Maher (NGO)

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Maher (Marathi: My mother's home) is an UN-registered, interfaith and caste-free Indian non-governmental organization based near Pune. The objective of the organization is to provide shelter and support to destitute, exploited, battered women, men and children. It was founded by Sister Lucy Kurien in 1997 in the village Vadhu Budruk.^[2]

Most of Maher's inhabitants are Hindus, but as an inter-religious institution Maher celebrates all religions and faiths. Maher's emphasis on interfaith is essential in everyday life, but shows especially during festivities and celebrations to promote peace, harmony and brotherhood. In November 2012, Maher celebrated the Hindu festival of light - Diwali - in a special way: people from different religions recited verses and prayed together.^[3]

Love is the religion that Maher believes in and lives by. Their mission therefore is to create secure and loving homes for everyone and enabling their inhabitants to discover the power within them and develop self-reliance. Raising kind and strong individuals by providing women, men and children with stability and unconditional love. Assisting members of impoverished villages in uplifting their communities, while encouraging the use of sustainable agricultural practices.

Further steps to follow the idea of sustainability that Maher is trying to take, include celebrating Holi with natural colors^[4] instead of using the common synthetic colors.

1991, while Sister Lucy was working for the H.O.P.E organization,^[5] a pregnant woman came to her, asking for help. She believed her husband was going to kill her to bring another woman into his house. Sister Lucy couldn't help her, but promised to help her the following day.

I was brought up in a secure family environment and I was unaware that one night could make such a difference to the life of a woman"; "That very night, her husband, in a drunken rage, set her on tembefire. I actually saw the blazing woman and heard her shrieks of agony. We put the fire out and took her to a hospital but she died of 90 degree burns and with her died the seven-month-old fetus. I was devastated..

— Sister Lucy^[6]

After this incident Sister Lucy decided to found Maher, to help women in such situations.

It took almost seven years to get the needed support, but on 2 February 1997 in the small village of Vadhu Budruk on the outskirts of Pune, the first Maher house opened its doors.

Maher began with Sr. Lucy, 1 house, 3 residents, and daunting odds. Today, Maher is served by a loving community of doctors, social workers, teachers, trustees, business people and volunteers, providing homes for over 10 000 full-time residents (4237 children, 4637 women and 1015 mentally ill/aged destitute men) in addition to the thousands more reached by community programs such as kindergartens, self-help groups, village libraries, and so on. All are welcome at Maher regardless of religion, gender, caste, color, creed, or social status.

Over a period of only 26 years, more than 38,000 people have been impacted with Maher's aid programs, 65 additional houses have been built (total: 19 for women, 38 for children and 9 for men) and Maher expanded to other states of India: Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar .The aid for Maher also increased considerably. More and more people, mainly from Austria,^[7] Germany,^[8]the United States and the UK,^[9] came to support the project. For her work at Maher, Sister Lucy was honoured with the Nari Shakti Puraskar at the hands of the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, DCCIA Award for Excellence in Social Service 2010^[10] Global Women's Leadership Award 2011,^[11] Paul Harris Fellow, Vanitha Woman of the Year Award among other prominent awards. Maher and Sister Lucy Kurien have featured several times on Indian television, including the popular show Satyamev Jayate hosted by actor Aamir Khan, and also on Vatican Radio. In 2015, Sister Lucy was invited to attend the Clinton Global Initiative.

In May 2017, Maher was granted a "special consultative status" with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC).

Additionally Maher founder, Sister Lucy, has had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Bill Clinton on different occasions. In 2017, Maher had its 20th anniversary celebration attended by 15,000 people from 10 countries. Former President of India, Pratibha Patil, chairperson, Lila Poonawalla Foundation, Lila Poonawalla and eminent Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo attended the event on 5 February 2017 at Maher Vatsalyadham, Avhalwadi, Pune.^[12]

Events and festivities are captured in Maher’s catalogue from which a version is released every six months. More regular updates can be seen on Maher’s social medias (Facebook, Instagram) as well as on the Maherashram-Website which includes descriptions of the projects, the history, development and the mission of Maher. The website also contains a listing of handmade Maher products such as bags, pencil cases, jewellery, floor mats, candles, embroidered cards and hand-painted gift bags. Many of these products are made of recycled items e.g. Denim-Jeans and donated Sarees. All of these articles are made in the production units by the inhabitants of Maher for which they receive a salary. Therefore, not only do they train their creativity and discipline but they’re also taught and encouraged to lead a self-sufficient life. The products get sold in fairs or during festivals and can be preordered on the Maherashram-Website.

The children are supported in their skills and strengths as well by receiving singing-, dancing- and instrumental- such as Tabla-classes after which they can showcase their abilities when performing during festivities. Additionally, Maher hosts dancing-competitions between the houses which poses the opportunity to exchange learned skills.

Another emphasis is put on the topic of environmentalism and climate change and its consequences. In order to educate both children and adults on the topic as well as make them aware of Maher’s steps to prevent pollution and waste regular presentations and interactive projects are prepared. Mahers projects to help victims of natural and anthropological calamities are also promoted through these presentations.

One other program targeted at the youth is the introduction of computer classes in order to further the children’s knowledge and teach at least basic skills about computers. “Gyandeep” started as a project for the children living in the slums of Pernephata to better their technical skills. Since then many have taken the MSCIT-exams and scored very well. One of the graduates became a teacher and is now teaching the children in the slums herself.

Projects for the general population also include minorities such as the transgender community in India. On 7 January 2023 some members of the transgender community gave a presentation on the difficulties of living as a transgender person. Maher therefore plans to build a house for homeless and indigent transgender-people where other members of the LGBTQ+ community can also find a welcoming home.

Other plans for the future include:

The expansion and extension of old and planned houses for women, men and children

Built of a Maher-Hall in Vadhu for events,

Ambulances to transport patients as quickly and safely to the hospital as possible,

Built of a guest-house in Vatsalyadham,

Holiday home for grown-up Maher-children who want to stay with Maher for a while,

Home for elderly Maher-staff

And a “Youth-Hostel” in Pune City for Maher-Children who attend school/university in Pune City in order for them to have a shorter travel-journey.

Maher's activities are grouped into different projects - the three main projects are Matruchaya (Marathi: loving shadow of mother), Kishoredham (Marathi: a children's place) and Pitruchaya (Marathi: loving shadow of father). The organization is led by women leaders - the Founder Sister Lucy Kurien, the president Hirabegum Mulla and the Secretary Dr. Nicola Pawar as well as an assortment of trustees, Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Aniruddha Gadankush, Mercy Mendoca and Yogesh Bhor.

• Dr. William Keepin, Ph.D.; Cynthia Brix (2009). Women Healing Women: A Model of Hope for Oppressed Women Everywhere. Hohm Press. ISBN 978-1890772888.
• Maher, a roof over the heads of destitute women & children, 2011 interview with Sister Lucy by Bhagyashree Kulthe
• Ray of Light in India: A Conversation with Sister Lucy Kurien, 2010 interview with Sister Lucy by Elyssa Paige
• The Season Of Blossom, The story of Savita Ashok Tribhuvan (Article by Devjani Roy)
• The Website of Maher Ashram NGO, Read more about Maher