Email: ride@md3.vsnl.net.in

RIDE is a secular, non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering poor and disadvantaged residents of rural Tamil Nadu to improve the quality of their lives. Founded in 1984, RIDE fights child labour, promotes economic and social justice for women, provides essential medical and educational services, and cultivates economic opportunity throughout the region.

RIDE'S INTEGRATED INITIATIVES

Child Labour Eradication Initiative:

With the goal of breaking the cycle of child labour, RIDE's innovative and integrated programme works within the families to instil an education ethic, transfer the children into schools, and cultivate their own economic self-sufficiency. Bridge School Centres provide an education, social and emotional transition from the silk looms to the government schools. In exchange for releasing their children from the looms, parents are eligible to participate in RIDE's Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme (REDP) to learn how to start their own businesses. Upon graduation from REDP, RIDE organises these parents into Self-Help Groups. In addition, Olle Day Schools provide a powerful incentive to families in remote villages to enlist their children in the school instead of looms, and Evening Schools an introduction to schooling. RIDE also continues to advocate for greater enforcement of laws, special accommodations in public schools for released child labourers (including special teacher training), and the manipulation of market forces to increase demand for child-labour-free silk products.

Women's Self Sufficiency Initiative:

Recognising that women are the key to lifting their families out of poverty, RIDE's programmes aim to foster economic and social self-sufficiency among rural women. RIDE's Rural Women's Self-Employment Programme teaches vocational skills. REDP empowers women to start and run their own businesses. RIDE organises Self-Help Groups in which women join together to pool their savings, obtain bank loans, and otherwise strengthen community bonds. RIDE also administers a Loan Programme that provides capital to ventures supported by these groups.

Sivaganga Area Development Initiative:

RIDE provides a variety of services to the rural poor of the Sivaganga Area. RIDE operates REDP to cultivate entrepreneurial undertakings. Through the Family Link Programme, village youth receive monthly correspondence, food and school supplies in exchange for attendance to and achievement in school.

PROGRAMMING

Education

Bridge School Centres: Transitional school for newly released child labourers

Evening Schools: Introduction of full-time labourers to education and proper nutrition

Olle Day Schools: Education up to the Fifth Standard for children in under-served rural villages

Family Link Programme: Sponsoring families provide children in Kanchipuram and Sivaganga districts with dry food, clothing material, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, school uniforms, and school supplies and fees

Economic Self-Sufficiency

Rural Women's Self-Employment Programme (RWSEP): Vocational skills training including batik work, silk production, fast food production, embroidery, and toy, clothes and wire bag manufacturing

Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programme (REDP): Business development training

Self-Help Groups: Joint savings, borrowing and counselling organisations

Health And Basic Services

Medical Camps: Preventative and diagnostic medicine brought to the rural villages

AIDS Awareness Programme: Educational and cultural programmes throughout Tamil Nadu

Voter Awareness Campaign: Combats political ignorance and apathy

Advocacy