About us
BLESS is a family run non-government organisation(NGO), founded in 1989 by Mr L.S. Anthonysamy, our Executive Secretary. BLESS is not for profit and non-religious. We have worked for the social and economic development of marginalised communities for nearly forty years, led by Mr L.S. Anthonysamy and run by staff from the community, with help from local and international volunteers.
Our work focuses on community development, livelihood, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, women’s empowerment, education, and disaster recovery.
Our vision
Greater inclusive social and economic transformation
Our mission
To create self reliant communities through a a family-centred approach
We work with and for
- Scheduled Caste
- Scheduled Tribes
- Women and Children
- Fisher Folk
- Small and Marginal Farmers
How we work
We partner with charitable organisations and foundations, CSR departments, individual donors and Tamil Nadu State Government departments to support and empower vulnerable people in Tamil Nadu, South India.
We ensure the funding our donors provide, is carefully directed to where it is needed. Our team works closely with local communities to understand what resources are required, where and when. This is done by building trusted relationships but also an evidence based approach: using primary research and gathering data. Projects are implemented by our experienced and agile team, external specialists and the local people.
We liaise with state departments to ensure that the communities that we represent, access the Government support that is available to them.
Our objectives
- Develop solidarity among the rural community
- Promote women, youth and unskilled farm workers organisations
- Promote cooperation, economies and small savings
- Favour direct contact with Government and public sector agencies
- Promote hygiene, sanitation and safe environment in the villages
- Provide opportunity for awareness, education and training for self-reliance
- Promote self-employment through vocational training
Our strength
- 25 years of consistent service
- Well-established organizational infrastructure
- Central administrative office
- Two field office, in Keerapalayam and Reddichavady
- Livelihood Advancement Centre at Reddichavady
- Trained and experienced staff working at all levels from project design, to implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and managing finances
- Diverse advisory board with members representing multiple fields
- Well-established relations with governmental departments
- Well-trained educators, administrators, and volunteers
How we do it
- Organising: self help groups, women group, youth groups, men groups, disabled persons groups, unskilled farmers, union, fisherman community and networking.
- Providing Education on: health and hygiene, water and sanitation, women’s rights, consumers’ right, legal awareness, right to information act, land rights, child rights, human rights, Aids awareness and functional literacy.
- Training on: capacity building, small savings, account keeping, documentation, eco-farming, water and sanitation, health and hygiene, child development, animal husbandry, income generation programmes, information and communication and short-term computer courses.
- Programmes on: public health promotion, water and sanitation, eco-san toilet construction, child care, micro finance, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, livelihood promotion, permanent house construction, environmental programmes and income generating programmes.
Our team
