PROFUGO

We want farmers to be better equipped to provide for their families while acting as stewards of the land they farm. We want to increase the role of women in the family's economic standing; thus, increasing their role in the social hierarchy. We want children to develop both physically and mentally--with enough food on the table to be nourish the body and enough resources in the community to nourish the mind.

We educate farmers in Wayanad on the benefits and implementation of sustainable agriculture techniques and aid them in transitioning their farms from conventional to organic. We teach women tailoring skills so that they can supplement the farm income with their labor. We immerse children in programs like our English Language School and Children's Club so that they can develop alongside the community.

We continuously have field fellows on the ground in Wayanad assessing the district's needs and executing our development strategies. Stateside, we keep administrative costs to a minimum (for example, our entire staff in the United States is made of volunteers) so that the maximum amount of money can go toward funding projects in India. With the combination of manpower on the ground and efficiently managed money, we create the potential for prolonged development.

So far, we have created functional wells in Wayanad and built a water delivery system that reduces the distance villagers need to walk to retrieve water by more than 80%. We have begun a program that focuses on renewable energy through biogas generators. We have started an English Language School for children and an entrepreneurial program for women. We are currently working on bringing organic farming practices throughout the village, expanding the village library, and developing the biogas program.