Oasis Benevolent Fund and Jacobs Well, Mumbai, India
Oasis Benevolent Fund (OBF) provides employment for vulnerable men and women in the city of Mumbai. The city’s resources are grossly inadequate. Employment for the poor is scarce and those who do get work often have to settle for poor pay and unhealthy and hazardous working conditions. There is little opportunity for these people to work their way up the job ladder. In the absence of proper vocational training or education their chances of ever finding a decent job are slim.
OBF is a business committed to uplifting its workers — practically, emotionally and spiritually. Offering Literacy Training and Life Skills, amongst other things, OBF employees have the opportunity to develop their work skills and self respect.
OBF generally employ people who have graduated from the Jacob’s Well and Paperworks training projects. These projects form part of the vocational training work of ‘Oasis India’ (part of the International Oasis Charity).
Madhuris* Story
Madhuri is from a village in Maharashtra. She was married off to a man that was really a stranger to the family and after 2 years of married life and the birth of their first child he left her for someone else. Taken in by her mother , Madhuris son kept getting ill and she eventually discovered that he, and herself, were HIV positive. She kept this from her family for fear of being rejected. Madhuri worked off and on at a local factory.
Five years ago Madhuris son died (as did her husband, she later discovered). A Christian NGO (ACTs) in Bombay got in touch with her and suggested the option of staying at Purnata Bhavan, the Oasis India project for women with HIV. Over 2 and a half years Madhuri learnt many things and in 2003 returned to Mumbai to live in the Oasis Hostel fro working women. She joined OBF as a machinist and although things are still tough in many ways she is doing really well.
*Not her real name
