Penned By Social Worker & Facilitator Auroposée Bardhan It has been a year now since Sharana has been working closely with the French Consulate and the Lycée Français International de Pondichéry on two programmes for the French children of the Union Territory:  The Social Support Programme The Holiday Camp Programme   The Social Support Programme has… Read more »

Penned by Board Member Alo Pal The Social workers usually come to me when they have a story to tell. Usually, these are inspiring stories of change and empowerment. It is also my job to evaluate the quality of intervention, understand the rationale behind decisions, and evaluate the outcome. Check if the philosophy of Sharana… Read more »

Penned by Board Member Alo Pal The Old Model 15 years back children at the Sharana daycare and drop-in center spent the nights on the streets, not getting much sleep, after a day left to fend for themselves while their parents worked. Our daycare and a drop-in center ensured that they had access to a… Read more »

Penned By Board Member Alo Pal Our joint family lived a few blocks down the road from the Ashram and School main buildings here in Pondicherry. In those days, a cycle rickshaw stand stood just opposite the Ashram’s main gate. My sister, my cousin, and I used to walk up to the stand, and one… Read more »

Penned By Board Member Alo Pal A child loses her father at a tender age A woman is urged to abort her third child by her own husband’s mistress A widowed mother operates a snack cart opposite an arrack shop, gets a drinking habit, and abuses her child violently at the drop of a hat… Read more »

  [Image 1: children participating in fun activity] Penned by Board Member Alo Pal  “So, how do the children come to Sharana?” I asked Manuel while taking notes for the 2023 Sharana Summer Camp. “Most of the children come on their own.” And I had concluded my piece last year with a heartening thought about… Read more »

Image 1: Beneficiary Meenakshi Penned By Board Member Alo Pal  So then, why don’t you put this money into safe investments and live off the interest?  –        That is not the way to generate wealth.  –        Why not? Your children will be productive too, they will add to this capital and will have an even better life with the… Read more »

Image 1: Gowthami Penned By Board Member Alo Pal When our social worker on outreach met Gowthami, she started to cry. She was in desperate need of funds. Sharana enquired, gathered details, studied her business plan, and then sanctioned a loan of Rs.20.000/- so that she could buy popcorn, sweet corn, French fries, and quail… Read more »

    Image: The girl in the centre is Prithikadevi Penned by Board Member Alo Pal She is a lotus-eyed, long and thick-haired, slim of slight built beauty. She’s Prithikadevi, the daughter of Valli whom I met a few months ago. I knew of Valli’s decade-long struggle in raising her 3 daughters alone and doing… Read more »

Penned By Board Member Alo Pal Manikandan wants to be a policeman. His day begins at 3.00 a.m. when he goes out fishing with his father in the river. By 7.00 a.m. collection for the catch of the day is complete, he then comes to Pondicherry Goubert market from Angalakuppam village, and the sale is… Read more »