Sevalaya runs a hostel where these young women stay and go to work in homes close by during fixed hours of the day, so that they have time to study. The hostel is a three storey building with 8 rooms on each floor and can accommodate 48 young women. It has been running since four years and now we have 40 young women. The young women are housed in twelve of the rooms. They have the barest of furniture - a bed with a mattress & a plastic chair - but they are safe, given moral support and a family-away-from-their-family.

We motivate the girls to continue their studies and do higher education through the National Open School, so that they can better their prospects and thus aspire for other professions and careers. We have classes for them from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. and volunteers from the vicinity teach them.

The main objectives of Sevalaya are :
*   The care and promotion of these young under privileged women.
*   The defence of their rights and training in domestic skills.
*   To provide them with a shelter when they are unemployed or ill and have no where else to go.
*   To find suitable employment for them.
*   Give them opportunity for their integral development through Education.
*   To empower them with job oriented skills such as sewing, cooking etc that can make them more efficient in their profession.
*   Opportunities to develop their talent in art, craft, leadership, dance, drama.
*   Teach them to value education.

(2) What kinds of expenses do you have? What can sponsors do to help?

The Sisters provide what they can for the young women, but their resources are few and demands are high. Some of the teachers in the Night School do not charge any fees but the Sisters need to pay some of the the teachers. In addition, the gals have to pay the fees charged by the Delhi Educational Board. Costs of skill training, for example sewing, and materials like school books, are all expenses. There are other types of expenses as well such as medical expenses, boarding costs, and personal needs.

The Sisters rely a great deal on the help and good will of Sponsors. 100% of Sponsor funds are applied to the young women!! Whatever costs and expenses the Sisters don't have to spend because they are taken care of by Sponsors, the Sisters can thus use those funds to help that many other young women, so in effect a Sponsor's money goes twice as far!

Sponsors can help by:
*   donating funds to be used for higher education,
*   donating funds to be used for skill training,
*   donating funds to be used for supplies,
*   donating funds to be used for medical needs and/or personal needs.

Sponsors can choose a specific gal/situation to assist, or donate funds to be used by all gals.

Sponsors can choose a one-time donation, or choose to help a particular gal throughout any part of her education.

Presently a great deal of Sponsors pay educational expenses for our young women. Some of the young women even return the money in installments as and when they can afford it.

(3) How do Sponsors know their donations are really helping other people?

Sponsors are in direct communication with Sr. Margaret Correa, head of Change A Life Too (CAL2) and resident of Sevalaya, and receive letters of thanks from their sponsored young women as well as updates. Through letters and email, Sponsors will be able to experience the lives of their sponsored gal and provide moral support and encouragement to change their lives for the better - forever!

If you have questions you can email them to CAL@TheWorldNow.com

(4)Can my friends and I split the cost and sponsor one gal together?

Of course you can! Split the cost with as many people as you want. Get your entire neighborhood to sponsor a gal, SEVALAYA will be happy to have all of you!

(5) If I want to Sponsor, how do I get money to SEVALAYA?

Funds to sponsor can be given/mailed by cheque or wired, in the name of Vicenta Maria Social Services Society which is a registered charity within India. Within India, or for Indian Residents, tax exemption 80-G applies. You also provide a letter of donation, specifying you are donating funds to be used for the education of the gals (required by the Indian Government).

Receipts are provided, of course, and follow-ups so you know how things are going.

For specific details, please email   CAL@theworldnow.com