Make a Difference This Christmas

This Christmas, we invite you to make a donation to CINI Australia to support women and children in some of the most disadvantaged regions of India, specifically West Bengal. Your support creates lasting change in the lives of individuals, where even a small donation can make a significant difference.

Donations to CINI have a tremendous impact, and we are proud to share the following success story as an example of the positive change achieved this year.


Income Generation Training – IICCHAA 
(Indian Initiative Child Centered HIV Aids Approach)

Income Generation Training focuses on equipping individuals with skills that enable them to create income, with the primary objective of bolstering their financial independence. The trainees are individuals living with HIV, who wish to secure their livelihoods.In the South 24 Parganas, tailoring sessions were initiated for 8 young adults and mothers. Additionally, a 3-day Vocational Training Programme was organised in the Murshidabad unit, targeting 3 adolescents and 3 mothers from HIV-affected families.

This training program takes place at CINI Head Office, in collaboration with a local tailor who was previously supported by the program. In anticipation of the Bengali Durga Puja festival, which sees increased demand for various items like sarees, kurtis, churidars, bangles, earrings, and jewellery, the training focused specifically on fabric painting.

This hands-on approach helped to empower individuals with the means to generate income through their newfound skills. Programs like these form the cornerstone of the CINI Method—an internationally recognised and award-winning human rights-based approach.

Your contribution this Christmas can make a significant impact. CINI Australia is a registered charity, so any donation over $2 is tax deductible.

Thank you for your support.



Your Donations in Action

To read more about the work accomplished by CINI, we invite you to read our Annual Report. This report covers the period from July 2022 to June 2023.

Why Tim Mathews Chose CINI Australia for Modus

Tim Mathews, Managing Director of Modus Property, has been a valued supporter of CINI Australia for many years now; donating a portion of every job they do to CINI Australia. Modus Property offer a level of service to trade work usually only expected from “White Collar” professionals. We met with Tim recently to ask him what inspired him to support CINI Australia and thank him for his on-going support.

In the first quarter of 2023, Modus donated a generous $3257. The funds continue to support CINI’s Indian Initiative of Child Centered HIV/ AIDS Approach (IICCHAA), which currently provides support to 171 families and 223 children affected by HIV/AIDS.

In the second quarter of 2023, Modus donated $3257 again! This money directly funds Life Skills training for 12 adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS. Their confidence and capacity grows each month as they move towards their independence.

Q: What motivated you to start supporting CINI Australia?
It took several years to build a company which was capable of making consistent profits. After this was achieved, I wanted to be able to give back; and was on the lookout for a good cause that we could support on a regular basis. We had previously made donations to an orphanage in The Philippines as we had some admin staff there at the time. However, I didn’t feel confident enough that the money was going to the right place and around this time was introduced to Jennie Connaughton (Founder of CINI Australia). Jennie’s authenticity shone through, and I felt very good about what CINI does. I especially like that the money can do good for more people in a country such as India than it could in a first world country.

Q: How does CINI’s mission align with your company’s values and goals?
Nothing specific. However, I’m a big believer in hand ups not hand outs and I think CINI seems to operate the same way.

Q: Can you share which specific projects within CINI resonate with you most and why?
Nothing specific but also everything. Each time I hear about an individual’s specific story it’s always touching. And I know that there are so many individuals being positively impacted by the work CINI does. So being able to be a part of that feels good.

Q: What kind of impact do you hope to achieve through your support of our charity?
“Help people far less fortunate lead less difficult and hopefully happier lives.”

Q: How do you communicate your company’s philanthropic efforts to your employees, customers, and the public?
We have a page on our website that I update quarterly and a quarterly Facebook post too.

Q: Have there been any instances where your company’s involvement with our charity has resulted in unexpected or particularly meaningful outcomes?
Some customers have definitely seen it on our website and sometimes make mention. I can’t say for sure but would imagine that all other things being equal, it may be the impetus for someone to choose to work with us over a competitor from time to time.

Q: Is there anything else you would like people to know?
“Not specifically that I can think of… other than that we are the best renovation company in Perth, and we do what we say we’re going to do; unlike most trade companies unfortunately.”

You can see Modus’ donations in action by visiting the Giving Back section of their website.

We would like to say a big thank you to Tim and his staff at Modus Property for their incredible donations and commitment to CINI Australia.

To find out more about becoming a corporate sponsor, please email: admin@ciniaustralia.org

CINI India recognised by NATHEALTH Health Care CSR Award 2023

In April this year, CINI India was awarded a prestigious award for its commitment to the right to health of India’s most vulnerable communities, the NatHealth Healthcare CSR Award 2023. At a ceremony held in New Delhi, CINI’s CEO, Dr. Indrani Bhattacharyya, received the award directly from the hands of the Minister for Institutional Affairs of the Government of India, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh.

