"My son used to kick me when he was in my womb. Why make an issue when he kicked me in my old age?" reasons a very forgiving Shakti Dasi. The widow travelled 2300 kms from Tripura to Vrindavan after her only son violently beat her with a burning plank of wood and broke her knee one evening. She had to leave behind the business she had built with her husband who had died a few years back. Shakti ended up on the streets of Brindavan begging for food and shelter. But when Winnie Singh of Maitri saw Shakti in a frail state in tattered clothes, she brought her to the shelter home where Shakti gets food, care and medicines. What more, with Maitri’s intervention, Shakti reconciled with her son - and daughter-in-law, and now travels home to Tripura twice a year to spend time with her grandchildren. But she is not leaving Maitri, as this has become her family.Not every elderly widow who comes to Vrindavan after being abandoned by her family gets as lucky as Shakti. Many of them often end up living a lonely life and begging to survive on the streets. Maitri aspires to take care of every widow in need of help.<img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/ce101369-528c-4d37-bc1d-1118b9925af3.jpg" />Maitri’s Project Jeevan to the rescueAbandoned, elderly widows are the amongst the most vulnerable in India. After being thrown out of their often abandoned by their own children and are forced to beg for food and shelter. “Through Project Jeevan, Maitri houses aging widow mothers in two ashrams in Vrindavan and Radhakund (Mathura), providing them with wellness and well-being. The programme also reaches out to widow mothers beyond the ashrams with fruit, milk and healthcare services,” explains Winnie Singh, co-founder and executive director, Maitri India.Save homeless elderly widows from begging on the streetsMost widows who make their way to Vrindavan are abandoned by their families, often after years of abuse. They come here hoping they will spend the rest of their days in prayer and devotion. But most live in impoverished conditions on the streets and in dingy rooms. Since poor living conditions often cause a wide range of health ailments, including respiratory infections and chronic conditions, Maitri comes to their rescue through its Project Jeevan.The project aims to:<ul><li>Provide meals leading to improved health and wellbeing</li><li>Make physical and mental health services accessible</li><li>Offer necessary quality aged care and assisted living support</li><li>Increase awareness on and engagement around the struggles of abandoned widow mothers</li></ul><img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/1abfb906-563b-4747-85b8-8af2071a2856.jpg" />Project Jeevan needs your support to help those in need of food, healthcare and well-being. Donate now.“Maitri urgently needs your support to provide food, clothing and healthcare to sustain these widow mothers who are prone to more illnesses as they age,” appeals Winnie.Maitri believes in a woman’s right to dignity in life and death, more so a mother. Our help will enable Maitri to save hundreds of abandoned widows from a life of begging, and restore the respect, dignity, and identity they deserve.

Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

“What will happen to them after me? I am 80+. I spend sleepless nights,” worries ex-Air Force officer, Group Captain AC Barua while talking about the future of the 28 destitute women under his care. “They have nobody in this world, sometimes they don’t remember their own names. They are absolutely alone,” he informs us as he goes from one room to the other meeting all the women who live at Seneh, the only home where they are loved and taken care of. After fighting for his country all his life, this octogenarian is now fighting to rescue homeless and abandoned women from dying on the streets. But he cannot do it alone. “Everyday I keep on getting calls from here and there. ‘Oh! there’s a woman lying here. Can you help?’ But I don’t dare to go and help because I don’t have the money. I don’t have the resources, our resources are very limited,” explains Gr. Capt. Barua who is lovingly called ‘Sir’ and ‘Deuta’ (father in Assamese) by the residents of Seneh. With your help, 80-year-old Group Captain Barua can fulfill his mission of rescuing abandoned and homeless women from dying on the streets, alone. Donate nowDonate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. All donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), &amp; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA).Seneh- a home filled with love, care and hopeThe residents of Seneh often don’t remember who they are, where they have come from. Many times these are women with mental health conditions and considered being a witch due to superstitious beliefs and beaten up as a result. They are victims of domestic abuse or widow mothers who are considered to be a burden on the family. Group Captain Barua has not only rescued them from critical conditions, he has provided them with urgent medical care, food and above all, a free safe shelter where they can live with love and care. Among these residents is Sarala Kalita who fled to save herself from the tortures of her alcoholic husband only to face neglect and trauma from her brothers- and sisters-in-law. “Both my brothers and their wives urged my father to leave me somewhere as they didn’t want to take care of me anymore. One day my brother’s wife didn’t even let me have food at home. She just wanted me to leave and go away. So that’s why, my father got in touch with Seneh through someone, and handed me over to Sir to take care of me,” says Sarita who has found joy in living at Seneh. “Coming to Seneh, it felt like I got a new life altogether. Sir has given me a harmonium. I love singing. It makes me forget everything and takes me to someplace else entirely,” she adds. More women like Sarala can find their way to a loving home like Seneh. All they need is a little bit of your kindness. “It is difficult to make both ends meet”To sustain their daily expenditure, Capt Barua needs approx ₹3 lakh a month and arranging the funds is a mammoth challenge for the NGO. “Our expenses are growing day by day. Residents are growing older, their sicknesses are increasing. At times we have to give them special food. They require more care so we have to get more employees. About half of them require leading around, 1-2 has to be fed also. It will be very difficult to sustain it unless we get help,” he added. One act of your kindness can save these abandoned women, with no one in this world, from struggling on the streets to survive. At 80+ Gr. Capt. Barua cannot sustain Seneh on his own. “With folded hands, I appeal to all. Please come and please help us. Let us help these people, these old people who have nobody in this world. They are dying. They will die on the streets,” he urged. Donate to this fundraiser by Give.do to support retired Air Force officer, Group Captain Barua in his mission to rescue abandoned and homeless women from dying on the streets.

