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CHALICE CANADA

SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM DIRECT FAMILY FUNDING (DFF) 

 Chalice is a Canadian Catholic international organization dedicated to child, family, and community development. Since its inception, Chalice has been restoring hope and dignity among vulnerable populations in developing countries through its sponsorship program. Children and elders are selected based on need and family circumstances, without discrimination based on race, age, ability, gender, or religion. Chalice places strong emphasis on monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of its programs. The key outcomes it strives to achieve include:

• Sponsored children becoming more educated, better prepared for the future, and resilient in facing risks.
• Families gaining the capacity to sustain themselves and effectively cope with emergencies.
• Communities developing stronger assets, improved infrastructure, and meaningful connections to support one another, especially those in need.

The Chalice Canada Sponsorship Program was initiated in 2011 at the Imphal site with the vision of supporting children from rural and marginalized communities to access quality education. Since its inception, the program has successfully sponsored 645 students, enabling them to pursue their educational aspirations and build a better future. Currently, the program reaches seven villages across Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, namely:

1. Lamlongei (LAM) 
2. Yaipharok (YAI)
3. Phunal Khunjao (PKJ)
4. Phunal Khunou (PKN)
5. Taoramphai (TAO)
6. Shandangsenba (SDG) and
7.  Keihao (KEI). 

Target Group Details

1. Direct Beneficiaries:    577 (Children) Female:259, Male:298
2. Indirect Beneficiaries: 423 (Parents, mostly women, only 6 male parents)   

PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES

The Chalice Sponsorship Program at Imphal implements a comprehensive set of initiatives to strengthen children, families, and communities:

1. CCG Monthly Meetings – Conducted across 25 CCGs, engaging 432 parents every month. These meetings ensure financial transparency, accountability, and promote a strong culture of savings.
2. Adolescents Collectives Programme – Empowers 350 youth annually through quarterly sessions on career, health, hygiene, and wellbeing, resulting in improved confidence, school retention, and career planning.
3. DFF Fund – Provides quarterly financial support to 557 children via direct bank transfers, reducing family stress and improving school attendance, nutrition, and overall wellbeing.
4. Goal-Setting and Monitoring – Sponsored families prepare short-term (3‑month) goals, supported by monthly monitoring visits. This fosters better household planning, accountability, and resilience.
5. CTF Savings – Each parent contributes ₹100 monthly into group savings, strengthening financial security, reducing dependency on emergency borrowing, and building resilience.
6. Christmas Fund – Ensures every child experiences inclusion and joy during the festive season by providing financial support for clothes and educational items, easing the burden on parents.
7. Special Money – Additional donor contributions provide selected children with enhanced academic resources and personal development opportunities.
8. Post-Secondary Educational Support – Annual financial assistance for tuition, admission, or skill training enables over 70% of older students to continue education beyond secondary school, improving employability.
9. Critical Need Support – Provides immediate financial assistance (mostly reimbursement) for sponsored family members during medical emergencies, ensuring timely care and preventing debt.
10. Gift Catalogue Support – Offers targeted assistance for income generation, dry ration distribution, higher education, toilet construction, and house repairs. This strengthens family self-reliance, improves food security, and enhances living conditions.

 The Chalice Canada Sponsorship Program at the Imphal site has consistently demonstrated its transformative impact on children, families, and communities since its inception in 2011. By combining education, financial support, health care, and community development initiatives, the program has nurtured resilience, dignity, and hope among marginalized populations. Through structured interventions such as CCG meetings, adolescent collectives, savings initiatives, and targeted educational support, the program has achieved measurable outcomes in school retention, financial transparency, family resilience, and community solidarity. The emphasis on accountability, monitoring, and evaluation ensures that resources are effectively utilized and that beneficiaries experience tangible improvements in their lives.

With 577 children directly supported and 423 parents indirectly benefiting, the program continues to strengthen the social fabric of seven villages across Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts. Chalice’s holistic approach—rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and empowerment—remains a beacon of hope, enabling children to pursue their dreams, families to thrive with dignity, and communities to grow stronger together.