The NatHealth Healthcare CSR Award

Every year NatHealth, the Indian federation that brings together different stakeholders from the corporate public and private health sector, awards this award. 63 projects have applied in 2023 to receive this recognition. The jury that was to evaluate them was composed of members of the Indian government’s health institutions, a researcher from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, a member of the corporate world and an expert in health and nutrition from the World Bank.

After careful analysis, the jury chose the “Suswasthya” project by CINI!

The Suswasthya project for the right to health in India

Suswasthya in Bengali means “good health“. The project aims, in fact, to ensure the right to health to the poorest Indian communities, and especially to women and children. The activities take place in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. In two years, the project reached 5,724 direct and 50,000 indirect beneficiaries, focusing on high-risk pregnant women, malnourished children and vulnerable adolescents. Through capacity building activities, CINI operators have trained over 4,000 health workers in public services.

The intervention is financed by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund of the National Stock Exchange, an Indian government body that regulates the stock market. This partnership between the private social sector and the business world realizes, among others, Goal 17 of the 2030 Agenda.

In the words of CINI founder Dr. Samir Chaudhuri, “this award recognizes CINI as a leader in delivering health and nutrition interventions to support poor communities living in remote, hard-to-reach areas.”

Congratulations to the CINI team for the important recognition received!

Source: An important award for CINI’s work in favor of the right to health in India! – CINI Italy | Help the mother, help the child (ciniitalia.org)

Mother’s Day Celebration Appeal 2023

This year we invite those of you in WA to come along to out Celebration Fundraiser on 7th May, Sunday, 2-5:30 pm

CINI Australia Mother’s Day Celebration Afternoon Tea Tickets

Are you too far away or can’t make it on the day?

You can still contribute to maintaining our three important projects in India with the CINI Australia Mother’s Day Appeal or hold your own gathering and ask family and friends to help reach your goal set up your fundraising page here

Help Stop The Spread of COVID and Save Lives

Child in Need Institute, India has launched an urgent response to the COVID disaster in India.  As the catastrophe engulfs the country and the health system is overwhelmed,  preventing COVID transmission is critical. 

Families desperately need practical information and assistance to prevent further devastation from COVID.  CINI has 47 years’ experience reaching families in the city slums and rural villages.  It’s field workers are trusted in areas where resources are scarce and poverty is severe. They are the best people to spread these urgent and lifesaving public health messages.

Our appeal will fund the emergency COVID response and CINI Australia’s ongoing community development programs in rural villages and with families affected by HIV/AIDS. These programs address poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and child marriage which have worsened with the devastating impact COVID on already vulnerable families.

Donate at https://mothers-day-celebration-2021-ciniaustralia.raisely.com/donate

Or by direct debit at CINI Australia, Child In Need India Gift Fund: BSB 036 306 AC 344863Donations are tax deductible

Mother’s Day Celebration 2021 Appeal

This year we are unable to hold the annual High Tea for CINI Australia. Instead we are asking supporters to make a donation or hold their own fundraiser as they celebrate their Mother’s Day. Invite family, friends or work colleagues. As COVID infections surge in India, the situation is dire. CINI has the experience and expertise to mount an effective response to this crisis. Communities need accurate, understandable health information to protect themselves. CINI COVID Assistance centres throughout the state will disseminate vital public health education, nutritional support & distribute COVID Wellness Kits.(masks, sanitiser etc) This years fundraiser is critical for our ongoing programs and to help families through this pandemic. See how to help at: https://mothers-day-celebration-2021-ciniaustralia.raisely.com

Christmas Appeal 2020

Donations to CINI Australia are now tax deductible

This year’s Christmas Appeal is more important than ever as India continues to be severely affected by COVID-19

DONATE ONLINE
 Donate in lieu of a Christmas gift or Secret Santa

When COVID struck, CINI quickly identified the greatest needs in their communities. A huge response was mounted. Food parcels were distributed throughout the state. As the lockdown eases CINI is now responding to worsened poverty, malnutrition, interrupted schooling and diminished safety of children.
Our committed field workers are again working in more than 94 villages.


COVID-19 pandemic response

Thank you for supporting our Mothers Day event. CINI has been providing emergency food and soap to families who can’t otherwise access enough for their children.This means we can keep our important community development and HIV programs running as much as possible through the lockdown. The teams will be ready to start again as the lock down eases.

