Emerging Church in Expanding Chennai
Biennial Report for the year 2001 - 2002
It is with great pleasure, I present the biennial report of the Board of Women's Concern of our Madras Diocese for the years 2001 and 2002.
Apart from women fellowship activities we have four departments in our Board of Women's Concern viz. Pre-school, Bethany Home, Counselling Centre and Bible Women Ministry.
Women Fellowship of the Pastorates Under Madras Diocese
| President |
Rev. Mrs. Joan Devasahayam |
| Vice President |
Mrs. Ida Victor |
| Convenor |
Jessie Nesakumar |
| Secretary |
Mrs. Florence Leonard |
| Treasurer |
Mrs. lndira Tambidurai |
|
1. Aims & Objectives
• To strengthen women of the church spiritually, specially to create prayer and study cell to enrich their understanding the Bible in women's perspective relating to present day context.
• To enrich the women's role to actualise the kingdom values of justice, peace, equality and dignity of women in family, church and in community.
We have 120 number of Women Fellowships affiliated to our Board. Each Women Fellowship consists of 20 to 70 members.
2. Regular Programmes
Conduct of prayers, bible study, special retreats, visiting the sick, orphanages, senior citizen homes and prisoners in jail. Supporting church projects financially by organising various programmes. Distribution of clothes to the poor during festivals.
3. Special Programmes
Conduct of mass marriages for the poor, literacy programmes for lepers who come for alms during church services.
4. Significant and Periodical Programmes and Activities
Women Sundays 2001 & 2002 were observed on 12th August 2001 & 11th August 2002 respectively.
Diocesan Women's Choir was formed at the diocesan level, which gave special numbers in Diocesan programmes.
To strengthen Women Fellowship activities, planning meetings were convened prior to major events viz. rallies, conferences etc.
5. Self Help Projects
Priority Grant given by the CSI Women Fellowship at Synod level have been distributed to the needy women to ensure hope for their future, to have small shops. Poor children were helped through this grant to pursue their studies.
6. Collection of Handful of Rice
Inspired by the suggestions given by our Bishop, 'Collection of Pidi Arisi was launched in the Rally 2002. Rice collected from members is used for feeding Pre-school children, senior citizens and inmates of Bethany Home.
7. Spiritual Enrichment Programmes
Fellowship of least coin
FLC is an ecumenical global prayer movement for justice, peace and reconciliation. Our members of the WF are prayer partners. A sum of Rs.7500/- collected from FLC Prayer Partners was donated through CSIWF (Synod) for the rehabilitation Sri Lankan Young widows.
World Day of Prayer
It is a movement symbolised by an annual day of celebration on the First Friday of March. Members of our Women Fellowship conduct special services in the First Friday of March.
Future Plan
• To motivate Women's Fellowship members to build as a movement.
• To start prayer cell help line.
• To encourage the members of Women Fellowship in taking the initiative to observe women's special days viz. Women's Sunday on March and Mother's Day in May.
• To encourage women to have theological training and involve them in evangelism.
• To revive MFD Hostel and Martha Canteen.
8. Biennium Report of the Counselling Centre
| Director |
Rev. Mrs. Joan Devasahayam |
| Co-ordinator |
Miss. R. Isabel |
| Counsellor |
Mrs. Amutha Fernando |
|
Aims
• The Board of Women's Concern initiated a Family Counselling Centre in February, 2000 with the aim of helping individuals, couples and families in distress to live in harmony with oneself and others.
• To sensitize and enhance the church and individuals capacity to respond and comfort people in distress through workshops and training.
• Creating a 'Crisis Shelter' for women, girls and children in distress.
9. Work Report During the Biennium
Overview of problems handled by the family counseling centre
| Total No of cases registered are: |
128 |
| No of cases closed are |
65 |
| No. of cases handled in the family court |
201 |
| Schism in marital life |
61 |
| Parent child dishar mony |
27 |
| Run away |
12 |
| Short stay shelter |
24 |
| Assistance education / marriage/ employment |
26 |
| Police / legal help |
17 |
| Desertion |
44 |
Achievements
• Initiation of a crisis shelter for women, girls and children in distress.
• Submission of a prima facie report on sexual harassment to Supreme Court.
