VOLONTARIAT INDIA
Discover Volontariat
Discover Volontariat
Who are we ?
In
1962, Madeleine Herman, a young social worker in Belgium, came in Pondicherry in order to ‘serve first the poorest of the poor’. She started a social action in the village of Oupalam where she tried answering urgent needs of the population: building a dispensary, distributing milk to children, looking for a stable job for parents…
Soon, Volontariat was registered as a non-profit, non-political and secular organization, under Indian law.
To help its activities financially, Madeleine encouraged the creation of a Committee in her native city of Liège, Belgium. Then, gradually, some volunteers who had the opportunity to take part in various activities in Pondicherry wanted to continue helping, once they were back in Europe, as they were moved by working among the poorest and by what they received from this population. That is how several supporting committees were set up with devoted people whose commitment is very important.
The permanent support of these groups and individuals has enabled to go ahead in several fields. Through the years, various and numerous activities were created:
- A sponsorship program which permits 1300 children to benefit from a decent education and good medical care
- Numerous individual (ponctual or long-term) help depending on the identified needs
- A weaving and embroidery workshop, to give back dignity to former lepers, disabled persons and mothers
- A farm of agriculture and cattle, which also welcomes children
- Housing and support for elderly people, kids or people from the street
- The programs with the villages affected by the Tsunami of 26.12.2004 have today come at the end.
From the beginning, the activities carried out by “Volontariat” are not generally planned in advance, they are the consequence of its leitmotiv: “to leave the door open to any misery”. The programmes follow a need, are meant to solve a problem noticed on the spot, for which answers and solutions have to be found with the beneficiary.
