Last week Save the Children released a report entitled 'A Life Free From Hunger' and in it they declare that 48% of children in India are stunted in their growth due to malnutrition. Although this is an aggregated number and doesn't account for regional differences in such a large and diverse country - with over 28 different states - it also reveals the dire condition many people in India are still living in. India is now the World's 10th largest economy and has an obligation to look after their most vulnerable and destitute people. Malnutrition is not only a problem for physical growth it also...

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We are fortunate enough to have two Belgium OT (Occupational Therapist) students completing 3 month internships at SCAD working with differently-abled students at the residential school and in the community. SCAD have built up an invaluable relationship with the KHBO University in Brugge, Belgium and have OT students come every year to SCAD. This ensures that there is sustainability in the OT support given to our staff.  The current two Belgium OT students, Lise & Phaedra, will provide support and training to the CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) staff on current practice and possible areas...

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Murray & Janet Frankland, founders of Salt of the Earth, visit the ‘model village’ Sevalkulam, in the Ottapidaram block to view the new fish culture initiative at the village ooranie (rainwater harvest tank). SCAD have been working with this village for around 20 years and have successfully established: Women’s Self Help Groups, supplementary education, energy management, sports youth groups, vetinary camps, income generating initiatives, health education, micro insurance, nutritional demonstrations, tree plantation, organic kitchen gardens, bio-char trial plots - as a result village...

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In Tamil Nadu there is a big problem with women being anemic and children being malnourished. Also the price of food in the area is increasing beyond the means of most people. We have a solution to this problem! We have been providing women with affordable seeds and soil enriching bio-char so that they can start to grow their own vegetables. Watch this video about our work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8F7_ix_iAQ&context=C3c6fc54ADOEgsToPDskJKbNoTLg0YMm40lO27Gy60

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Get involved with SCAD in 2012 - it’s now even easier Tamil Nadu charity Social Change and Development (SCAD) is strengthening its links with overseas supporters this year with the launch of three new initiatives as part of its plans for 2012. It now means it will be easier for you to learn more, see more and do more with SCAD than you’ve ever been able to do before. Whether your want to travel to Tamil Nadu to work with SCAD, volunteer with SCAD, or simply learn more about its work wherever you are, the door is wide open. SCAD’s work is about community empowerment. It works with...

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My name is Kate Hartley, I am 24 years old and I live in the South East of England. At the age of 18 I went travelling on my gap year to India, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos. Following this I completed my Music degree at Southampton University in 2009. Whilst continuing with my performing and teaching the harp I started a new job for a Community Interest Company which made films promoting environmental and sustainable education to Primary Schools. In 2010 I embarked on a new more challenging role as the PA and Office Manager for the internationally celebrated artist Alexander...

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The Tirunelveli District Level Sports Day for mentally disabled children conducted by the District Sports Authority of Tirunelveli was held this year on the 19th November, 2011, at the Anna Stadium, Palayamkottai. 243 Mentally challenged children from 17 special schools in the District participated in the sports day with great enthusiasm. Five children per school were permitted to participate in the sports events and three boys and two girls representing SCAD Anbu Illam, Chereanmahadevi, were taken to the Anna Stadium, to participate in different events SCAD has encouraged and motivated the mentally...

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Tuticorin, the region in which SCAD works, receives 678mm of rainfall a year, which is 29% less than the average for the district. The communities who live in Tuticorin are already feeling the effects of drought, soil erosion and water depletion. Monsoon rains matter for crop irrigation and water supply, and people and livestock suffer heavily when the monsoon fails or is delayed. For the future of our communities in India we have started to plan adaptation strategies. To this end we have been planting between 80,000 and 100,000 new indigenous saplings every year since we began working in the community...

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Welcome to Social Change and Development, also known as SCADcharity! We are an Indian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Tamil Nadu, South India. For the last 27 years we have been doing outreach work empowering rural communities and facilitating sustainable development. We work in communities in many different ways offering services in education, health, financial support, income generation programmes, farming and skills training, such as sewing, weaving and pottery. We also have many initiatives to protect the natural environment and we are dedicated to supporting and empowering...

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