After fighting for India, former Air Force officer is now fighting to save abandoned women. Help him, donate now

“My 8-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer and it left the entire family devastated. I was told the cost of treatment would run into lakhs. I was barely managing to make ends meet and there was nothing I could do to save Swaroop. But the Nargis Dutt Foundation stepped in and took care of all the expenses. I can’t even imagine the consequences had they not been there for my son,,” says teary-eyed Devendra.The helplessness that Devendra felt is not uncommon among low-income families of cancer patients. There are many who helplessly see their dear ones, including children, lose their life in the most painful manner. Nargis Dutt Foundation has ensured that thousands of families don’t see this fate. It’s been a ray of hope for thousands of cancer patients since its inception over 40 years back. You can help save many more patients with cancer. Donate now.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), &amp; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA). The cost of each chemotherapy is as much as ₹15,000 and a cancer patient can require between 6 to 12 sessions. The hefty cost for cancer treatment is well beyond the reach for poor families that are barely surviving on two square meals a day. Help Nargis Dutt Foundation provide treatment to poor cancer patients and save them from a slow and painful death.Giving hope to cancer patients“I was just 13 when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. When I saw my mother struggling for life it left a lifelong impact on me. Her condition had deteriorated to such an extent she was almost unrecognisable. I know how it feels like to lose a loved one to cancer and I am not alone in my grief. There are thousands of people struggling to save their family members,” says Priya, daughter of noted actress Nargis Dutt, who lost her life to cancer, and in whose name the NGO has been founded. Priya has made it her life’s mission to save as many cancer patients as she can, but she can not do it alone. Nargis Dutt Foundation needs your support. Your donation can not only save cancer patients but can give life to entire families.Need for the fundraiserCancer is often seen as a death sentence. But doctors say that if detected early and if a patient receives essential treatment, the illness can be defeated and the person can return to their lives. “Treatment of cancer often depends on multiple factors including the type of cancer and the stage in which it is detected. Some patients require surgery while some can be cured with just chemotherapy or immunotherapy. “Whatever may be the need, our nonprofit supports patients till the time they are cancer free. We not only take care of the cost of treatment but even assist patients with nutrition which is vital in the fight against cancer. Moreover, we ensure that family members who are already facing immense hardships get proper accommodation and food during treatment so they don’t suffer any further,” says the NGO leader. With your support, Nargis Dutt Foundation can help patients win the fight against cancer and save their families from grief of losing a loved one.Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest and most trusted fundraising platform, to support Nargis Dutt Foundation in their mission to give life-saving chemotherapy and care to cancer patients who can not afford treatment.

500 cancer patients are fighting for life, help Nargis Dutt Foundation give them urgent chemotherapy

Provides a platform for weavers artisans to strengthen their livelihood systems through creative entrepreneurship

Livelihood

Provides artisans from all over India with design and entrepreneurship education to help them become creative entrepreneurs

Education

Preserves intangible cultural heritage of India embodies in its handwoven textile crafts by working to strenghthen the livelihood systems of weaver artisans

Art & Culture

Karuka Foundation’s objective is to provide the present generation of artisans with the requisite training support, and access to networks and technology to continue, to grow and prosper in their traditional craft, without having to compromise on their aspirations. Karuka Foundation aims to provide the young generation of artisans with a quality education that allows them to make the transition from craft-based wage workers to artisan-designer-entrepreneurs, thereby helping them reclaim their creative agency in their craft. This allows them to rediscover pride in their vocation and emerge as empowered ambassadors of their crafts committed to carrying their age-old traditions forward.

Donations through Give Foundation, registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961 are tax-deductible.

Karghewale Connect

Karuka Foundation

This nonprofit is registered as a charitable trust under section 12A of India's Income Tax Act, 1961.

This nonprofit is registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961. This means you can deduct 50% of the donation you made through your tax return.

Hello Everyone, Thank you for your kindness and support. With the assistance from you, we are rebuilding. The preliminary relief work has started and we have been able to make ration kits and distribute it to 120 families who needed it the most. We are also partnering with Goonj to provide other resources and aid such as school kits and bedding. Will keep you all posted ! Thank you ! NiveditaCEO &amp; Co-founder - Karghewale

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Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

After fighting for India, former Air Force officer is now fighting to save abandoned women. Help him, donate now

500 cancer patients are fighting for life, help Nargis Dutt Foundation give them urgent chemotherapy

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