Our Activities
Anweshan – Child development Centre
We are working in the rural, urban, and semi-urban areas of North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, India, where communities face significant challenges, lacking basic amenities. To support these families, Our Friends in Need School (OFINS) established a free primary school named "Anweshan – A Child Development Centre" in Badu-Mathgram village in 2017. Starting with 32 students, Anweshan has grown to 87, reflecting our commitment to providing quality education to underprivileged children.
We believe that education is a gift for life, capable of transforming the future of these children. Every child has unique potential and can achieve great things if given the right opportunities. With regular contributions from our supporters, we strive to help these children reach school and receive modern education.
Our mission is to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, can learn, play, and grow alongside their peers. Under the guidance of skilled teachers, we nurture their creativity and build their skills, empowering them to lead lives of dignity and positively impact their communities. Together, we are creating brighter futures for these children, one step at a time.
Impact
75 students are getting free education
70% Students are form first-learner families
50% of total beneficiary are girls
85% of total students attend online calasses
Objective
To promote primary education of the poor children of the inaccessible area of the state.
To provide modern and quality education and support.
To promote health and hygiene among the poor village children.
Target Age Group
The target groups are the children of 4 to 9 year age group from poor backward families.
Target Area
The project area covers remote village areas inhabited by the poor people without any financial capability to send the children to schools. The number of dropout and school non-going children is very high due to extreme poverty of the area.
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha!
india
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha are very pretty twin siblings. They are 9 years old and read in class IV. Tanisha stands 1st and Kamarujjaman stands 2nd in their class. Tanisha wants to be a doctor and her brother wants to be a policeman. Their father works as a labourer in a factory. He dreams to give his children best care and education, but extreme poverty turns everything bleak and imposible. OFINS stood beside them and provided the children all educational suport that they could hardly afford.
Now, both the children are regular students of ‘Anweshan-Child Development Centre’. Run by OFINS. They are happy now as they enjoying every moment at their shool. There is a smile on their father’s face as he knows in his heart that one day his children will surely touch the height of success in their lives.
Sk. Aminul!
india
“Every child has a special talent which is needed to identify and nurture from the very early days”
Sk. Aminul is a bright student and now he is studing in class 3. He stands first in his calss. He is obviously the first learner from their family and both of his parents are day labourers. Their child’s education has never been a priority to them.Their main fight is with poverty that has never let them think something big for their son.
OFINS has took the initiative to make these people think about their child’s future. They committed themselve to shoulder the burden of these poor childrens’ education through ‘Anweshan’
Aminul’s parents stood overwhelmed with tears in their eyes when their son stood first in the class. Now they want to do anything required for their child’s education. Now on holidays, Aminul missed his school and his friends Now Aminul will grow and stand on his feet.
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha!
india
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha are very pretty twin siblings. They are 9 years old and read in class IV. Tanisha stands 1st and Kamarujjaman stands 2nd in their class. Tanisha wants to be a doctor and her brother wants to be a policeman. Their father works as a labourer in a factory. He dreams to give his children best care and education, but extreme poverty turns everything bleak and imposible. OFINS stood beside them and provided the children all educational suport that they could hardly afford.
Now, both the children are regular students of ‘Anweshan-Child Development Centre’. Run by OFINS. They are happy now as they enjoying every moment at their shool. There is a smile on their father’s face as he knows in his heart that one day his children will surely touch the height of success in their lives.
Sk. Aminul!
india
“Every child has a special talent which is needed to identify and nurture from the very early days”
Sk. Aminul is a bright student and now he is studing in class 3. He stands first in his calss. He is obviously the first learner from their family and both of his parents are day labourers. Their child’s education has never been a priority to them.Their main fight is with poverty that has never let them think something big for their son.
OFINS has took the initiative to make these people think about their child’s future. They committed themselve to shoulder the burden of these poor childrens’ education through ‘Anweshan’
Aminul’s parents stood overwhelmed with tears in their eyes when their son stood first in the class. Now they want to do anything required for their child’s education. Now on holidays, Aminul missed his school and his friends Now Aminul will grow and stand on his feet.
