THE BELAKU TRUST
Dedicated to Community Health Research & Action
COMMUNITY ACTION
Our community interventions are directed by our research findings, community feedback and current knowledge. At present the programmes are carried out in several villages of Kanakapura taluk of Bangalore Rural district, Karnataka.
Income-Generation Projects
Recognising that women’s empowerment is closely related to their economic
self-sufficiency, we have embarked on a programme to help women to set up
income-generating group activities.
Women
in the village of
Kadahalli
have been
trained to make paper and are now producing items like note-pads, writing
paper, cards and bags.
Further information on the Kirana project. A second project in the
village of Halasur is also underway to train women in block printing as a
form of income generation.
Further information on the Deepa project.
See/order products from the Kirana and Deepa projects.
Their earnings are often the sole source of income for these women and their families. It is heartening that within a short period the women have gained self-confidence, grown in the regard of the community, and initiated moves for change in their surroundings. Expansion of this programme is funded by Development Cooperation Ireland.
Support for elected women leaders in the villages
As part of a network set up by the Hunger Project, we have embarked on a
programme to enhance the performance of elected women leaders by provision
of information about their role and responsibilities and by setting up
local support groups for these women.
Collaboration with Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme
Following an intial review of the ICDS anganwadis (pre-school
groups) and their functioning, we have been working with the staff to improve
services. A project to encourage community involvement with the programme
has just begun, supported by the Rajiv Gandhi
Foundation.
Adolescent programme for nutrition and reproductive health
This is a programme for young people, both in and out of school. Through
interactive sessions with our staff, we address social and gender issues
as well as questions of health, nutrition and development. There has been
a very positive response from students, teachers and parents, with a
discernible change in attitudes and behaviour. This programme has been
supported at various times by the Small Grants Programme of NIMHANS and
the Arghyam Trust.
“Health
through Play”
We organize activities for children of various ages, and thus try to
disseminate health issues through theatre, song, dance, pottery and
painting.
Education
and Medical Assistance Programmes
Scholarships are provided to enable girls to continue their schooling, and
families with serious medical problems are given assistance with
referrals/financial aid.
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The Belaku Trust was registered in 1995 under the Indian Trust Act, Reg. No. 290