Our programs serve as vocational training centers for young adults living with HIV.

Project Education and Rehabilitation

Gilead sciences Zeroing-in On Ending the HIV Epidemic Grantee

Snehasadan, a unit of Sneha Charitable Trust, provides boarding, food, medicines, and other support for 47 children and young adults between the ages of 5-23 years. Snehasadan is in Mangalore, India. All of them were infected with HIV through mother to child transmission and lost both their parents when they were young to AIDS. They have extended families, like grandparents, uncles, and aunties, who are unable to care for them. Snehasadan has been home to them for many years. Children attend Rosa Mistica School, a local private school. It is not too far from Snehasadan campus, and they can walk to and back every day. School fees for their education range from $110 to $165 per year. Young adults have varied status. Most of the young adults are pursuing Technical Training, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Pre-University College and so forth. Three of the young adults are either unable or too unhealthy to pursue studies. They require rehabilitation in a supervised work environment.

Over the past years, these children’s educations were sponsored by individual donors. When an individual donor is faced with financial difficulty, the education of that child suffers tremendously. Children are disheartened and discouraged when they can no longer attend school. With the recent downturn in the economy, Snehasadan has had difficulty finding sponsors. In addition, in the past 4-6 months, about twenty children were transferred to Snehasadan from other orphanages in Bangalore for various reasons. These children need extra assistance and guidance with Mathematics, English and local language.

The Project Education and Rehabilitation grant will enable us to pay school fees, recruit tutors proficient in Mathematics, English and local language, and procure equipment and materials necessary for the education of children. This grant will also pay for college fees, boarding and lodging expenses for the young adults. Finally, this grant will help to develop customized rehabilitation programs for the young adults who are unable to pursue higher studies and need to be integrated into the society.