TRIVANDRUM FULLER CENTER

On Sept. 14, 2007, five good souls met to form the Trivandrum Fuller Center. Trivandrum (or Thiruvananthapuram) is the capital of Kerala state and is located in the far southwest of the country. Trivandrum Fuller Center built its first home during the Millard Fuller Legacy Build, raising its own funds to do so. Read a story about the homeowner, T Joy.

BACKGROUND
According to UN-HABITAT, 170 million people in India live in slums, totaling 17 percent of slum-dwellers worldwide. Trivandrum, where the Fuller Center is headquartered, is the capital city of the state of Kerala. Kerala is a beautiful coastal area located at the southern tip of India. Despite being the most literate and socially developed state in India, Kerala has a very high unemployment rate. The rate in Trivandrum is 25.5 percent.

GOALS
The goal of the Trivandrum Fuller Center is to create an organization that will serve as a model for other Fuller Center Covenant Partners in India. Its Chairman, Mr. T.H. Lawrence, is also working with us to review applicant partner groups from throughout India.

The 2011 Millard Fuller Legacy Build

Three homes will be dedicated in India during the 2011 Millard Fuller Legacy Build:

The Rajam family: Deserted by her husband, Susan Rajam has two school-aged children and lives with her widowed, ailing mother in an old tile-roofed house also occupied by her brother's family. Susan is working as a temporary teacher in a local primary school. She wants to be secure in a house of her own. The Fuller Center has helped her to build a modest house on her own small piece of land. Construction is in the final stage.

Kumar family: Sheeba and her family consisting of her husband, daughter and her parents are living in a substandard, absbestos-roofed unhealthy house built long ago. The family could erect only the foundation with the meager grant they received from the local government. The family then approached the Fuller Center for further assistance. The board visited the house and assessed the condition and need. Sheeba works as a pharmaceutical agent, while her husband Ambili works as a camera assistant for a television producer. Construction will soon be complete.

Saji T. and Jini R. (no photo available): Saji and Jini live with their two small school-aged children in a dilapidated house built more than 50 years ago. Saji is an experienced carpenter who makes adequate wages for his family. The family procured some of the building materials.

MORE INFORMATION

• View pictures of our work in India.
• Check out the NY Times Topic: India for facts and links to statistics about India.
• Keep up with Trivandrum Fuller Center through T.H. Lawrence’s blog.