• Training services has gained wide acceptance in all sectors (notable among them are Police, AIDWA, Colleges, State Resource Centre & other Christian establishments).
• The services of the centre has played a significant role in making people release that counselling need of the hour.
| Counseled eloped Couples |
6 |
| Recovery Sreedhana articles |
3 |
| Families who had rejoined |
15 |
| Counseled adolescent girls |
14 |
| Psychiatric assistance |
16 |
| De-addiction treatment |
14 |
| Training for social work to students |
11 |
Supportive Services Rendered by the Centre
| Free Legal Aid |
16 |
| Medical/ Psychiatric help |
28 |
| Redeemed parent-child relationship |
9 |
| Employment assistance |
18 |
| Hostel placement |
33 |
| Police assistance |
9 |
| Educational Assistance |
24 |
| Short Stay shelter |
16 |
Training Details
|
S.No
|
Target Group
|
Topics Covered are
|
No. of Beneficiaries
|
|
1.
|
Church/ Congregation
|
Strengthening Marital bonds, Conflict Resolution, parenting. Need & Importance of Counselling
|
More than 1000 Nos.
|
|
2.
|
Student Community
|
Women & Gender issues, how to prepare for exams, love, sex & infatuation, Pre-marital, caring the elderly, leadership
|
700 -800 Nos.
|
|
3.
|
Teaching Community
|
Child Psychology, leadership, inter personal relationship basic counselling skills,
|
400- 500 Nos.
|
|
4.
|
NGO's & Public
|
Women empowerment, Basic counselling skills, Premarital counselling, handling burn out, domestic violence etc.
|
900 -1000 Nos.
|
10. Future Focus
Department needs both personnel and infra structural facilities to meet the growing need. "Crisis shelter" to be strengthened with required infra-structural facilities.
C.S.I Madras Diocese
Bethany Centre for Women
A Programme of the Board of Women's Work
Rev. Mrs. J. Devasahayam
President
Mrs. Saroja Chellappa
Co-ordinator
Report for the Biennium 2001 - 2003
1. Aims & Objectives
C.S.I Bethany Centre for Women was started in 1982 to function for the upliftment of downtrodden women, children and Senior Citizens (both men and women) and for their economic and social empowerment.
|
S.No
|
Activities
|
Achievements during the year 2001-2002
|
No. of Beneficiaries
|
|
1.
|
Helping the Aged
|
Through Helpage India helping the Senior Citizens to get Rs. 400/- for the sustenance
|
116+10 =126
|
|
2.
|
Helping the Widows & Destitute
|
Widows on the pavement were helped to get government pension for the Widows
|
38
|
|
3.
|
Conduct of Adult Education
|
Adults were made literate through this Adult programme
|
30
|
|
4.
|
Formation of Self Help Group
|
Self Help Groups were formed 5 in Periamet and 1 in Korukupet areas Encouraged small savings and helped them to get bank loans to the extent of their savings for starting small business.
|
60
|
|
5.
|
Counselling Programme
|
Broken Families were given timely counselling and helped their reunion.
|
280
|
|
6.
|
Helping the Poor Students to pursue education
|
20 poor boys and 9 girls were helped in getting hostel accommodation. 6 students were helped in getting Scholarships from Indian Council for Child Welfare. Helped poor children by giving them textbooks and uniforms through philanthropists.
|
79
|
|
7.
|
Free Coaching Class for for poor children
|
Free coaching classes conducted in the evening from 4 to 6.00 p.m. Children benefited through these classes.
|
40 - 50
|
|
8.
|
Vocational Training for Women
|
Young women were trained in tailoring, handicrafts to become economically empowered.
|
80
|
|
9.
|
Rehabilitation of Drug addicts Alcoholics.
|
Victims of drug abuse and alcoholics /were rehabilitated.
|
30
|
|
10.
|
Helping the young women to start small business
|
Grant were given for the procurement of 6 tailoring machines, 3 tricycles and 30 women were given grant to start small business.
|
39
|
2. Future Plans
• To extend the activities of Bethany in all the other three areas in the Diocese.
• To involve the churches and schools of our Diocese in Bethany programmes and activities.
• To bring awareness on social evils, especially against women.
|
