Dance costumes for the Isai Ma(i)yam Foundation

Pondicherry, India, € 800,-

The Isai Ma(i)yam Foundation, active in and around Pondicherry (Southern India), tries to help the poorest group of the area in many different ways.
The name "Isai Ma(i)yam" means "Centre for Music" in Tamil (the local language). This name suggests that music is one of the important tools to meet their goals, which in this case it is.
Next to music other forms of performing arts and aid help the Foundation achieve their goals in helping the people who need it the most and who do not receive any support from their families or the government.
The Isai Ma(i)yam Foundation gives children (handicapped children since the last two years) the opportunity to go to school and to enrich their lives by playing music, singing and dancing. Many of these children only have 1 parent left and in some cases none.
A part of these children (approx. 35) live in one of the two houses the Foundation owns where they are provided with full room and board, music lessons, a bike and money for their school fees. The children go to a good school. Very often children from their background can only afford to go to state schools (which are free) but with help from the Foundation these children can go to a private English/Tamil school. These schools have better teachers and give the children better opportunities once they have finished their education. Once the children have finished secondary school the Foundation helps them choose an education which will set them up for a good future in which they can take care of themselves. Because there is so much emphasis on music during their time with the Foundation occasionally a very talented child will be given the opportunity to go to music school where they themselves can become music teacher of artists.
For the theatre productions of the Foundation  they need money to buy new dance costumes. The number of children has increased and more costumes are needed. Here the Foundation has sought the help of Moments of Joy to see if they can help raise the € 800 needed to purchase the new costumes.