Chirayu-Homeopathy Health Centre
Chirayu Homeopathy Health Centre is committed to providing free, quality homeopathic treatment and medicines to underprivileged individuals in both rural and urban areas. Our mission is to establish homeopathy as a safe and effective alternative for healthcare, especially for low-income populations facing barriers to essential services.
By offering treatment at no cost and delivering medicines directly to patients’ doorsteps, we alleviate the financial burden of healthcare on vulnerable communities. This approach enhances access to treatment and encourages individuals to consider homeopathy as a viable option for their health needs.
We also promote healthcare awareness through educational programs and outreach initiatives, ensuring that individuals understand the benefits of homeopathy. Additionally, we organize health service camps in remote areas to address the needs of those who may otherwise go untreated.
As traditional medical treatment costs rise, homeopathy offers an affordable solution. Through our initiatives, Chirayu Homeopathy Health Centre strives to improve the quality of life for underprivileged individuals, empowering them to access the healthcare services they deserve.
Impact
Over 4000 villagers benefited
Free medicine & Consultancy
Over 10 doctors involved
Multiple health centre
Objective
To provide Homeopathy health service & medicines to the low income population in rural area with absolutely free of cost. To provide alternate medicine and treatment option which effective is free of cost or low cost.
To provide free healthcare service in inaccessible area.
Target Age Group
Underprivileged & poor people who are belongs to below poverty level and who are financially incapable to avail costly medicine.
Target Area
Barasat Block I & Barasat Block II, Gaighata Block & others parts of North 24 Parganas
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Agnik-Academy of Sports
Since its inception, the Agnik Academy of Sports, managed by OFINS, has operated without government or public sector funding, relying solely on the support of a few dedicated individuals. Despite financial challenges, we remain committed to providing quality sports training to rural boys and girls, offering them hope and opportunities.
Currently, over 100 students, both boys and girls, receive football coaching from certified trainers, while more than 30 students benefit from our Yoga Centre, guided by a specialist trainer. Additionally, over 20 athletic students receive regular training from professional coaches.
Registered under the District Sports Authority of West Bengal, Agnik Academy allows our students to participate in various organized sports events. Our dedication to nurturing young talent fosters not only athletic excellence but also personal development, teamwork, and discipline, empowering these young athletes to realize their potential and transform their futures.
Impact
100+ students getting Football Coaching
30 students getting Yoga Training
20+ Athletic Students
30% Girls Participants
Objective
To enhance development outcomes in education, health, gender equality, employment and economic development.
To encourage youth in sports to develop good health, social interaction and healthy competition.
To building local talent to change community behaviors is crucial in making a program impactful, sustainable and cost effective
To sharpen those youth’s talent by giving a proper training-Physical training as well as mental training so that they can able to create their career in sports in the undergrowth country like India.
To Providing an alternative career opportunity
Target Age Group
For Football & Athletic Age group is 6 years to 16 Years, for Yoga Age Group for competitive and open for all for wellness.
Target Area
Barasat Block I & Barasat Block II, others parts of North 24 Parganas
Agnik Academy of Sports-Football Training Centre
Traditionally, football at the grassroots level in India has been largely neglected and untapped. The budding young footballers need access to proper training and infrastructure in order to hone their skills and be able to ultimately realize their potential, which they miss out on due to monetary reasons and/or absence of proper facilities. By providing access to quality training and facility to everyone, it becomes easier to identify the right talent from a wider pool, and to give the deserving youngsters the required training which would help them develop into successful footballers. Much to the relief of youngsters who are averse to theoretical education and rote learning, football offers an alternative career to them. Over 100 students including boys and girls of our academy are getting quality training from trained and certified trainer. We are focused on grassroots development to produce a potential football player. Last year our academy students represented state West Bengal in U15 level. And many more are playing U15 level in big football clubs in West Bengal
Promoting Girls Football in India
To empower women and to promote football at the grassroots level, OFINS organized first- ever Inter School Football Tournament at Badu, Barasat, North 24 Parganas. Many government and private schools participate in this tournament.
With the rapidly growing popularity of football in India and its women’s national team being ranked 57 in the world, such a tournament will be instrumental in promoting girls talent in football right from the elementary school level. Apart from being the first of its kind tournament, the event will also promote and encourages gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. Our academy encourage and aware girls and their parents to participate in Football. Our 30% students are girls right now.
