In 2002 Goodwill’s ‘Tribal Outreach Programme’ (TORP) was set up. This programme helps tribal communities living within the middle and lower Palani hills area to achieve self reliance by promoting education and community organisation.  TORP provides children with support to go to school, and involves the whole community in village development through self help groups and credit unions.

 

Lack of education is a major reason for the high levels of poverty in this region. Adult literacy is generally very low and even those few who were lucky enough to have gone to school have rarely progressed beyond primary school level. Therefore, TORP provides books, notebooks, school bags, uniforms, raincoats and clothing to enable all the tribal children to go to school. With this support more children are able to continue to secondary level education and some even progress to the Trade Training Programme.

TORP works in twentyfive villages and hamlets with a total population of 2,800 of which 900 are below eighteen years of age, located around K.C. Patti Village in the Middle and Lower Palani Hills. At 800 to 1,000 metres above sea level this is mainly a coffee and spice growing region, totally dependent on its agricultural produce. Since the glut of coffee on the world market, this area has been hit badly, causing widespread poverty and suffering for the children of these communities.  Historically, plantation owners have been the main employers of tribal people, but now even this poorly paid casual work is dwindling, coffee plantations are being dug up and lands are being sold. The Tribal Outreach Programme, with it’s emphasis on education and group participation, provides the opportunity to improve the lives and living conditions of whole communities.

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