http://www.catherinehopefoundation.org/

Catherine Hope Foundation, Chennai (2026)

22/04/2026

Wednesday Series #49
This is the story of a young mother raising two young children on her own. Her name is Nancy.

For a long time now, her home has been marked more by hardship than by peace. Her husband was imprisoned, and in her effort to bring him back home, she sold almost everything they owned. She held on to the hope that things would change after that, but they did not.

Since then, Nancy has been carrying the responsibility of her home on her own.

She works as a helper in a nearby government nursery, earning ₹1000 a month. It is barely enough, yet she continues, doing what she can each day to provide for her children.

In recent weeks, the situation in the area has become even more challenging. Many families are struggling not just to afford food, but even to cook it. Without proper fuel or resources, they rely on firewood or basic methods. Meals have been reduced to the simplest forms, sometimes just porridge, and sometimes nothing at all.

When we at Catherine Hope Foundation came to know of this, we decided to respond immediately. We prepared 5 kg of biryani and went door to door, reaching out to families in need.

When we arrived at Nancy’s home and offered her the meal, she received it and said,
“God has prepared this for us… We have not eaten for the last two days.”

In that moment, it was more than just food being shared; it was relief, at a time when it was needed the most.

As we continue to reach more families like Nancy’s, we invite you to stand with us. Your support can help and bring comfort to those who need it most. ❤️

20/04/2026

World Poetry Day

17/04/2026

Acts that matter March 2026

16/04/2026

Not Just Ads: A CHF Series
it

12/04/2026

Silormani was one of our differently-abled beneficiaries from Ennore, whose life was marked by immense challenges, yet she faced each day with quiet strength and courage.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Silormani.
She lived much of her life in isolation. Though she had an elder brother and a younger sister, she stayed alone and navigated life on her own. Due to her condition, she could neither sit nor stand, and moved around her home by dragging herself on the floor with the help of a stool cut into two halves.
Her daily life was filled with struggle. There were many days when she had no food to eat, and nights when she went to bed hungry. Once, we found her drying soaked rice so she could have another meal. During heavy rains, when water had logged in her home, she remained in the water until someone could come and help her.

When we at Catherine Hope Foundation learned about her situation, we stepped in to support her with monthly groceries and nutritious supplements. This support brought her comfort and relief, and she received it with heartfelt gratitude.

One of the most cherished moments in her life was when she joined us for the Marina Joy Outing on October 21, 2023. Though she lived near the beach, she had never seen it before. That day became a memory of pure joy, as she experienced the sea for the first time and shared laughter and happiness with everyone around her.
Silormani’s strength and resilience touched us deeply. Despite loneliness and hardship, she continued to face life with courage. We hope she found moments of peace, love, and care in her journey.
She will always be remembered fondly. May her soul rest in peace.

10/04/2026

Warm Meal, A Caring Touch - Reaching Homes in Ennore

Due to the changing scenarios of the world today, when we went out for field visits, we saw people cooking on wood stoves and were only preparing porridge or kanji in an effort to make the best of their current situation. Seeing this, we at CHF were deeply moved and desired to see a smile on their faces. To bring comfort and joy in a small yet meaningful way, we went beyond our regular grocery distribution and provided freshly cooked meals to our beneficiaries in and around Ennore. With love and care, we prepared vegetable biryani, raita, and a boiled egg, ensuring that each meal was both nourishing and comforting.

When we met one of our beneficiaries, Amaravathi (WWP), she appeared weak and shared how difficult it has been to cook regularly. Preparing meals on a wood stove is physically demanding, and she has often had to manage with very little. She received the meal with deep gratitude, and her relief was evident.
We also visited Nagendramma, another WWP beneficiary, who is bedridden after a recent fall. She shared that even her family had not been checking on her well-being. Our visit brought her comfort, reminding her that she is not alone and that someone cares.

There were many others in similar situations, elderly, unwell, and quietly struggling while depending on wood stoves for cooking. As we stepped into their homes, we were reminded that beyond the need for food, there is also a deep need for care, presence, and reassurance.

All the beneficiaries received the meals with heartfelt gratitude. This initiative was made possible through the collective effort of our staff, who came together with compassion to cook, pack and personally deliver each meal. A simple act, yet a meaningful one. A warm meal, a few kind words, and the assurance that someone cares made all the difference.

