The Friends of H.O.P.E – ABOUT US

The Friends of H.O.P.E
Registered Charity No: 1083028

The Friends of H.O.P.E through its implementing agencies in India have been leading the ORGANIC movement in the Nilgiris, and supporting community traditional health for 20 years.

Many people have asked what 'H.O.P.E.' stands for, well, it is an acronym for
The Health of People and the Environment.

We are project based, and look to create replicable models that help communities have a sustainable future and be at one with nature with the aims of lifting tribal communities and the needy out of the poverty trap, by promoting self-help and empowerment.

Our holistic approach encompasses:-

Environment and the value of the rich plant life found in the villages

Restoring the natural environment, promoting bio-diversity, stabilising water systems, identifying botanicals that have medicinal value.

Farming

Encouraging community based organic and bio-dynamic farming and horticulture, including creation of gardens for health planted with essential medicinal herbs and plants.

Providing intensive training in organic and biodynamic techniques, including on–going support to farmers and growers to help them create sustainable livelihoods and restore goodness to the land

Assist farmers and growers with organic certification

Health

Supporting villages in developing community based traditional health structures, integrating with Traditional healers and practitioners, focusing on nutrition, child care, hygiene and chronic illness programmes.

Nurturing skills for traumatised and impoverished communities

Capacity building, training and support to village women by empowerment

Promoting herbal medicines and essential oils for primary healthcare

Support for people with HIV, education and awareness, counselling, screening and nutrition for severely malnourished.

Helping to mitigate the spread of HIV and AIDS

Sustainable livelihoods

We recognise that the most effective method of ensuring success is through developing sustainable economies at local level which really work

Education

Reaching the younger generation via our eco club network, which establishes organic vegetable gardens, and medicinal plant nurseries in schools

We teach children about the value of the medicinal plants found growing around their villages.

Environmental studies

Support for tribal schools - these are often the poorest and most neglected.

Bursary support for tribal children and the poorest children to further their education

Poor and single parent families

Often helping people to help themselves is not enough. We try our best to help individuals find work, and empower them in the community environment, rebuilding self–esteem and improving their mental health. From time to time we are introduced to really needy individual cases such as Sanjay who has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy and where we suggested and sponsored his Ayurvedic treatment to help improve quality of life.