Help transform a village, as part of the Emmanuel Hospital Association’s Champa Project in India.

Pictured: Women who are part of the Jwala and Devi Self-Help Group, from Jhata village, Baloda block. They are working together to grow vegetables sustainably as part of the Champa Project and are now able to make a living from the land.

Since 2005, EHA has been working on the Champa Project - involving around 110 villages in India. It is a long-term and extensive project. The initial phase covered 60 villages in Janjgir-Champa and Korba districts. The second phase of the project, which began in 2011, is working with 50 villages in the Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh State, Central India, where around 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line.

There are many challenges facing people living in the Janjgir-Champa district:

• 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line.
• Pregnant women and children are often malnourished.
• Immunisation rates are lower than desired.
• Community members have limited access to and knowledge of available government schemes and programs and miss out on support that they may be entitled to.
• Food security is an issue, as people here largely live off the land but need support in finding more efficient farming methods that enable them to grow more food to eat and sell.

The Champa Project aims to address these issues by:

Improving overall community health – Helping to increase the community’s access to public health services by training government health workers, who spread important health messages in the community.

EHA also runs the Champa Christian Hospital, which provides services to the community including obstetrics, ophthalmology, medicine, general surgery, ear, nose and throat treatment and dental care. The hospital provides free eye screenings and surgery, and also runs mobile clinics. EHA partners with the government to help people in poverty access low-cost or free health care.

Helping farmers thrive – Supporting farmers’ groups by training them in sustainable agricultural practices (organic farming). This may include learning how to make and use compost (which they can also sell), and how to grow produce effectively without the use of pesticides. EHA also helps to educate farmers about how to access government schemes and entitlements. Farmers are also organised into federations or co-operatives, which enable them to get support in making a living.

Improving livelihoods for the community – Training and support in activities that help people make a living. This could include growing and selling vegetables (kitchen gardens) or starting a small business like a cycle repair shop or flour mill.

Improving nutrition – Working with government health workers, who provide community education around the importance of a nutritious and balanced diet, especially for pregnant women and children.

Empowering women – Connecting women in the community through Women’s Self- Help Groups, which encourage them to save money regularly and learn new skills and knowledge. The groups savings enable women to take small loans to start businesses or other activities.

Enhancing community wellbeing and capacity – Supporting the community to identify and solve its own issues. Fostering harmony, strong relationships and mutual support within the community. Connecting community members and encouraging them to work together for change.

About Our Partner 

TEAR’s partner Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) lives out Jesus’ call to serve the poor and marginalised and in doing so aims to transform communities. Through a network of 20 hospitals and 42 community health and development projects across 12 states in North, North-East and Central India, EHA is working “in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ so as to manifest Him through word and deed.” EHA’s staff serve people and communities regardless of race, caste, creed or religion. They work to empower communities through community development that promotes health, improved livelihoods and human rights and builds the capacity of communities to organise themselves and advocate for change.

Below: Chhattisgarh State, India. This is where your gift is being used as part of EHA's Champa Project.

What you receive

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