In order to eradicate illiteracy, Adult literacy programs are conducted in 17 villages where 670 adult members are taught to read and write. The teachers are also educating them on personal health and hygiene. They are also printing materials and books suitable for teaching the adults. Through Self Help Groups (SHG), villagers have started making of wax, incense sticks, pickles, papad, tailoring, handicrafts and fisheries. They are trained to work in groups, acquire different skills, get finances from co-operative banks, sell their products and maintain their own accounts. Tree plantation drives and programs on social forestry are conducted to increase awareness on benefits of trees and their protection.
• Medical and Health camp: Kristalaya conducts medical and health camp especially in the remote areas of West Medinipur, South 24 Paraganas, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. They also distribute calcium tablets, ORS sachets, few food supplements and first aid materials. Orientation programs are conducted on how to give and attend to first aid needs.