Funded by Misereor Germany

Duration 2022 Oct. – Sep. 2025

In conflicting areas especially in the northeastern region of India, Manipur in particular, people live in such an environment where every morning they wake up with mind-boggling news where their mind is not free from violence. It was seen that people in such areas feel that conflict and violence not only begin in the ‘minds’ of the people but it is a reality. This ‘mind-set’ that ought to become the target of peace-building initiatives, must also include taking practical robust steps in conflict resolution and peace-building. As a result of the urgent need to build peace for peaceful co-existence among different ethnic communities in the state, the implementation of the project activities began in February, 2023. The newly recruited team of staff had identified 20 villages and 13 schools in four districts of Manipur: Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati with a special focus on formation of Peace Clubs in schools and villages so that peace education begins from families and schools wherein people will co-exist in peace and harmony in society.

NCDC Project Under PMMSY

Began on January 2023

The project aims to achieve inclusive and sustainable transformation of the Fisheries sector through the creation of a holistic and supportive ecosystem for the formation of 500 FFPO, 300 of which would be formed under PMMSY and 200 FFPO would be set up through convergence with the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DACFW) ongoing FPO Scheme. This Scheme aims to facilitate the development of vibrant and sustainable income oriented fish farming (FFPOs as self-sustaining business enterprises) that would lead to the overall socio-economic development and wellbeing of fishing communities. The project is implemented in Bishnupur and Chandel DistrictThe rationale for setting up Fish Farmer Producer Organizations is based on the premise that collectivization of fish farmer producers, a majority of whom are small and marginal, has a direct effect on increasing fish farmer incomes, through key interventions for: securing production by increasing productivity and reducing costs access to quality seed and feed adding value to production through reducing transaction costs, increased investment and economies of scale by up scaling production, trade and bulk selling of the Fish produce or its further processing into downstream products, enabling access to technology, enabling diversification of produce etc., cutting down intermediaries and above all, holding and capacity building over a five year period from their inception.

ENHANCED LIVELIHOOD SECURITY FOR VIOLENCE-AFFECTED INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE (IDP)
Supported By MANOS UNIDAS

The project “Enhanced Livelihood Security for Violence-Affected Internally Displaced People (IDP) with Special Focus on Women”, supported by Manos Unidas, is a two-year initiative (April 2025 – March 2027) implemented in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts of Manipur. It addresses the urgent needs of communities displaced by the 2023 ethnic violence, with a focus on restoring livelihoods, dignity, and resilience among affected families. During the reporting period (April 2025 – March 2026), the project directly supported 600 internally displaced families and indirectly benefited over 3,500 individuals. Activities were implemented through three operational centres—Churachandpur, Singhat, and Bishnupur— ensuring effective outreach and coordination. The project emphasized livelihood promotion, skill development, and community empowerment. Key interventions included training and support in handloom weaving for 150 women, carpentry and furniture making for 40 youth, and basic mechanics/electronics for 30 youth. Livelihood opportunities were further strengthened through piggery, poultry, and agricultural support, as well as training in food processing, value addition, financial literacy, and marketing. Environmental sustainability was promoted through training in organic practices, soil conservation, and safe use of biocides. Educational support was also provided to children through tutoring programmes. The project has resulted in notable improvements in income generation, skills, and self-reliance among beneficiaries.

A significant number of women are now engaged in income-generating activities, contributing to their households and enhancing their economic independence. Youth have gained employable skills, while farming households have improved productivity and adopted sustainable practices. Children have shown better school attendance and academic performance. Community participation and ownership have also strengthened through regular meetings and capacity-building initiatives. Despite challenges such as irregular participation, limited market access, and financial constraints, the project adopted practical measures, including continuous follow-up, the provision of tools and inputs, and the strengthening of community structures to ensure sustainability. Overall, the project has made meaningful progress in rebuilding livelihoods and restoring hope among displaced communities, laying a strong foundation for long-term resilience and socio-economic stability.