Sports Academy’s Girls Division Received Appreciation:
Our Girls football training division which is going since last 2 years has received a great appreciation from North 24 Parganas District Police & Barasat Thana Club Samannay Committee for the upliftment of rural women in sports. As OFINS is also working on women upliftment and empowerment in rural area for many years, we are thankful for getting this honor.
Agnik Academy of Sports-Athletic Division
Athletics is considered to be mother of all games and is in fact the way of living and not just a sport. Athletics not only builds you physically but it helps in body coordination and gives you mental stiffness. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking. But due to lack of accessibility and proper training rural boys and girls are not trained or even participated in competitive athletic events. They participate in schools athletic competition but only 1% of them move forward. Lack of awareness and proper platform is also a reason behind this. OFINS initiated to provide that plat from to rural boys and girls and trained them by professional trainer and promote them into district and state level competition. Right now we have 30+ students in athletic division who are getting proper training and guidance.
Agnik Academy of Sports-Yoga Division
It is essential to understand what exactly Yoga really is. Yoga is not a religion, it’s a way of living that aims towards a healthy mind in a healthy body. Man is a physical, mental and spiritual being; Yoga helps in developing the balance between all the three as stated in Ayurveda in India. Yoga is not just about bending or twisting the body and holding the breath. It is a technique to bring you into a state where you see and experience reality simply the way it is. Some benefit of Yoga : Improves brain function, Lower stress levels, Increases flexibility, Lowers blood pressure, Improves lung capacity, Relieves anxiety, Relieves chronic back pain, Lowers blood sugar in diabetics, Improves sense of balance, Stronger bones, Healthy weight, Lowers risk of heart diseases etc. Yoga as a practice has innumerable benefits that positively affects an individual both physically and mentally. Our academy is providing competitive yoga training as well as wellness for the people through a trained professional trainer. Currently over 30 students are getting benefit from our Yoga Centre and mostly are girls.
Ichamati Flood Relief 2020
In 2020, after heavy rainfall, the Ichamati River once again flooded several villages in Gaighata Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, causing widespread devastation. Thousands were affected, with many forced into relief camps. Cattle were stranded, some lost their lives, and hundreds of acres of crop fields were submerged under 4 to 5 feet of water, halting the primary income source for most families.
In response to this crisis, Our Friends In Need Society (OFINS) organized a Flood Relief Drive in the worst-hit areas like Bilchaturia village. We provided meals for over 300 people and distributed Hygiene Kits (including Bleaching Powder, Soap, Toothpaste, ORS, Sanitary Pads, Band-aids, and Masks) to more than 100 families. Temporary shelters with tarpaulins were also provided.
Additionally, OFINS conducted a ‘Free Health Check-Up Camp’ where nearly 100 patients received treatment and free medicines, along with a ‘Health & Hygiene Awareness Workshop’ to guide affected families in maintaining their well-being during this difficult time.
Kerala Flood Relief 2018
In 2018, Kerala faced one of the most devastating floods of the century, causing widespread destruction and claiming over 400 lives. Nearly one million people were rendered homeless, with countless communities severely impacted. The scale of devastation was so massive that it required an extensive and coordinated effort to rebuild the state's infrastructure and restore the lives of those affected.
Our Friends In Need Society (OFINS) responded to this crisis by standing in solidarity with the people of Kerala. We contributed ?28,600 to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, Government of Kerala, to support the massive rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. This fund was crucial in providing immediate relief, rebuilding homes, and helping those affected regain their livelihoods.
Although our contribution was a small part of a larger national and international effort, we are proud to have supported the ongoing mission to rebuild lives and communities in Kerala. OFINS remains committed to extending its helping hand in times of need, driven by our belief in making a meaningful impact during challenging times.
Workshop with SHG
When you empower a woman, you empower a family. When you empower families, you empower generations.Conducting workshop with SHG groups those are inactive but having potential to do a lot. Guidance and awareness provided by our experts. Future planning, product development and other assistance provided. A question and answer session was conducted to provide insight and clarity on the topics being taught. The program extended different part of north 24 parganas.