Mother’s Day Fundraiser Raffle Prizes 2020

Everyone who donates to CINI Australia’s Mother’s Day Covid Crisis Appeal will go in the draw for one of 9 beautiful prizes kindly donated by generous local businesses.

Please contribute to this appeal that will fund CINI’s emergency response to the lockdown in India. Families are being provided with packages of essential basic food supplies to help them survive this difficult time as well as soap, sanitizer and education about ho to keep safe.

Mother’s Day Celebration 2020: Covid Crisis Fundraiser

Mother’s Day 2020 Celebration Fundraiser

Tomorrow, Sunday 10th May, our annual CINI Australia Mother’s Day Celebration 2020 goes online. Join the Facebook Event or donate to the Covid Crisis Fundraiser

We celebrate mothers in India who are working hard in this very difficult time, to look after their children the best they can .

From 2: 30 pm, via our Facebook event you can hear about CINI’s response to the COVID crisis in India and support their courageous work with those in dire need. CINI initiated a rapid response to Covid, providing essential food to families in the slums, the brick kilns and tea gardens throughout West Bengal.  They are also supplying soap and Nutrimix, CINI’s highly nutritious food mix, where they are most needed. Volunteers receive hygiene kits with masks and sanitizer to keep them safe as they deliver food and health information to communities. Your support will help them continue this vital work.

Social distancing and waiting for food packages

When you donate to this Appeal you will automatically go in the raffle draw for one of the fantastic prizes, kindly donated by local Perth businesses.

Mother’s Day is the major fundraiser for CINI Australia’s programs in India. We aim to raise over $25,000 on Sunday to support the Covid response and to ensure the continuation of our other essential programs. The Child Friendly Communities program reaches over 90 villages in Uttar Dinajpur and IICCHAA supports more than 200 children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Thank you for your generosity.

Food parcel delivery to the villages
Many need food assistance as earning an income has become very difficult
Nutrimix Distribution

Emergency Response to Covid-19

CINI responded quickly to the strict pandemic lockdown imposed in mid March in India. Infection numbers still continue to rise and the lockdown is being eased. Life has been extremely difficult for daily wage earners who rely on finding work each day to feed their families. A a result of no income and closed markets, access to food has been limited. CINI and quickly Nutrimix production and made packages of essential dry food rations. They have delivered these to 10s of thousands of families throughout the state.

Emergency ration packages

Christmas Appeal 2018

In 2018 CINI Australia’s impact in India has continued enhancing the live of families socially and economically through health, nutrition and education programs.

With your support, CINI Australia can continue to fund these empowering programs that are enabling entire communities to create positive, sustainable inter-generational change.

Just in the last 6 months the CINI Australia-funded IICCHAA program has reached over 200 families effected by HIV/AIDs.  This program included home visits, nutrition, health and hygiene support, community awareness, linkages with financial security support offered by local government schemes, education scholarships, housing assistance – the list goes on.

Hundreds more families have been affected by CINI Australia’s Child Friendly Communities program.  This powerful method of development is delivered to all parts of the community: local government, services and families. It includes improving nutrition, health and hygiene  for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and malnourished children; self help groups, supported by health workers track vulnerable households and adolescents learn about their rights to education and safety. Building empowerment and representation in local government gives women a say in what matters most to them and a voice in determining the future of their communities.

The 2018 Christmas Appeal is the first of many vital steps towards reaching our 2019 program budget by March.

We would be very grateful if you could please share this and consider re-directing gift-givers to our cause in lieu of gifts this Christmas.

Follow this link to contribute to the Christmas Appeal 

Print your own CINI Australia Gift Certificate to give in lieu of a present

or a Secret Santa Poster or Christmas Party Poster

to help with your  fundraising

Child Friendly Communities Program

Our November Movie night fundraiser is to support this fantastic program that is empowering women and children to change their communities, health and education.

CHAINAGAR CHILD FRIENDLY COMMUNITY 


CINI Australia’s program, in its second year, spans 12 villages in the Chainagar, (popn 22,000)Uttar Dinajpur, in West Bengal.

Our experience in Bangalbari, CINI Australia’s first program, has driven a number of changes in the program for Chainagar.  We saw the importance of early involvement by the local council.  In 2016 the CINI team worked closely with the Prodan (Mayor) of Chainagar and the council are committed to CINI’s model of development.

The health and education of women and children have been written into the local council plans as a priority.  This is a huge achievement as the council is invested in ensuring change occurs and are contributing funds and resources to make this happen.

It was decided to put effort into developing a few centres at a time as ‘models’ so that the community could see the effect of changes.  So we have started with 3 village schools where sanitation and education facilities are improving (see school story below).

