The Story Behind the Store

By on March 27, 2015   /   Center of Development, Education, Empowering Women, Life in India, Tailoring Training Program   /   Leave a comment

In 2012, Profugo started a Tailoring Training Program within our Center of Development. It was a program designed to teach women in an agricultural community the basics of tailoring. What developed from this program went far beyond technical skills, and far beyond what we expected. These women generated income that helped provide for their families. They became motivated, confident, and empowered. They became leaders in their community-something that is truly impressive in a patriarchal society.

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Our Girls: Advocating Equal Education in their Own Way

By on March 27, 2015   /   Center of Development, Children's Club, Education, Empowering Women, English Language School, Life in India, Reflections   /   Leave a comment

Women’s rights activists around the world have found a new poster child, literally, in 2014 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient Malala Yousafzai. Famous for having been shot by members of the Taliban because of her outspokenness about the importance of education for girls in Pakistan, she continues to petition for equal access to education for all children around the world. I heard the announcement about Malala’s Nobel Peace Prize win just after returning to the village

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Going Beyond the Numbers: Progress in Prashanthagiri!

By on February 28, 2015   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Children's Club, Education, Empowering Women, English Language School, Health & Wellness, Life in India, Natural Resource Management, Reflections, Tailoring Training Program   /   Leave a comment

In the development world, there are tons of metrics by which to assess growth – ways to quantify a program’s progress in promoting health and wellness in a community. And who doesn’t love to see these numbers? Numbers that can easily be translated into pie charts, or info graphics about our work, are neat and easy to understand at a glance. But for those of us working with a young and growing non-profit like Profugo,

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Profugo Counseling Center – Bringing Hope

By on February 28, 2015   /   Center of Development, Children's Club, Education, Life in India   /   Leave a comment

Profugo Counseling Center, which started at Profugo Development Initiatives (PDI) in August 2014, has become a source of hope to many people in distress- especially young people- in the Prashanthagiri community. These days many people visit PDI to get help on their psychosocial needs. The majority of the clients attending our service are students between the ages of 10 to 20 years old. Some of the problems faced by them include emotional problems, behavioral problems,

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Phase I Biogas Program Inauguration

By on February 26, 2015   /   Agriculture & Farming Cooperative, Center of Development, Health & Wellness, Life in India, Natural Resource Management, Reflections   /   Leave a comment

The month of January here in Prashanthagiri started off not only in celebration of the new year, but also in celebration of the completion of Phase I of the Profugo Biogas Program, resulting in the construction of 3 digesters for three families. Through the Profugo Biogas Program we are implementing household biogas digesters for the most disadvantaged families in the village. Thanks to a donation by Dr. Leif and Dr. Lena Oxelmark from the University

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