UDHAYAM - CFMMSSS

Tamil Nadu, lying in the Southern most region of the Indian peninsula is one of the largest states of India running 680 kms in length from north to south. It has 38 districts. The birth of Amala Annai Province, Tamil Nadu, took place on 17th May 1972 after the division of the Indian Province into four independent jurisdictions. The Province of Tamil Nadu – Amala Annai Capuchin Province was bifurcated on the 25th of April 2012 by the Capuchin Minister General into two Provinces. Presently,

Rev. Fr. Antonysamy, OFM. Cap., is the Provincial of the bifurcated Amala Annai Province, Northern Tamil Nadu. We, the Capuchins, constantly exhibit convincing involvement in the society around us. True to the spirit of our founder St. Francis of Assisi who identified himself as a “Friar Minor” and at the side of the marginalized; we identify and participate in the struggles of the ordinary and the poor.

The Capuchin Friars Minor Multipurpose Social Service Society (CFMMSSS) was established in 1988 to continue the mission of love and service by socio-economic empowerment. Capuchin Friars Minor Multipurpose Social Service Society, UDHAYAM- (CFMMSSS) is an officially registered organization (Regd. No. 210/1988) of Amala Annai Capuchin Province, Tamil Nadu, India.  UDHAYAM (A dawn of hopeful horizons) dawned at Trichy, Tamil Nadu, in 1996 to coordinate the widespread community-based relief, welfare, economic, and empowerment projects of CFMMSSS.  Most of its activities are geared to making people conscious of their inherent power to transform their plight by empowering the poor with job oriented and entrepreneurial skills like tailoring, computer knowledge, driving, and alike to earn their bread.  Besides its regular activities, it rose up to the urgency of Tsunami that hit, on 26th December 2004, the shores of Tamil Nadu and enlisted the service of many religious congregations and organizations to come to the rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction of those who were affected by the natural catastrophe. We have extended our helping hand very strongly during covid-19 pandemic by way of offering food kit to those who have lost their jobs, basic livelihood etc. Time and again Udhayam is responding to the needs of the people irrespective of caste, religion and colour.

The Capuchin Friars Minor Multipurpose Social Service Society (CFMMSSS) was established in 1988 to continue the mission of love and service by socio-economic empowerment. Capuchin Friars Minor Multipurpose Social Service Society, UDHAYAM- (CFMMSSS) is an officially registered organization (Regd. No. 210/1988) of Amala Annai Capuchin Province, Tamil Nadu, India.  UDHAYAM (A dawn of hopeful horizons) dawned at Trichy, Tamil Nadu, in 1996 to coordinate the widespread community-based relief, welfare, economic, and empowerment projects of CFMMSSS.  Most of its activities are geared to making people conscious of their inherent power to transform their plight by empowering the poor with job oriented and entrepreneurial skills like tailoring, computer knowledge, driving, and alike to earn their bread.  Besides its regular activities, it rose up to the urgency of Tsunami that hit, on 26th December 2004, the shores of Tamil Nadu and enlisted the service of many religious congregations and organizations to come to the rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction of those who were affected by the natural catastrophe. We have extended our helping hand very strongly during covid-19 pandemic by way of offering food kit to those who have lost their jobs, basic livelihood etc. Time and again Udhayam is responding to the needs of the people irrespective of caste, religion and colour.

A team consists of three members headed by Fr. Antonysamy, OFM. Cap., Provincial Minister;  Fr. Paulraj, OFM.Cap., Director, Udhayam - (CFMMSSS) and Project Manager and Fr.Kevin, OFM. Cap., the Provincial Procurator carries out the social work projects of the Province. Udhayam has become a place of service and love to the people at the Province level. Udhayam has already shown new horizons to quite a few of the underprivileged section. It remains as an adult in its organizing ability, as a youth in its performance, and as a child in its imagination. The various projects that are ongoing are only an effective incarnation of the vision of our Province.

The personality of CFMMSSS has been enhanced by various activities. The social-work team of our Province has started very many innovative activities and projects through Udhayam. Given below is the list of all the projects, we undertake for the less privileged sections of the society by the CFMMSSS.

·         Children’s Home for the less privileged children

·         Tuition centers for the slum and rural children

·         2 driving schools for the poor unemployed youth

·         3 computer centers for the youth

·         4 tailoring centers for the slum and rural women

·         Udhayam Polytechnic College

·         De-addiction Centre

·         2 Free Counselling Centers

·         Capuchin Legal Awareness Research & Education Services

·         Srilankan Refugee services

·         Family Sponsorship for the Poor families

·         Cottage industries for ‘MahalirMandrams’ (Women Self-Help Groups)

·         Domestic Workers’ Association

·         Social Work Training Programme for the Social Work Activists

·         Spoken English and Communication Skills Training

·         Eco-friendly Plates Making Programme at Central Prison, Trichy

·         Right to Food

·         Rehabilitation Service to the Discharged Prisoners.

·         Refugee services