Abandoned By Their Own, These Grandmothers Need Your Love And Support To Survive

“We have 32 abandoned elderly women living with us and each one of them has painful stories to share. Their eyes fill with tears when we ask them about their families or their children. These women have been left on the streets on their own and before coming to us, they had nowhere to go. Here, we try to give them the love and respect they deserve - in their final years, we aim to give them a life of comfort,” - Vijay Kumar, Executive Director, Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM). 

VMM is an NGO based in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh. It was founded by a former Member of Parliament, Chennupati Vidya, in 1969. Influenced by the Gandhian values of social service and tolerance, she wanted to set up an organisation that would work for the betterment of vulnerable women. VMM strongly believes that women can spearhead social change and hence have dedicated themselves to the upliftment of women who are abandoned, suffering, and in need of help. 

Meals cooked with love and served with empathy to the residents of the old age home 

Since its inception, VMM has been working to give women a safe place in which they can discuss issues that they generally refrain from bringing up in public. The founding members acknowledge the essentially patriarchal nature of the society and how it only makes it difficult for women of all ages to survive. They not only conduct awareness programs for women but also for men to make their programs more inclusive.  

“The elderly women staying with us are also survivors of neglect and abuse. We want to give them home during their final years and hence this old age home was established in 1985. Since then, we haven’t looked back. We give them home-cooked meals and look after their medical needs. While we have been lucky to receive donations from well-wishers, the pandemic did make things difficult.”

This is where you can stand with VMM and help them look after these old women who are in need of support. These women have seen it all - forced to leave their own homes with only one pair of clothes, many of them dread the thought of going back from where they came from. This is unfortunate and heartbreaking. 

Your support can make a huge difference - donate now  

These women are all alone and you can be a ray of hope to them. Old and tired, they expect nothing more than love and respect. VMM requests you to come forward and donate groceries, bed sheets, pillows, mattresses, cots, etc to give these elderlies a safe home. Every donation will make a difference, it will help bring back the smiles on the faces of these grandmothers who have forgotten the warmth of a family.  

About the NGO: Founded in 1969 by a former Member of Parliament, Chennupati Vidya, Vasavya Mahila Mandali runs on Gandhian values of social service and tolerance.  VMM strongly believes that women can spearhead social change and hence have dedicated themselves to the upliftment of women who are abandoned, suffering, and in need of help.