Supporting poor and marginalized people in Darjeeling, and women’s empowerment are at the core of Hayden Hall’s mission. Photo: Jenny Cafiso/CJI
Poverty does not have to be a life sentence. It is this belief that drives Hayden Hall to help the poor of Darjeeling, India, transform their lives.
For more than four decades, Hayden Hall, a long-time partner of Canadian Jesuits International, has served some of the district's poorest people, especially women, with programs ranging from education to income generation to health care. Hayden Hall's philosophy is simple but powerful: Help women help themselves economically, and there will be a positive ripple effect for their children and families.
Support is provided in three stages: first, to enable poor people to meet their basic needs for health, shelter and food; second, to improve the quality of life by empowering women to participate in their own development through skills training and other means; third, to provide windows of opportunity such as credit unions and income-generating activities.
All programs reflect the original vision of Fr. Edgar Burns, SJ (1925-2010), the tireless Canadian Jesuit missionary who founded Hayden Hall: "a love for the poor, a belief in local lay people working for the development of their own people, and a desire to bear witness to God's love for humanity." The current team is firmly committed to this vision.
The origins of Hayden Hall date back to 1969 when Fr. Burns and some of his students from St. Joseph's College provided humanitarian aid to communities affected by landslides and fires in Darjeeling. This led to the creation of a basic housing program, which eventually evolved into the Hayden Hall Social Centre, which Fr. Burns directed until 2009.
Director: Fr Paul D’Souza SJ
Watch video about Hayden Hall: Witnessing 'God's love for humanity' at Hayden Hall
Visit Hayden Hall’s website: http://www.haydenhalldarjeeling.org/
The project at a glance:
Beneficiaries (2023-2024 project)
Direct: 26,988 children, youth, women, and older persons in Darjeeling; 1,365 children, youth, women, and older persons in Kalimpong
Budget: $ 342,082.00 CAD (2023-2024)
Activities:
- Healthcare, gender, child protection, and education programs
- Structural repairs of three buildings in Darjeeling and one building in Kalimpong
- Office equipment (audiovisual and laptops)
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