Objectives
Vellai Thamarai* was established in 2006 to support the development of underprivileged children in Tamil Nadu living in villages near Puducherry. Two joint objectives are taken into account: an educational objective concerning a high quality school and a social objective centered on the evolution of their communities toward a sustainable future.
* Vellai Thamarai means white lotus in Tamil, a symbol of life and knowledge blossoming. This symbol holds the philosophy and ambition underlying the creation of Vellai Thamarai Association in India and France in 2006, and in the United States in 2010.
The ambition of Vellai Thamarai is to bring to a large underprivileged community in Tamil Nadu the means to overcome historical poverty constraints.
At the heart of the project is access to a high quality education: a school, from kindergarten to end of secondary education, or vocational training.
It is aimed at children’s global development, based on values such as responsibility, motivation, self-respect and respect for others, solidarity, team spirit, order, citizenship and ecology.
The association pursues other objectives as well :
• Social objective: crèche, academic support, a clinic ,
• Cultural objective: a Cultural Centre offering workshops and training courses in Yoga, Ayurveda(massage). Classes are taught in French, are open to all. Proceeds help finance school operations,
• Ecological objective: raising awareness about sustainable development, renewable energies, water treatment, hygiene, etc.