Project Location and Target Group
 The project is being implemented in the districts of Churachandpur and Bishnupur in Manipur State, which remain among the areas most affected by the ongoing ethnic violence. For effective coordination and smooth implementation, the project area has been organized into three operational centers: Churachandpur, Singhat, and Bishnupur. At the time of project proposal submission, the target group—Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)—were residing in various designated relief camps. However, as the crisis has continued over a prolonged period, there has been a gradual transition of these families from temporary relief centers to newly established IDP settlement villages. This relocation has been carried out in coordination with local authorities, Church institutions, and community leaders, as affected families seek more stable and semi-permanent living conditions.
The details of the resettled villages covered under the project are presented in the table below.

General Description of Project Activities

1. Initial Mobilization for Sustainable Livelihood and IDP Support
The project activities began with a baseline survey conducted across the three centers— Churachandpur, Singhat, and Bishnupur—to identify the most vulnerable 600 internally displaced families and to select the beneficiaries for each program component under the project. This assessment provided valuable insights into the families’ specific needs, available resources, and livelihood priorities, forming a solid foundation for targeted interventions. Following the baseline survey, Community-Based Committees (CBCs) were established in all villages to promote active participation and a sense of ownership among the beneficiaries. These committees, in collaboration with the project staff, play a vital role in planning, coordinating, and implementing various activities aimed at restoring and strengthening the livelihood security of the displaced families. The CBCs meet every quarter, and four meetings in each village have been conducted between April and March 2026.

2. Awareness cum Capacity Building Programme for Beneficiaries:
Awareness and Capacity Building Programmes were conducted across all the IDP settlements. The first round aimed to familiarize the beneficiaries with the project’s objectives, components, and expected outcomes, and to facilitate the formation of Community-Based Committees (CBCs). The second round focused on strengthening their understanding of the project implementation process and enabling community-based selection of beneficiaries for various livelihood trades. The third and fourth rounds concentrated on monitoring and overseeing the livelihood interventions, providing handholding support, and ensuring effective implementation and sustainability of the activities undertaken.

3. Tutoring for the IDPs’ Children by Qualified IDPs
 In response to the ongoing crisis in Manipur, many families living in relief camps faced serious challenges in continuing their children’s education. Most parents, being daily wage earners and often illiterate, were unable to guide or support their children in their studies. As a result, many students were at risk of falling behind academically. To address this situation and ensure educational continuity for internally displaced (IDP) children, the Manos staff, in collaboration with the Community-Based Committees (CBCs) in all centers, took the initiative to identify and appoint qualified local tutors from among the IDP community. This not only provided livelihood support to the tutors but also allowed some of them to continue their own studies while serving their community. By mid-May 2025, tuition classes were launched across all IDP settlements. The introduction of these tuition programs by DSSS became one of the most important and effective activities in the relief camps. It provided children—especially those who could not afford private tuition—the opportunity to receive proper academic guidance and support. This initiative not only helped improve students’ performance but also brought renewed hope and motivation to both children and parents during a time of uncertainty.

4. Livelihood Initiatives
The Manos Unidas Project, initiated in April 2025, has been actively engaged in various livelihood activities for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the ethnic violence in Manipur. The project has provided much-needed support and encouragement to families who lost their homes, belongings, and sources of income during the crisis, helping them cope with stress and anxiety and begin rebuilding their lives. The following livelihood support was provided:
          a.     Pig farming Training & Supply of Piglets & Food support
          b.     Poultry Training, and Supply of Chicks/ducklings and food materials
          c.     Distribution of weaving kits and Yarn
          d.    Distribution of Carpentry tools
These initiatives have enabled many families to restart income-generating activities, fostering self-reliance and restoring a sense of hope and dignity among the displaced communities.

5. Skill Trainings
Apart from the distribution of livelihood support materials and items, various skill training and awareness programs were also organized for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

5. a Carpentry Training 
DSSS conducted a two-month carpentry training programme for 40 youth from the IDP communities in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. The selection of participants was carried out transparently through the Community-Based Committees (CBCs), ensuring that the most deserving and interested youth were included. The training focused on developing practical carpentry skills, enabling participants to undertake income-generating activities and improve their livelihood prospects. 