02/04/2026

Wednesday series 48 - Manikandan’s Story

Manikandan is a young differently-abled beneficiary of the DAEP programme and lives with his parents in Ennore. He is both speech impaired and intellectually challenged, and hence requires constant care and supervision. At home, his world is simple. He spends most of his time watching television, and at times expresses himself through loud, shrill sounds, as he is unable to communicate through words.
His mother remains at home full-time to care for him and attend to his daily needs. His father is the sole breadwinner of the family, and works very hard as a daily wage labourer at Kothari and Sons, to meet all their family needs.
With hope for companionship and support in Manikandan’s life, his parents arranged his marriage to a young woman, who was not only differently-abled but also a relative of their family. Sadly, within a short duration she passed away. The loss deeply affected the family and left the parents to continue their responsibility in caring for Manikandan.
Recently, the family had to face a crisis, during which the house owner had asked them to vacate for rebuilding purposes. This unexpected change added further strain to their situation. They have now moved into a small house near our Center and that is how the CHF happened upon Manikandan and his family.
Through all these challenges, the family continues to move forward with quiet resilience. CHF tries to help this family in all ways possible.

31/03/2026

World Water Day and Poetry Day Celebration at the CHF Center, Ennore.

On the occasion of World Water Day and World Poetry Day, observed on 20th March, the children at the Center came together to reflect on the importance of water and the need to preserve this precious resource.
The programme began on a delightful note with a beautiful Tamil poem recited by Akshaya. Her poem vividly described various forms of water bodies such as rivers, seas, and clouds, and their significance. She thoughtfully illustrated how water rises to the atmosphere and returns to us as life giving rain. Through her expressive recitation, she reminded everyone of the continuous journey and the immense value of water in our lives.
Following this, Prithiya presented a clear and engaging explanation of the water cycle using a thoughtfully prepared model. She broke down the process in a simple and relatable way, helping the younger children understand how water moves through nature and sustains life on earth.
Emphasising the importance of access to clean water, our Senior Boys conducted an informative and practical demonstration. Using easily available materials such as cotton, jelly, charcoal, and sand, they showed how a simple DIY water filter can be created. Their hands-on presentation sparked curiosity and encouraged the children to think about practical, everyday solutions.
The session was both educational and inspiring, reminding everyone of their responsibility to use water wisely and conserve it for the future. It was a meaningful celebration filled with learning, creativity, and awareness, leaving a lasting impact on the children.

24/03/2026

Parents & Teachers Meeting – CHF Daily Tuition Programme

We recently conducted a Parents and Teachers Meeting at CHF for our daily tuition children at our Center in Ennore. It was truly an encouraging time for all of us.

Every parent who attended expressed happiness about the progress they are seeing in their children.

We welcomed them warmly and served white channa sundal with hot coffee, creating a comfortable and friendly atmosphere for open conversation.

The mother of Rithesh and Rithika shared that her children have become more obedient, responsible, and helpful at home. She was grateful for the positive change in their behaviour.

Tanuja’s mother mentioned that she is very happy with her daughter’s improved school grades and overall progress.

The mother of Akshaya and Hemanth was one of the happiest of all the parents present. She said enrolling her children in CHF’s daily tuition was the right decision. She has noticed tremendous improvement in their confidence, participation in competitions, and overall behaviour. They have become more responsible and respectful at home.

Several children who initially struggled even with basic reading have now shown significant improvement and are able to read confidently. Some children who earlier found it difficult to speak properly are now able to talk in front of groups without fear. These changes are a true testimony to consistent effort and support.
Parents also shared a concern about handling adolescents, especially regarding excessive mobile phone usage and speaking back to elders. Our staff assured them that we will address these issues with the children through our Changed Ambassadors Programme. At the same time, we gently reminded parents that real change begins at home.
Regular attendance, consistent discipline, and positive reinforcement from both home and the Center are essential for continued growth.

Overall, the meeting was filled with gratitude, encouragement, and renewed commitment to work together for the better future of every child at CHF.

19/03/2026

Wednesday Series 47: Mallika — Because She Has No One Else to Lean On

This week, we want to share about Mallika.

Mallika is an elderly woman, but life has not slowed down for her. Even now, she works as a domestic help just to barely make her ends meet. She has children, but they are not around to care for her. She lives with her younger brother, the only family she has. He is visually challenged, and one side of his body is paralysed. So every day, Mallika has to care for him as well.

Recently, he underwent an eye surgery. From hospital visits to expenses to post-surgery care, she handled everything on her own. They live in a very small house, with a monthly rent of ₹2000, which is still expensive for them. Their only steady support to pay rent is the ₹1000 subsidy that they receive from the ration shop. They don’t even have a gas connection. Even now, their meals are cooked on a traditional firewood stove.

But in the midst of all these, they still hold on to the feeling that they are not completely alone. Whenever our CHF team visits, it brings them comfort. We have started giving monthly grocery support hoping to ease their burden, even if it's just a little. Mallika doesn’t say much about her struggles. She simply continues, day after day, doing what she can for the one person who is solely dependent on her.

As we share her story, we are reminded that for someone like Mallika, even the smallest support can bring real relief and a sense of not being forgotten.

Catherine Hope Foundation

22/04/2026

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17/04/2026

16/04/2026

12/04/2026

10/04/2026

02/04/2026

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