News

Hand in Hand Partnership with the United Nations

17 February 2009.
We are proud to announce that Dr Barnevik, Chairman of Hand in Hand International, 10 February 2009 received a formal acknowledgement from the UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon, confirming Hand in Hand's partnership with the United Nations Office for Partnership in support for the Millennium Development Goals. The UN Secretary General expresses gratitude for Hand in Hand's creativity in exploring dynamic and new mechanisms in fighting extreme poverty and achieving development goals.

New Hand in Hand film

Watch our new film – either here on our website, or on YouTube.

Hand in Hand - YouTube

Flash Report – March 2009

Self Help Groups and Microfinance  
Self Help Groups 28,098
Members in Self Help Groups 406,133
Family-based micro-enterprises started and/or strengthened 221,594
Medium-sized enterprises 906
Credit disbursed through Hand in Hand INR 1,023 million
Credit disbursed through banks INR 867 million
Total credit disbursed INR 1,890 million
Repayment rate 99,74 percent
Child Labour  
Children enrolled in regular schooling and maintained 30,151
Child labour free panchayats 360
Children in Hand in Hand run schools and centres 31,003
Citizens' Centres  
Citizens' centre enterprises and computer-aided enterprises 1,502
Health  
Beneficiaries of medical camps 109,904
Toilets constructed 2,028
Environment  
Households covered by waste collection 81,149
Vermi-compost enterprises 54
Human Resources  
Full-time employees 2,962
Part-time employees as teachers 1,550
Volunteers in "Rights Protection Committees" 26,821
Geographical Presence  
Districts in Tamil Nadu 13
States in India Five
Countries India, South Africa, Afghanistan
 

World Environment Day

5 June 2008. PERU NAGAR.
On 5 June, Hand in Hand celebrated World Environment Day in Peru Nagar Panchayat. The celebrations started with a mass cleaning of the village roads, tree plantation, and a medical camp. In the evening, the village children, Self Help Group members and Hand in Hand staff organised a rally with slogans about the environment, child labour, and women's empowerment. This was followed by a big function presided by Mr David Raj, District Forest Ranger and the village head. The children showed the audience a folk dance number, ending with a skit on the importance of waste segregation and recycling. Another play demonstrated the importance of toilets in women's day to day life as well as on the evils of alcohol. The World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. It is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition.

SHG Software Launched

5 May 2008. KANCHEEPURAM.
In a first of its kind arrangement, Hand in Hand has developed "Kuzhu Nidhi", an accounting software that also facilitates the grading of Self Help Groups (SHGs), not only by Hand in Hand, but also by the bankers participating in the Hand in Hand SHG-bank linkage programme. The software was launched 5 May 2008 at Hand in Hand's office in Kancheepuram by Sri M S Sundara Rajan, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Bank.

SHG Software Launched

Pfizer Supports Hand in Hand for Child Nutrition

29 March 2008. CHENNAI/KANCHEEPURAM.
Pfizer has formalised support to Hand in Hand in implementing a child nutrition project in 100 villages. The grant of INR 3,600,000 (USD 90,000) aims at improving the nutrition status of close to 2,100 malnourished children in Kancheepuram district.

Appreciation Award for Waste Initiative

26 Jan 2008. KANCHEEPURAM.
An appreciation award was presented by the Collector of Kancheepuram to the Hand in Hand Solid Waste Management team for the successful implementation of solid waste management schemes in various Local Bodies in Kancheepuram District on the Republic Day, 26 January, at a gala function held at the Kancheepuram Collectorate. The award was received on behalf of the Solid Waste Management team by Mr Shiva T Krishnamoorthy.

Appreciation Award for Waste Initiative