THERE is a poignant reality that often goes unnoticed – the abandonment of widowed mothers on the streets. Witnessing the plight of these women, Winnie Singh, the founder of Maitri, took it upon herself to address the pressing issue of elderly widows left to fend for themselves. Through Maitri’s initiative, Project Jeevan, Winnie Singh and her team are working tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate these abandoned women, providing them with the care, respect and dignity they deserve.
The abandonment crisis
Winnie Singh reveals a disheartening trend prevalent in today’s society – children abandoning their mothers as soon as they become widows. The societal emphasis on financial priorities often leaves these elderly women without familial support, pushing them into destitution. Many find themselves on the streets of Vrindavan, hoping for a life of prayer and devotion but ending up in impoverished conditions, begging to survive.
Project Jeevan: a lifeline for abandoned widows
In response to this humanitarian crisis, Maitri initiated Project Jeevan in July 2010. Jeevan symbolizes life with dignity, reflecting the project’s overarching goal – to ensure identity, respect and dignity for aging, homeless, abandoned and destitute widows. The project addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by these women, including poor living conditions leading to health issues.
Key objectives of Project Jeevan
These are the aims of the Maitri:
Nutrition and well-being: Maitri recognizes the importance of nutrition in the well-being of abandoned widows. Project Jeevan focuses on providing nutritious meals to improve the health and overall well-being of these women.
Health services accessibility: The poor living conditions of abandoned widows often lead to various health ailments. Project Jeevan makes physical and mental health services accessible to address respiratory infections, chronic conditions, and other health issues.
Aged care and assisted living: Maitri strives to offer quality aged care and assisted living support to ensure that these vulnerable women can live with dignity and receive the care they need.
Awareness and engagement: Beyond immediate assistance, Maitri aims to increase awareness about the struggles faced by abandoned widows. Project Jeevan seeks to engage the community in understanding and addressing the challenges these women encounter.
Appeal for support by Maitri
As the festive season of Diwali approaches, Maitri and its founder Winnie Singh make a heartfelt appeal for support. Donors have the opportunity to rescue abandoned widowed mothers from a life of begging, providing them with the chance for a dignified and respectful existence. Winnie Singh emphasizes the urgency of support, stating, “Maitri urgently needs your support to provide nutritious food, clothing, and healthcare to sustain these widow mothers who are prone to more illnesses as they age.” To support Maitri, you can donate here.
Becoming the family they were denied
Winnie Singh passionately encourages individuals to become the family these widows were denied. By extending a helping hand, donors can contribute to Maitri’s mission of rescuing these vulnerable women, offering them a chance to live with dignity and without the need to beg for survival. Every donation to this cause enables Maitri to save hundreds of abandoned widows, restoring their respect, dignity and identity.
Maitri: beyond abandoned widows
While Maitri’s focus on abandoned widows in Vrindavan is crucial, it’s essential to recognize the broader scope of Maitri’s work. Founded in 2005 by Winnie Singh, the organization initially aimed to spread awareness about essential health information among members of India’s uniformed services and their families. This included addressing sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Over the years, Maitri has expanded its initiatives to include education and sensitization programs aimed at ending violence against women. The NGO also addresses citizenship rights and health issues concerning migrant populations. Maitri’s commitment to compassion and loving-kindness is reflected in its name, which translates to “compassion” in English.
A crucial turning point: Project Jeevan
In 2008, Maitri encountered a unique and extremely vulnerable population in Vrindavan – widows who were victims of domestic violence inflicted by their own family members. These women, including mothers abused by their sons and relatives, found themselves homeless and destitute, forced to beg for survival on the streets of Vrindavan.
Recognizing the heartfelt need to support and bring dignity into the lives of these homeless and abandoned widows, Maitri launched Project Jeevan in July 2010. This initiative marked a crucial turning point in Maitri’s history, setting a benchmark for the organization to work towards identity, dignity and respect for the most vulnerable members of society.
Support Maitri’s fundraiser on Give.do
Maitri’s relentless efforts through Project Jeevan stand as a shining light for abandoned widows in Vrindavan. The NGO, led by the passionate Winnie Singh, seeks to address not only the immediate challenges of homelessness and destitution but also the deeper issues of identity, respect and dignity.
As Diwali approaches, the call for support becomes more urgent. Donors have the opportunity to make a significant impact by contributing to Maitri’s mission, rescuing abandoned widows from a life of begging, and restoring to them the respect, dignity and identity they deserve. Maitri’s work goes beyond providing immediate relief; it is a testament to the transformative power of compassion and loving-kindness in bringing positive change to the lives of those who need it most. To support Maitri, you can donate here.
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