Green Oath
we are in an era of Pollution, Global Warming, Soil Erosion, Species Extinction, Climate Change & many more. Cause of all these negative effects is only deforestation. But we can counter these negative effects with a small step of planting a tree. Trees help to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air. Planting a sapling & taking care of it till a full grown tree will lead us towards a better life & better world. In this mission to make our environment more greener & also to provide young students more awareness & responsibility OFINS initiated Tree Plantation Drive named "Green Oath". The project give opportunity to plant sapling and take care of sampling to bloom into a tree. We create a group of green friend to hold the ownership to take care of saplings.
Impact
400+ trees planted
70+ students participated as green friends
10+ School Engaged
Objective
To Plant tree as much as possible in school, road side, community, park etc.
To to improve air quality by intercepting and trapping dust and other pollutants from the air.
To protecting groundwater supplies and improving water quality in your streams and ponds.
To ensure clean air for our future.
Target Place
School, community are, forest, park, road side etc.
Target Area
Barasat Block I & Barasat Block II, others parts of North 24 Parganas
Khushi – Child Education Support Program
As per UNICEF, 8.1 million Children out of school in India and they are mostly come from rural areas. 95% of Indian children attend Primary level school but barely 55% of them reach to the next level. This is an alarming ratio that needs to be addressed. As per ASER report, learning levels in Government-run primary schools are noticeably low. Also the dropout rate is very high. We know that the Poverty, availability and accessibility of the educational accessories are the three big reasons why children leave their studies midway. OFINS , through "Khushi-Child Education Support Program" is trying to close this gap. The objective of this project is to give support and encouragement to all the underprivileged students in rural area. students from poor families find it hard to afford notebooks and other educational accessories, which are priced exorbitantly. This prompted us to take the initiative.
Impact
2500+ needy students benefited
Over 200 School engaged
50+ villages covered
Parental Participation increased
-
Objective
To supply bags, notebooks and other educational accessories.
To reduce the financial burden for education of economically challenged families
To minimise the school dropout percentage in rural area
To support and encourage all underprivileged students in rural area.
-
Target Age Group
The target age group are from 4 years and above from poor backward families of rural area.
-
Target Area
The project area covers remote villages inhabited by the poor people.
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha!
india
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha are very pretty twin siblings. They are 9 years old and read in class IV. Tanisha stands 1st and Kamarujjaman stands 2nd in their class. Tanisha wants to be a doctor and her brother wants to be a policeman. Their father works as a labourer in a factory. He dreams to give his children best care and education, but extreme poverty turns everything bleak and imposible. OFINS stood beside them and provided the children all educational suport that they could hardly afford.
Now, both the children are regular students of ‘Anweshan-Child Development Centre’. Run by OFINS. They are happy now as they enjoying every moment at their shool. There is a smile on their father’s face as he knows in his heart that one day his children will surely touch the height of success in their lives.
Sk. Aminul!
india
“Every child has a special talent which is needed to identify and nurture from the very early days”
Sk. Aminul is a bright student and now he is studing in class 3. He stands first in his calss. He is obviously the first learner from their family and both of his parents are day labourers. Their child’s education has never been a priority to them.Their main fight is with poverty that has never let them think something big for their son.
OFINS has took the initiative to make these people think about their child’s future. They committed themselve to shoulder the burden of these poor childrens’ education through ‘Anweshan’
Aminul’s parents stood overwhelmed with tears in their eyes when their son stood first in the class. Now they want to do anything required for their child’s education. Now on holidays, Aminul missed his school and his friends Now Aminul will grow and stand on his feet.
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha!
india
Kamarujjaman and Tanisha are very pretty twin siblings. They are 9 years old and read in class IV. Tanisha stands 1st and Kamarujjaman stands 2nd in their class. Tanisha wants to be a doctor and her brother wants to be a policeman. Their father works as a labourer in a factory. He dreams to give his children best care and education, but extreme poverty turns everything bleak and imposible. OFINS stood beside them and provided the children all educational suport that they could hardly afford.
Now, both the children are regular students of ‘Anweshan-Child Development Centre’. Run by OFINS. They are happy now as they enjoying every moment at their shool. There is a smile on their father’s face as he knows in his heart that one day his children will surely touch the height of success in their lives.
