1.  What are goals and purposes of Assisi Aid Projects?

Assisi is a regional Victorian based non-denominational not-for-profit organisation supporting development works in southern India.  Our partner in India is Assisi Farm and Training Centre (AF&TC) managed by an Indian nun, Sr Stella Edattu.   Assisi, in partnership with AF&TC, works to empower the poor in southern India through the provision of basic educational and health services and by supporting initiatives designed to break the cycle of poverty.

2.  Why does Assisi support development work in India?

India has more poor people than any other nation. Of the total population of more than one billion, approximately 300 million live in absolute poverty.

Economic growth has generated increased life expectancy and literacy, but has also exacerbated air, water and solid waste pollution. Infrastructure has been unable to keep pace with the country’s needs. Access to safe water and adequate sanitation is emerging as a critical challenge, as is the threat of HIV/AIDS. 

This situation contrasts with the fact that during the last decade, significant structural reforms have helped India become one of the world's fastest growing emerging economies.

3.  How much does it cost to run Assisi in Australia?

Assisi has  three part time  employees working a combined  33 hours a week and also relies on the time and effort of volunteers to assist with administrative and operational activities in Australia.  In 2005/6, supporters  logged  952  hours of voluntary time to assist with the organisation’s administration.  A note supporting these voluntary hours is included in our Annual Report.  During 2005/6, Assisi incurred $17,521 for administration,  $4,594 for fund raising and  $8,790 for community education costs.    $330,296 was sent to India to fund development projects.

4.  Does Assisi receive Australian Government assistance?

Yes. Assisi is accredited with AusAID, the Australian Government’s overseas aid organisation.  To maintain accreditation, the operations and financial activities of Assisi are periodically reviewed and audited by AusAID. This year, 2006/07, Assisi received $76,804 from AusAID for on-going development activities. 

For further information on AusAID, visit www.ausaid.gov.au

5.  Is Assisi a registered charity with tax-deductible status?

Yes, Assisi is a registered charity.  Donations for the alleviation of poverty through development are tax-deductible.  Receipts for donations are promptly issued to donors.  Click here to view Assisi's details in the Australian Business Register (ABR)

6.  Does Assisi provide donors with the opportunity to sponsor individual children?

No.  Individual child sponsorship is difficult and expensive to administer.  The maintenance of individual sponsorships is not feasible for a small organisation such as Assisi that strives to maintain a low cost structure. 

However, children are the focus of much of Assisi’s work.  Assisi provides health services targeting in particular, the pre-natal and post-natal care of mothers.  Our health programs also aim to ensure that infants and school age children receive proper nutrition and are vaccinated against preventable diseases. We also employ teachers who work in remote and impoverished tribal settlements in the mountainous areas of Tamil Nadu, India.  

7.  What development model does Assisi use?

Assisi has assisted AF&TC develop and introduce a dynamic development model that encourages community involvement in and ‘ownership’ of key activities.

The current development model involves:

• Training women selected by their local communities, with the skills needed to establish and operate Self Help Groups (SHGs), credit cooperatives and small-scale income generating initiatives.
• Supporting and assisting trained community development workers to establish SHGs, typically involving poor women.
• Through the SHG network, supporting credit cooperatives and income generating initiatives through training and professional assistance.
• Providing educational and health services and training to deal with illiteracy and preventable disease.

8. What are the key challenges facing communities targeted for development assistance?

Families in the impoverished communities where Assisi works are typically struggling to survive on an income of about $2 per day.  Preventable diseases, illiteracy and indebtedness to unscrupulous moneylenders are commonly encountered problems.  Women are particularly disadvantaged because of their limited educational and employment opportunities.

9. Why does our development work focus on assisting and supporting women?

When women are given the chance to work collectively to address the difficulties that they and their families face, they seize the opportunity.  By empowering women through the provision of health services, literacy training and mechanisms for addressing their economic predicament, their families and the broader community benefits.

Self Help Groups, typically comprising 15 to 20 women and supported by trained Community Development Workers, are the key mechanism for the empowerment of women.

It is a source of great pride to Assisi to see women who were once impoverished, gain control of their own lives, grow in confidence as their skill levels rise and then move into leadership roles at village and local government level.

10. What small-scale business activities are typically established by Self Help Groups?

Assisi assists Groups establish small business enterprises based on silkworms, lemon grass, bamboo, coconuts, fish vending, goat rearing, tree propagation, sewing, spices, soap, basket weaving, herbal medicines, laundry services, craft, pottery, brick making, kitchen gardens and small retail shops.  Groups receive skills training and assistance with financial management, production systems and with packaging and marketing.

11. What are the principles by which Assisi Aid Projects operates?

The key points of Assisi’s strategic plan are to:

• Acknowledge and respect the views of the people in the areas targeted for development activities,
• Provide support without consideration of the racial and religious affiliations of recipients,
• Not support or condone the proselytising of recipients by staff involved in development activities in India,
• Emphasise the involvement and empowerment of women in development activities,
• Support development projects that will protect the environment and lead to a sustainable positive impact on the lives of recipients and their families,
• Effectively consult and communicate with, and be guided by AF&TC in respect to development priorities and strategies.
• Operate an accessible, supporter friendly and cost effective administration that will be responsive to the needs of AF&TC, donors and AusAID.
• Operate at Board and administration level in an open, honest and transparent manner.
• Communicate effectively with the Australian community to inform and foster interest in, and support for, the work of Assisi and AF&TC.

12. How did Assisi assist following the Boxing Day tsunami?

Our partner NGO in India, Assisi Farm and Training Centre (AF&TC), is based in Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India overlooking the ocean. The Kanyakumari area was devastated by the tsunami.  Thousand of families were affected by the tsunami because of the disruption to fishing and associated activities.  It is important to note that these people were very poor before the tsunami.  Many families survived on $1 to $2 per day.  Their ability to deal effectively with the current crisis was limited.

In response to the disaster, Assisi provided emergency relief, including temporary accommodation and medical and psychological support services.  As part of reconstruction activities, Assisi facilitated the purchase of 15 replacement fishing boats.  These boats were sponsored by Victorian towns/regions, with assistance from Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation.  These replacement boats are larger and safer than the tradition craft destroyed by the tsunami, and came equipped with nets, motors and safety equipment. 

Assisi supported tsunami reconstruction activities in the Kanyakumari area from Boxing Day 2004 until May 2007.  Assisi's contribution to this effort totalled $428,821over three years and this included $100,000 from AusAID. 

13.  How did Assisi begin?

In 1974, Sr Stella Edattu visited Australia to learn about dairy farming.  After milking cows on dairy farms in country Victoria, she returned home on a cargo ship along with 33 dairy cattle.

Her job on board was to feed, milk and care for the cattle during the 54-day voyage to Calcutta. For this Sr Stella received four cows and a bull to start her own herd on a small farm in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, India.  The farm was called Assisi Farm in honor of Saint Francis Of Assisi.

In 1991, Sr Stella established a second farm, close to Assisi Farm but in an arid area. She named it Aussie Farm in honor of Australians who have assisted her over the years.  Assisi Farm and Aussie Farm still operate as training centres.  Our projects extend throughout the state of Tamil Nadu with a second office located in Kanchipuram two hours west of Chennai (Madras).