Pallotti Higher Secondary School
Education to the Poor
Pallotti School, managed by the Society of Human Resource Development, an NGO established by the Pallottine Fathers at PILLAR Center, Madurai, was founded in 2002 with the mission of providing quality education to underprivileged children from rural communities. The school primarily serves children of quarry workers and those from families living below the poverty line.
Tuition Centres
Children's Education Scheme
Scholarships for higher education
PILLAR supports talented students from underprivileged backgrounds in pursuing higher education by providing scholarships. So far, more than 150 students have benefited from this initiative, and many of them are now employed in responsible positions in various fields.
- Scholarships
- Universities and technical institutions
- Deserving candidates
Scholarship Beneficiaries
Elisabeth Sanna Women Empowerment Center
Established in 2004
Established in 2004 this center has been aiming at the economic self sufficiency and empowerment of women living in poverty and dehumanizing social situations. Initially it focused on women working in the granite quarries. Teaching them tailoring and providing each one with a sewing machine free of cost at the end of the course the center liberated numerous women from the granite quarries and made them financially self sufficient.
The center continues to offer two tailoring courses - each consisting of six months - for sixty women. Besides tailoring, they are taught also to make dolls, papad, pickle and jam. They are also given awareness programs related to women, family and social life.
The centre has been functioning from its inception within the Pallotti School Campus. As the Government did not permit such activities within school campuses, we were forced to build a new centre. For the last 4 years the centre remained closed and a new building was under construction.
The newly constructed Elisabeth Sanna Women Empowerment Centre at Thani Nayagam Adigal Street, Pillar Salai, Madurai, about 300 meters from the Pillar Campus, was blessed and inaugurated by Rev.Fr. Andy Givel, the Provincial Rector of the Swiss Pallottine Province on 13 March 2023. Many former students who learned vocational courses like tailoring, embroidery, etc., were present. Some of them shared their experiences. They were testifying that the skills which they learned from the Centre helped them to lead a dignified life. They are today able to stand independent and support financially their families. Particularly they are in a position to educate their children.
- Established 2004
- Two six-month tailoring courses
- Sixty women
- Inaugurated 13 March 2023
- 300 m from Pillar Campus
Tailoring Course
Goat Scheme
A young goat for a low-income family
The Goat Scheme is an income-generation and poverty-alleviation programme aimed at supporting economically disadvantaged families.
Beneficiaries Preference is given to:
- Families with female children
- Widows
- Women infected with HIV
- One offspring passed on
A Goat for a Family
Nomadic Communities
Education as the key to development
Recognising the plight of nomadic communities living on the outskirts of Madurai, many of whom face sexual violence and social discrimination, Pillar Centre provides them with support and opportunities for development.
Believing that education is the key for development of marginalised communities, such as nomads, the Pillar Centre provides their children with educational, psychological, and learning support through tuition centres. Such centres are functioning in the following villages: Sakkimangalam, Thiruparankundram, Sathyamoorthy Nagar and Vedar Puliyankulam.
- Sakkimangalam
- Thiruparankundram
- Sathyamoorthy Nagar
- Vedar Puliyankulam
Tuition Centres
Rural Upliftment Program
Changing the face of 16 villages
Pillar Pallottine community actively involves in changing the face of 16 villages which are known for female infanticide, caste oppression, illiteracy, and discrimination against women. A group of committed women from the villages, despite facing hostility, save children from infanticide. This year alone eight girl children were saved from being killed. They also conduct tuition centres for school going children and help the elderly and orphaned to get the ration cards, pension and access to health services etc., This project is financially supported by the Swiss Pallottine Province.
- 16 villages
- Eight girl children saved this year
- Supported by the Swiss Pallottine Province