Our Programmes

Every child deserves a place where they feel safe, loved, and encouraged to dream. Janani Home for Girl Children was created with this belief at its heart. Located in Kovilpalayam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, the home was established by Prime Social and Educational Trust to provide care, education, and opportunities for girls who need support and protection.

The journey began with just one girl. Founder Director S. M. Arasu believed that every child deserves a safe place to live and an opportunity to build a better future. What started as a small effort gradually grew through dedication, hard work, and the support of kind-hearted donors and well-wishers.

The path was not easy. Janani Home operated from rented buildings for many years and faced financial difficulties, floods, and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were times when meeting daily expenses such as food, rent, and maintenance was difficult. Despite these struggles, the commitment to the children remained strong.

With continuous support from donors, volunteers, and friends of the organization, Janani Home was able to continue its work and eventually establish a stable home for the children. This became an important milestone in the organization's journey.

Today, Janani Home provides care, protection, education, and emotional support to 12 girls. The home offers a family-like environment where children can study, develop life skills, build confidence, and prepare for a brighter future. Every girl at Janani Home is encouraged to dream, learn, and grow.

Since 2002, Prime Trust has worked alongside women in Puducherry and the surrounding districts to build financial independence, vocational skills, and entrepreneurial confidence. Through our Tailoring & Handicraft Centre and our network of Self-Help Groups, we have directly supported over 1,000 women — many from the most marginalised communities in India.

Our Tailoring & Handicraft Centre has been a vocational cornerstone since 2008. After a period of closure during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Centre relaunched in late 2020 at a new, larger location — with a renewed focus on sustainable fashion and traditional Indian textile arts. Women enrolled in courses learn to sew and manufacture garments, and produce bags, purses, and fabric accessories. Products draw on traditional Indian textile arts such as block printing, khadi, and ikat weaving, and are becoming available for purchase both online and in person.

Prime Trust facilitates Self-Help Groups in both urban and rural areas across Puducherry and its neighbouring districts — including communities that are beyond the reach of most mainstream organisations. The majority of members come from the poorest Dalit communities, who face entrenched discrimination and are routinely denied access to formal banking and credit.

In 2011, Prime Trust established Akshaya, a SHG federation dedicated to skills-based entrepreneurship through microcredit. Akshaya offers short-term loans over 10-month cycles, governed by a board elected from member SHGs and facilitated by Prime Trust. The federation prioritises financial literacy, a clear application process, and full transparency throughout the loan and repayment cycle.

Education is the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty — yet many children in marginalized communities lack the support they need to succeed in school. Our After-School and Remedial Education Programmes bridge this gap by providing structured academic support and a nurturing environment where children can thrive.

Operating across twelve schools in and around Puducherry and neighbouring regions of Tamil Nadu, our programmes serve children from families with limited literacy, economic stress, and little access to educational resources at home. Our trained tutors and volunteers work closely with teachers to identify learning gaps and provide targeted remedial instruction in mathematics, science, language, and comprehension.

Beyond academics, we emphasize holistic development. Children participate in art, music, sports, and life-skills workshops that build creativity, teamwork, and confidence. Our education support initiatives ensure that no child is left behind. Struggling students receive one-on-one attention, customized learning plans, and patient encouragement that helps them catch up and often exceed expectations.

We also run a Child Sponsorship Programme that covers school fees and learning supplies for children in our programmes, including those from Self-Help Groups. Sponsors build lasting relationships with supported families while Prime Trust provides continuous oversight and care.

Each year, we host a month-long Summer School for children from our remedial schools and partner programmes. Volunteer instructors teach a diverse range of subjects and skills — including conversational English, yoga, Sanskrit, and French — creating an enriching learning experience outside the regular school calendar.

Access to healthcare remains one of the most pressing challenges for rural communities around Puducherry and neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu. Many villages have no clinic, no regular doctor visits, and limited awareness of preventive health measures. Our Rural Health and Awareness Programmes exist to fill this critical gap.

Through regular health camps, we bring essential medical services directly to the doorsteps of underserved villages. Our camps offer general health check-ups, eye screenings, dental assessments, and specialized services including cancer screening for women. By partnering with local hospitals and medical professionals, we ensure that patients identified with health concerns receive timely referrals and follow-up care.

Prevention is at the heart of our health strategy. We conduct community health education sessions and awareness generation programmes on nutrition, hygiene, maternal health, child care, rural water and sanitation, and disease prevention. These sessions are designed to be culturally sensitive and participatory, encouraging community members to ask questions, share concerns, and adopt healthier practices.

Our cancer screening programme has been particularly impactful. In villages where women had never undergone screening, early detection has led to life-saving treatment. The programme not only addresses immediate health needs but also creates a culture where seeking healthcare is normalized and encouraged. We also provide assistance to homeless and disadvantaged individuals, ensuring they receive the care they need.

In our Uppuvelore project, undertaken with Hamap Humanitaire, clean drinking water and improved sanitation were provided for school children and the wider village community.

Prime Trust has undertaken a major infrastructure project proposed by the Government of Pondicherry, covering 400 schools across the territory. Work includes the construction of new classrooms, major facility repairs, and the establishment of smart classrooms equipped with computers. Prime Trust manages construction coordination, fund management, and ongoing project monitoring.

This project requires significant resources and funding. Monetary donations via wire transfer are preferred. Materials and in-kind contributions are also welcome — please contact Prime Trust directly or visit our donate page.

The urban poor and homeless in Puducherry face intersecting challenges — caste and gender discrimination, inadequate government services, limited employment and education, and the pressures of rapid urbanisation and migration. These factors compound into a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break without targeted, sustained intervention.

Prime Trust currently supports 10 homeless families through our Homeless Centre and Outreach Programmes, offering a comprehensive set of services alongside pathways to economic stability. Services include counselling, domestic violence protection, de-addiction support, rehabilitation, vocational training, microcredit access, children's education, and free evening tuition.