Ms. Manjusha, a 36-year-old woman from Valad, is part of the Profugo family. As a girl she grew up with many dreams and aspirations. In secondary school she opted to major in Literature. However, two years into her studies the tables turned altogether. She…
An old proverb states, “Give a woman a seed and she will grow a forest, give a woman an opportunity and she will build a future.” In Wayanad, Profugo is doing both of these things. The Entrepreneurship Training Program is giving women the tools,…
“The mantra for the social worker is be passionate and be with the community,” says Lukka Thurayil, Profugo’s Field Director in Wayanad, India. We had the opportunity to interview him to find out what keeps him motivated and inspired regarding community development. Hopefully it…
Ms. Sunitha is a member of the Kurichyar Tribal Community in Wayanad. She lives in Edathana Tribal settlement. Ms. Sunitha is a single mother taking care of two children studying in 10th and 12th standards. Ms. Sunitha got married at an early age and…
As we gear up for the holiday season here in the US, it is just winding down in Kerala, where the Profugo Center of Development is located. The biggest holiday of the year falls right after the rainy season, somewhere at the end of…
We live in a world that is continuously getting more and more connected, we are no longer confined to our own local community; our communities now transcend geographical boundaries. There is a global economy and culture, a global neighborhood. Events in one part of…
Wayanad is a district in the north-east state of Kerala. It’s a largely rural area, surrounded by national forests and wildlife refuges. Though the region has gained traction as an ecotourism destination in recent years, the communities there remain largely undeveloped. Agriculture is…
Two years ago, I stumbled out of the Bangalore airport in the middle of the night. Gilgy, my colleague and someone I now consider my brother, met me and we drove the ten hours back to Prasanthagiri village. Upon arrival, we scaled the steep…
For the past 6 years, Profugo’s Organic Kitchen Garden (OKG) has been providing a crucial program to support and empower local farmers. Marginal farmers in Wayanad face ongoing farming challenges, such as climate change, flooding, high input costs, poor productivity, and low market prices….
It is without a doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every individual in the world in some way; the loss of loved ones, having to learn and work remotely, and not being able to family or friends, just to name a few….