Uma Nivas Overview
Uma Nivas, a women’s community development project in rural West Bengal, was founded in 1978 in an area where women experience high levels of poverty, disease, malnutrition and illiteracy. The goal of Uma Nivas is to create and expand education, health care, and employment opportunities for women and girls in order for them to achieve their full physical, mental and spiritual potential.
Health Clinics
Uma Nivas is currently running several homeopathic clinics and workshops on health education for women
Girl’s Home
Umas Nivas has a home which provides a safe, loving environment for 24 teenage girls, who either have no family, or cannot live at home due to extreme poverty.
Rahr Hostel
50 children ages 5-10 are currently living in this dormitory, which offers them a safe, healthy environment that makes it possible for them to attend primary school. At Rahr Hostel, the children receive daily nutritional meals, which helps combat the malnutrition which is so prevalent in this area.
Schools
There are currently several primary schools, a girl’s high school, and low-cost or free dormitories to house the students.
The girl’s high school has over one hundred students registered. The school’s excellent standard has attracted families to place their daughters in safe care. Along with a strong academic curriculum, the students also learn music, song, dance, and take part in yearly performances.
The Uma Nivas soccer team plays in local tournaments, often with great results. The new primary school and Women’s College, under construction, will be finished in 2021.