5.b Weaving Training
A one-month weaving training programme was conducted for 150 women from the IDP communities in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. The initiative aimed to equip participants with practical weaving skills that could serve as a sustainable source of income. Beyond skill-building, the programme also focused on promoting self-reliance and strengthening the confidence of women as they rebuild their lives amidst ongoing challenges. The training created a supportive environment where participants could learn, share, and grow together.

5.c Basic Training on Electronic/Mechanic
A one-month basic skills training programme was conducted for 30 young men from Churachandpur, Singhat, and Bishnupur. The training aimed to equip participants with practical technical skills in the areas of mechanics and electronics, enhancing their opportunities for self-employment and generation. Based on their income interests, participants specialized in either mobile phone repair or automobile repair. The hands-on training enabled them to develop essential skills and build confidence in their chosen trades. This basic training serves as an important step towards self-reliance and employment, empowering the youth to initiate small livelihood activities and gradually establish a stable source of income.

6. Other Trainings
 In addition to the weaving, carpentry, and electronic/mechanic programmes, a series of capacity-building trainings were conducted across all target IDP settlements during the reporting period, ensuring full coverage of the project areas. These initiatives aimed to enhance practical skills, promote environmentally sustainable practices, and strengthen income-generation opportunities for the affected families. 
The trainings covered key areas such as:

a. Food processing and value addition of locally available produce (including crops, wild fruits, spices, mushrooms and bamboo),

b. Environmental sustainability and soil erosion prevention, preparation and use of eco-friendly manure and organic farming techniques,

c. Application of biocides for plant protection, and

d. Financial, managerial, and marketing skills for improved livelihood management. 

These programmes not only built the technical capacities of the participants but also increased their awareness of sustainable practices and improved their ability to manage small livelihood activities effectively.

Funded by Manipur Organic Mission Agency

DSSS was selected as Service Provider under under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region by the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Government of Manipur, is in its Phase III of its implementation. Under this phase, DSSS was allocated with the task of empowering 4300 organic farmers from the districts of Noney, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul and Kamjong. The project covers 104 villages in these four districts and mobilized 202 Farmer Interest Groups which have been further federated into nine Farmer Producer Companies. This in turn will build the farmers’ capacity to collectively leverage the production and marketing strengths. It aims to improve the standard of living and ensure a good income and profitability of their produces. Two farmer Producer Companies had already been registered in the previous phase of the project. Therefore, together with the new FPCs of the III phase, the project under DSSS stands strong with eleven Farmer Producer Companies in total.

Relief works in emergencies

DSSS undertook relief and rehabilitation works each time the people of Manipur was affected by natural and manmade calamities. DSSS responded to the victims of flood, in various areas at Imphal East and West District and Thoubal District of Manipur where floods are prone.

Ethenic clashes are common in Manipur. DSSS took up rehabilitation programmes for people who had been affected by the ethnic violence.

(Extended for 3 years)

April 2021 – 20th December 2023.

Funded by St. Vincent Group/Guild of Denmark

St. Vincent Fellowship is children’s education Sponsorship program sponsored by St. Vincent Group/Guild of Denmark. 70 children have been benefited by this program. The parents/foster parents are able to meet the requirements of the education of their children. The project has been extended for another three years which began from April 2021 to 20th December 2023.

Began in December 2021

Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA)

Promotion of Sustainable Organic Cultivation for Economic Enhancement under the aegis of Manipur Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRLM) and Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) aims towards development of certified Organic Production to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain starting from inputs, seeds, certification, to the creation of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing marketing and brand building initiatives. The project initial implementation commenced in December 2021 with Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS) as its service provider. The project covers 17 villages in the district of Tengnoupal. The district is divided into two blocks-Machi block and Tengnoupal block. One cluster development executive is assigned to each block. There are 20 Farmer Interest Groups and 1 Farmer Producer Company.