About Hope Centre
Hope Centre for Women and Children is working since 15 years for poverty reduction and rural development. The stone of “Hope Centre for Women and Children” is laid down by Dr. Caroline James Mehta in 2001.Starting relief work among the victims of Union Carbide gas tragedy providing medical help to poor victims and facilitating them to get proper treatment, establishing SHGs among the widow’s who were the victims of Union carbide and providing them skilful training to earn their livelihood.
On 19th December 2001 Society was registered with The Registrar of Firm and Society under charitable and non profit organization vide Registration No- 10088/2001.
The office moved to Itarsi (M.P.) from Bhopal (M.P.) in 2002. Since then the society has undertaken development work among the “Korku” and “Gond” Tribes of 35 villages in Kesla Block of Hoshangabad District (M.P.). The society has been working for benefit of the vulnerable and oppressed people, empowering Women and children for their rights through participatory and interdisciplinary approach and methods.
After moving to Itarsi (Hoshangabad district in M.P.) in 2002 the very first step was to select area of work. 35 villages were chosen from Kesla Tribal Block and another area was in Itarsi Urban Slums. The centre took an integrated approach to work with the poor, destitute, and marginalized women and children. The Hope Centre’s team prepared a questionnaire and for a year did a survey in both the working areas to form rapport with people. The team focused on listening to the people to find out their grievances and had dialogue with them to find out their problems, issues and needs before planning along with them any program.
This survey covered the outskirts of Itarsi where the poor and minority Schedule Cast, Schedule Tribe and Muslim population live. A video recording was done. After surveying and examining answers of the questionnaires many common problems came to light such as poverty, landlessness, unemployment, illiteracy, poor health, lack of resources and lack of awareness towards the problems and issues. Women did not know their rights and they did not have any kind of information regarding private and government schemes. Alcohol and drug problems coupled with other problems created domestic violence towards women.
Hope Centre has 550 SC, ST and Muslim poor women and 565 Female Sex Workers. Training was provided for income generating activities for poor SC & ST, Muslim and Female Sex Workers. Hope centre worked on HIV/AIDS project for three years. The female sex workers are one of the vulnerable groups of the population that are at risk to HIV infection. Therefore, efforts had been made to prevent the prevalence of the disease in this group. It is very important to cut the root of the problem that urges them to engage in this work. The prime cause of Female Sex Workers is poverty and the social status that the society gives women and the social problems caused thereafter. Therefore supporting this group of population economically and making them engage in alternative jobs after rendering them skill training may reduce their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
Hope Centre’s main objective is to develop self reliant rural communities by applying appropriate technology in forest management, water conservation, holistic health and hygiene. Its strategy has been to promote an integrated approach in rural development including skills up grading of rural youth, provision of local employment and establishment of linkages with the welfare programs of the government. It has been giving special attention to encouraging participation and leadership of women so that they can take active role in collective decisions of community and make women aware about their rights. Hope Centre has been working with the communities to develop strategies for self reliance through leadership and empowerment techniques.
Hope Centre fully realizes that the aimed socio-economic and cultural change cannot be easily realized and require long term commitment. So Hope Centre would like to make an important contribution to People’s awareness and empowerment in the area of adult literacy, health and economic development linking with other community development programmes. Hope Centre believes that the way to help the community is not only through welfare but through empowerment of the people.
The aim of Hope Centre is to help the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable women through private and government projects which it has undertaken. Its aim is to make the women economically, socially, and politically independent and self reliant with control over resources so that they may have a say in all matters that concern them, they may soon be empowered to take all decisions which benefit them so that they can lead a dignified life.
Vision
To develop a fair (just) society where love, equality and peace are nurtured and lived.
Mission
To restore human dignity of oppressed and the marginalized ensuring holistic and sustainable development through an important contribution to people’s awareness and empowerment through interdisciplinary approach.