At 3 ‘Anganwadi’ (child health) centres women learn about maternal and child health, adolescent boys and girls are taught about their own health, child marriage and their rights to education and participation.

Through participation in child ‘parliaments’ the children learn about their needs and to have a voice in their communities.  These skills will prepare them for future leadership.

They are excited by this new knowledge and value their role in changing the future for their children. As they learn about antenatal and early childhood they encourage other women to attend. They assist the Anganwadi worker to weigh, measure and feed the children.

CHILD FRIENDLY BUS TAKES TO STREETS

Bold statements & images promoting the rights of children have been brightly plastered across a local bus, spreading the word of the CINI’s Child Friendly Community (CFC) program, proudly supported by CINI Australia.

The Child Friendly Bus initiative will increase public awareness by explicitly displaying messages about the rights of the child and the risks of child-labour & child–marriage.

Local bus company, MAA Fatema Transport, runs the route from Raiganj to Bharatpur, through the program district.  It It is especially effective in spreading its message as there  is little other media or public education.

Such innovative public education is uncommon in rural India.  An essential aspect of our “CFC” program is to involve local community leaders.  It engages them and enables ownership of their role in making change, educating the community & honouring their responsibility for the wellbeing of children.

SCHOOL IMPROVES EDUCATION & PROTECTION


Poverty effects all aspects of a family life. Good nutrition & health care are essential, but without education children remain enormously disadvantaged.  In the last 12 months, our Chainagar team has been working with the primary schools in Manikpara, Tilan, Asmanhat, Chainagar and Simuldanga villages. In February, CINI A’s Director Jennie visited Manikpara school, developed as a “model school”, to motivate change in neighbouring villages of Chainagar.

CINI’s facilitation has helped teachers, parents, students & local council form the school management committee. They decide what changes are needed, how to fund them and who will be responsible.  The school grounds have been made safer and an orchard planted. This is a significant achievement as, until now, parents & children had no say in their school development.

Through a “Child Parliament” the children learn about their rights & to voice their opinions.  Under the leadership of their “Prime Minister” they participate in their school council and develop skills for future community leadership.

Creating a safe and happy school means that dropout children are more likely to attend.  The child leaders visit their homes encouraging them to come to school.  Many village schools have basic rooms, blank walls & wooden benches. The council has provided funds for teachers to create stimulating child friendly class rooms and improve their teaching standards.

The young “Minister of Health” speaks up if meal quality is not maintained.  The school has a copy of the Government midday meal program and they are advocating for the quality of food that their children are entitled to.

Hygiene has improved with the introduction of girls toilets. Under guidance of their ministers children learn about hand washing & managing rubbish.

These developments result in better attendance, enthusiastic children, improved learning and long lasting benefits for community. This year we plan to reach the remaining schools of Chainagar.

 

Sunday 25th November 6pm – Come along

Book your tickets now at www.trybooking.com/XUIT

and read about the movie starring Emma Thompson

Tickets $25

Please join us for  great evening at

Windsor Cinema, 98 Stirling Highway, Nedlands.

Nibbles & Drinks (extra) at 6, movie at 6:30

We are fundraising for CINI Australia’s village program with the women and children of Chainagar, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal.

Read more about the Child Friendly Communities program that this event is supporting

New Board Members Needed – Update: Success!

We will soon be introducing our new members

2 New Volunteer Board members were Needed

 It is 8 years since the launch of CINI Australia and it is time to expand our board

Would you like to contribute to positive change for women and children in India?

Your help in Australia will empower families in India to break the cycle of poverty.

Do you have 6 – 8 hours per month to join our enthusiastic, hands-on board?

CINI Australia is a registered not for profit and charity supporting sustainable development in India

since 2011. Our programs focus on health, nutrition, education and child protection.

We are seeking two volunteer board members with the enthusiasm, resources and skills to expand our support base and to achieve our goal of financial sustainability. Experience in fundraising and/or publicity would be an advantage.

For more information or to apply please

email Peter at admin@ciniaustralia.org by 24thAugust 2018

Mother’s Day 2018 Celebration High Tea & Fundraiser 12th May

 

 

 

 

 

Bookings are now open

Come celebrate with a delicious afternoon tea and a glass of sparkling wine. There will be a raffle, silent auction, door prize and a Mother’s Day gift stall. Have a glimpse of India.

You will hear the latest update from CINI Australia’s projects in India and how your support is helping young mothers give their children a better chance in life and giving communities the skills to build a path out of poverty.

Tickets $55-full, $40-concession or $400-table of 8. (wine extra)

Bookings and more informationat: http://www.trybooking.com/UOFP