Sk. Aminul!
india
“Every child has a special talent which is needed to identify and nurture from the very early days”
Sk. Aminul is a bright student and now he is studing in class 3. He stands first in his calss. He is obviously the first learner from their family and both of his parents are day labourers. Their child’s education has never been a priority to them.Their main fight is with poverty that has never let them think something big for their son.
OFINS has took the initiative to make these people think about their child’s future. They committed themselve to shoulder the burden of these poor childrens’ education through ‘Anweshan’
Aminul’s parents stood overwhelmed with tears in their eyes when their son stood first in the class. Now they want to do anything required for their child’s education. Now on holidays, Aminul missed his school and his friends Now Aminul will grow and stand on his feet.
Health Camp
Organizing health camps is a regular initiative by OFINS to assess the basic health conditions of underprivileged students and community members who lack access to expensive medical services. We conduct free medical camps in various locations, providing essential healthcare support to those in need.
During these camps, medical professionals offer free consultations to both children and elderly individuals, addressing their health concerns with care and expertise. They also conduct informative sessions on disease prevention, health, and hygiene, aiming to raise awareness among children and their parents.
Basic health check-ups, including measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure, are carried out, along with other necessary tests. Free medicines are distributed to treat common ailments like diarrhea, skin itching, colds, coughs, and various seasonal illnesses.
Through these efforts, our health camps not only provide immediate medical assistance but also educate the community about maintaining better health practices, contributing to the overall well-being of underprivileged families.
Impact
Over 2000+ children and adult benefited
Free medicine & Consultancy
Over 20+ remote village covered
20+ Medical Health Camp conducted
Objective
To provide free medical checkup and medicine to the underprivileged children and adult so that they would stay protected from possible sicknesses.
To bring awareness amongst the deprived population of the country who have no access
To basic healthcare services or knowledge about the diseases they are suffering from.
To make sure people are getting the healthcare at the right time, and seeing the doctor early enough before a small health problem turns serious.
Target Age Group
Medical camps are conducted with the help of health professionals amongst the underprivileged and financially weaker community. The poor attend these camps to get free check-up and treatment.
Target Area
The project area covers remote villages inhabited by the poor people.
LAVANYA
india
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Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Hi! I'm Md. Jakir Alam
india
I have been a day labourer and now at 70, I barely can afford the cost of allopathy treatment for my joint pain and acicity. My son works in a factory and he was not in a position to bear the cost of my treatment either. Then I came to know about the Free Homeopathy Health Centre “Chirayu” at Mathgram. I got free treatment from there and now I’m doing pretty well. “Chirayu” has been really a blessing for the elderly poor people like us.
Inter School Sports Meet
Sports provide vital opportunities for developing physical skills and maintaining health, which are essential for our mind, body, and spirit. Participating in team sports teaches accountability, dedication, and leadership, among many other important traits. By encouraging sports, we can engage children in developing mental and physical strength, discipline, and practice needed for success. This, in turn, helps them gain confidence, fostering self-control, self-esteem, and integrity within future generations.
To fulfill this mission, OFINS has initiated a program to engage students of various ages in sports activities through a consolidated event known as the INTER SCHOOL SPORTS MEET. Launched in 2014, this two- to three-day sports program involved many students from local high schools, featuring various athletic games and an inter-school football tournament. All winning participants received medals, mementos, trophies, and certificates. The impressive student involvement, both in playing and non-playing roles, reflects the tremendous enthusiasm this event has generated among students across these schools.
Impact
Over 5000 students Participated
Mass Community Involvement
24+ High Schools Engaged
Competitive Platform for students in sports
Objective
To Promote sports among the students for their over all development and encourage in Sports.
To Give opportunity to represent school and competitive platform to perform and showcase their talent.
To developing mental and physical strength, and discipline which leads towards a self-control, self-esteem & honest generation
To teach competition, in reality, leads to better collaboration, it is the way of soft skill development, There is a success even in failure and rivalry is required for true development.
