_Thandayankottai & Thattankuttai Villages in Jawadi Hills
The Jawadhi Hills is a beautiful group of hills hosting around 224 tribal villages and hamlets of the Malayali tribe (literally, ‘of the hills’). However, many of the villagers suffer from anaemia and malnutrition as well as diseases such as TB, rabies, Neurocysticercosis and heart problems caused by familial intermarriage. The average life expectancy is 46 years and the rate of infant mortality is high. Literacy and numeracy is extremely low and droughts ravage the hills every year.
Thattankuttain & Thandayankottai are two of hundres of villages in the isolated tribal area. This region of Tamil Nadu is prone to landslides and flash floods, making it difficult for children from these villages to reach their nearest schools – often five kilometers away. As a result, Thattankuttai Primary school was established in 2009 and now educates 60 students. |
Very few non-governmental organizations reach these villages in the Javadhi Hills due to lack of accessibility and facilities. Life in these villages is not easy; health and sanitation awareness is very poor, many villagers suffer from alcoholism as well as many other diseases.
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The Sustainable Livelihood Project (SLP)
Seb’s Projects India works with the women of Thandayankottai village, running an Eco Trail program wherein college students come on yearly educational visits as part of their curriculum to learn about the cultures and traditions of these tribes, and about the social and economic challenges that they face. In exchange for the knowledge and perspective they develop, they pay a fee that goes into the women’s account, to be saved for school and hospital fees and for feeding their families.
The Sustainable Livelihood Project now has one woman from each house in the village who are now largely numerate and can handle their own bank account, can stitch and screen print reusable bags as part of the Eco-Trail package, and run a highly successful educational package; including food and camping facilities. Each family now benefits by over 600rs per month, which is enough to send 2 children to secondary school each year.
Seb’s Projects have recently begun an extremely successful handmade soap project in the same village.
Please CLICK HERE for information on volunteering in the Jawadi Hills.
Seb’s Projects India works with the women of Thandayankottai village, running an Eco Trail program wherein college students come on yearly educational visits as part of their curriculum to learn about the cultures and traditions of these tribes, and about the social and economic challenges that they face. In exchange for the knowledge and perspective they develop, they pay a fee that goes into the women’s account, to be saved for school and hospital fees and for feeding their families.
The Sustainable Livelihood Project now has one woman from each house in the village who are now largely numerate and can handle their own bank account, can stitch and screen print reusable bags as part of the Eco-Trail package, and run a highly successful educational package; including food and camping facilities. Each family now benefits by over 600rs per month, which is enough to send 2 children to secondary school each year.
Seb’s Projects have recently begun an extremely successful handmade soap project in the same village.
Please CLICK HERE for information on volunteering in the Jawadi Hills.
The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust Registered Charity No. 1119191 45 Albemarle Street London W1S 4JL t: 02074951010 www.sebsschool.org
