One step for charity

Prime Trust – Akshaya

Prime Educational and Social Trust

 

 

About Prime Trust

Prime Educational and Social Trust (Prime Trust) is an Indian non-governmental organization (NGO) formed in 2002. The organization is based in Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) in South India. Prime Trust dedicates its efforts towards women’s empowerment. To achieve this, Prime Trust motivates and aids women in the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The women are provided with financial support as well as awareness programs.

To support women financially, Prime Trust acts as an intermediary between SHGs and banks. By doing so, SHGs have access to microfinance which will support the women in raising their standard of living.

 

Vision and mission

The vision of  Prime Trust is to make marginalised  communities sustainable trough a process of empowerment.

Prime Trust creates grass-root institutions and facilitates dialogue between these and existing institutions. The organisation is fighting to bring about social transformation trough empowering rural and urban poor an enabling them to becom self-reliant. Pr imetrust is also striving to initiate social change by improving education and awareness.

Founded in 2002  by philanthropists, Prime Trust has established more than 150 Slef He lp Groups (SHGs). With the help of a microfinance credit scheme these SHGs now have the means to a sustainable livelihood.

 

Core activities

-         Akshaya

• womans empowerment
• SHG’s en microfinancing
• Vocal training
• Share-collection
• Pension insurance

-         children’s education

• remedial school
• child sponsorship
• childrens parliament

-         Sociale Awarencess Campaings

-         IVC (Indian Volunteer Care.)

 

 

The Akshaya project

Akshaya is a word from the Sanskrit. Kshaya means loss or destruction. It reverses the meaning by placing an ‘A’ in front of the word. In this case it will mean:‘something that not can be killed, lost or destroyed; Something that last for ever.’ We will focus on this project.

Akshaya has been separated into an independent ongoing part of Prime Trust and focuses entirely on the microfinance process for the female workforce. In this vocal training, for example tailoring is an important part. She also conducts education programs that discuss a range of relevant topics with the women.

Topics include HIV / AIDS, health, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, women’s rights and domestic violence. An SHG member, who can not function caused by physical or psychic reason, equals a weak link in the enterprise. Meaning, the SHG will become unstable.

Akshaya strives for social change by increasing education and awareness.

 

Akshaya assist in forming an Self Help Group (SHG)

A SHG is formed by a number of women who like to participate in the workforce, but do not qualify for an individual bank loan. By forming a collective one is still eligible to receive a bank loan, and distribute as needed between the participating companies of the women. In other words, they create an enterprise.

The group is formed consisting of a Democratic president and a secretary, elected to a three-yearly base. They are the final responsibility of the SHG in decisions such as application of internal loans, the level of interest rates, payments to the bank and the additional administration and accounting.

The SHG members connect internal loans and pay these off again. When applying for an internal loan an investment and payment plan must be submitted. The entire SHG determines at a meeting whether this loan will be provided. By raising interest on the internal loans the Share-collective will increase.

There is growth within the financial process by increasing knowledge.

 

Akshaya as a mediator between the bank and SHG

Akshaya guides and advises the SHG in the application process for a bank loan. By using a pre-credit loan supervised by Akshaya a trial period of six month will be preceded.

If this period is properly completed, Akshaya will issue a certificate with the signature of Prime Trust. Using this certificate the SHG gets the access to the first large bank loan.

 

 

 

 

Example Diagram of the loan process under the guidance of Prime Trust – Akshaya:

 

Recent expansion of the project

 

Pension insurance

The intention is for the women to build up their pension, so when retired they themselves can provide enough income for their maintenance. This means that the new generation can entirely focus on the future of their family. The program was launched on the ninth of July 2011.

Akshaya encourage and assists in building retirement income

 

Share-collection

The members of the SHG have the ability to individually participate in the form of monthly shares, at the moment of writing worth 25 rupees each. This Share-collection will be used to provide SHGs with an internal loan.

The loans issued from the Share-collection do not only return to Akshaya, but has also the ability to provide financial growth within the organization. And because of that Akshaya can participate in the core projects of Prime Trust through internal funding.

Akshaya is developing as an independent internal current banking system focused on the micro-financing and support of the SHGs.

 

Akshaya as an internal micro-credit bank.

Akshaya develops into an internal banking system focused on the micro-financing and support of the SHGs. In this process the Share-collection is important in providing the financial support. Low interest makes forming a SHG even more accessible.

 

Acting as an independent internal current banking system will mean financial strength and growth within Prime Trust so that in the future it can operate more and more as an independent and autonomous NGO.

Prime Trust is continuously engaged in self-development and growth

 

Why support the Share-collection project

First of all Prime Trust is a transparent organization with a public accounting. The staff is considering the long workdays amazingly enthusiastic and more than hundred percent committed. The NGO is constantly working on design and improvement of projects. The IVC-project is one of the many demonstrations of this. She takes students from all over the world who voluntarily share their knowledge to support the development of Prime Trust.

By investing in the Share-collection, Akshaya will grow financially. Women who were not eligible for a bankloan will now have an opportunity to get into this process by taking part in the women empowerment program. Social awareness, vocational training and financial support through forming a SHG will help them to build their own company. Thus they make a new chance to increase their living standards in the society.

Using smart investment enables the women to maintain the family, put their children in college, save money and provide a pension. At old-age they will be financially independent, so the children in turn can focus on the future of their family.

The amount of a pre-microcredit loan comes from a so called Share-collection. When repaid this Share-collection will grow back again so it can be reused to releas a new loan to a SHG. The Share-collection consists of micro-stock, contribution fees and interest on loans. Because of these interests Prime Trust is able to do internal funding for the boys orphanage, awareness programs, vocal training, evening schools and pay salary to (only Indian) staff members.

Te women of the SHGs stands proud and strong. Showing bravely that it is possible to create social change and awareness. They are an example for the world that when you fight and  believe it’s possible to break bad habits in the community and change it for the better.

 

Why donate

 

It is important to invest in a project that doesn’t absorb money but in stead provide financial growth. This is called sustainable development.

Beautiful is the following comparison made by Professor S.M. Arasu the warmhearted director of Prime Trust.

Project development is like buying fish

When using her to eat, pleasure will be short of time.
When  using her to breed,  enjoyment  will be infinite.

Supporting the Akshaya project, contributes to a very promising form of social and financial development. Increasing the amount of money gives Aksaya more stability, allowing even more SHGs to participate in the internal microcredit financing process.

This is what we call one step for charity. That many may follow…

 

 

Volunteer

and experience amazing India

All kinds of help are welcome. Maybe you are clever at raising funds or creating a sponsorship; or have studied as an English teacher and want to transfer your knowledge to the children; are you doing a university education about project development and looking for an internship position; can hold information evenings and workshops for the SEC (Social Enrichment Centre) on HIV / AIDS, Nutrition, Health and Women’s Rights. Then this job is made for you.

 

IVC-programm

By participating at the IVC-program (India Volunteer Care), you have a chance to deeply integrate into the culture of India. Experience the country like a true local and see it in a way impossible for the ordinary traveler.

You can expect a warm welcome, and before you know, you form one big happy family with your colleagues. I can tell, because I was there and lost my heart to India. I’m sure you will.

 

Contact

You like to join the IVC-program, take some action or like to  have more information about Prime Trust, please come and visit the website: www.primetrust.org  She endeavors to update the information on the website. Please understand it depends on maintenance by volunteers, therefore it is not always possible to do so.

Online IVC information file:  volunteer information file.pdf (aplication/pdf object)

Still having questions, pleas don’t hesitate to contact.