Target Age Group
Students from Class V to Class XII
Target Area
Barasat Block I & Barasat Block II, others parts of North 24 Parganas
Yaas Cyclone Relief, W.B 2021
On May 26, 2021, the Sundarbans and its coastal areas were severely impacted by Cyclone Yaas. For the residents of this ecologically fragile region, daily life involves contending with high tides and frequent cyclones. However, each cyclone brings unprecedented challenges that the inhabitants struggle to cope with. The coastal regions of Purba Medinipur, North, and South 24 Parganas in West Bengal were particularly hard hit, with extensive flooding leaving thousands homeless. Many residents are battling hunger while also trying to maintain hygiene amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to this dire situation, Our Friends In Need Society organized the Yaas Relief Drive on June 6, 2021, in the Sundarbans, specifically in villages such as Tushkhali, Atapur, Manipur, Dhoniyakhali, and Puinjola. We provided essential support to 600 affected individuals by distributing grocery items, dry foods, and hygiene materials, including sanitary pads, masks, and sanitizers, to help them navigate these challenging times.
Amphan Cyclone, W.B 2020
On May 22, 2020, Super Cyclone Amphan struck West Bengal, devastating an area of 21,560 square kilometers. With winds reaching up to 190 km/h and torrential rainfall, Amphan made landfall at Digha on May 20, 2020, at 2:30 PM. The cyclone quickly moved north-northeast at 27 km/h and transformed into a severe storm as it headed toward Bangladesh, approximately 270 km north-northeast of Kolkata.
The destruction caused by Amphan resulted in significant loss of property and livelihoods. Crop fields were flooded with saline water, homes were destroyed, and over 5,000 trees were uprooted, particularly in the Sundarbans region. Eight coastal districts suffered immensely, with 80 lives lost and thousands left homeless, forced to live in makeshift shelters or on the streets.
In response, Our Friends in Need Society committed to supporting the affected communities. We organized a two-phase relief drive, distributing essential materials to 400 families, benefiting around 1,600 individuals across seven villages, including Bainara, Kumirmari, Rupkumari, and Dhanikhali, among others. Relief packages included 14 essential items, such as rations, dry food, and hygiene materials.
Ailla Cyclone Relief Drive, W.B, 2009
In the aftermath of the devastating Aila Cyclone in 2009, which severely impacted North and South 24 Parganas, our organization launched a comprehensive relief operation. We initiated a door-to-door collection campaign, gathering essential supplies from local shops and households throughout Barasat Municipality. Our efforts resulted in the collection of over six tons of dry food, including biscuits, parched rice, rice, pulses, and bottled water, along with more than 1,000 articles of clothing.
To ensure efficient distribution, a team of two or three members traveled directly to the affected areas with the collected relief materials. They remained on-site to distribute food and medicine while collaborating with other agencies operating in the region. This initiative aimed not only to provide immediate relief to those in need but also to foster a spirit of solidarity and support among the affected communities during this challenging time. Through our efforts, we sought to alleviate the suffering of families and help them rebuild their lives in the wake of the cyclone's destruction.
Awareness on SHG
Seminar and group discussion arranged with village women to spread awareness about SGH group and its benefit. Understand the main concepts of financial inclusion and women’s empowerment through Savings Groups. Understand the main policy issues and challenges in SHG financing. Also help to form SGH group with interested members, help them to get loan and other assistance.
Vigyan o Poribesh Sachetanota Mela
This two to three days fair is being organized by the organization. The programme includes mainly science exhibition, seminars, workshop, slide show on the environmental issues like pollution, global warming, Greenhouse effect, Climate Change and its effects, preservation of Ground Water label, Deforestation, Endangered wildlife protection, preservation of Rain water, use of non-renewal energy ect. By the organization itself as well as the students from a number of schools with active support by the organization. It attracts not only the visitors, who are mainly school students but many common people. Apart from students of local schools, the Government Departments like ZSI, GSI, PCB, Fisheries Dept. ect and other non-government organizations like British Council, WWF India, Calcutta Snake Park, BRCS, Canning Mountaineering Club, Madhyamgram Green march, Ichhamati Development Society and other NGOs have been taking part in the fair from its inception. The fair, which is held annually, is much sought after by the students and people of Barasat Municipality and Barasat Block I & II Panchayet area.
Impact
400+ trees planted
70+ students participated as green friends
10+ School Engaged
Objective
To spread awareness among the students, parents and community at large about the importance of environment and science in our life.
To involve students in science and environmental exhibition to motivate and explore their knowledge and talent.
To make social development .
Target people
Students, Parents, Community
Target Area
Barasat Block I & Barasat Block II, others parts of North 24 Parganas
