The Madras Christian Council of Social Service is an ecumenical body standing by the side of the poor and the marginalized. Since 1965 it has been serving the masses without distinction of caste, religion and creed and rendering yeoman service to the oppressed, dehumanized and forsaken people.
History
In response to a call from the World Council of Churches (WCC) to create a common platform for all the Christian denominations to come together, the Bishop in Madras of CSI Diocese, Bishop Lesley New Begin took the initiative to began the Madras Christian Council of Social Service (MCCSS) with the Catholic Diocese of Madras – Mylapore and eleven other mainline churches and four Christian organizations in the year 1965, to serve the marginalized communities, the forsaken and the lonely.
Primary health care, health education and counselling services are offered by MCCSS since 1974. MCCSS in collaboration with Madras Medical College Urban Comprehensive Community Health Service Centre was started. A new thrust was given towards building people’s movement to bring about policy changes in favour of the poor people.The Intervention Programme for women in prostitution was initiated with the support from Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society. The next year, the STD clinic was set up in the target area wherein more than 2,500 WIPs registered for regular medical check-up. Programmes of AIDS prevention were conducted in slums of Chennai.
Mission, Vision and Core Values
MCCSS is a non-profit development organisation, an ecumenical body committed to Christian values. Its main focus is to ensure basic rights through education and organization to empower the marginalized, especially the Dalits, women, children and elders. In furtherance of its goal, MCCSS networks with rights oriented community based organisations for advocacy. As women play a vital role in sustainable development, at various levels, a holistic approach with their participation and leadership is the priority of MCCSS.
Projects:
Few projects which are ongoing till today are Women in Development , Family Counselling, Integrated Complex of Special Homes for Seniors and Destitute Children and Prevention of Human Trafficking.
Women in Development:
Women in Development is the core program. The primary focus of the WID programme is to promote effective leadership among the women living in the Chennai slums. The programme promotes female leadership in order to achieve gender-equality in Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Increased female participation allows the women to express their views and challenge the exploitation present in their society. MCCSS trains these women in leadership and communication in order to equip them for their pivotal role in transforming their society. The Women in Development Programme highlights violence against women and creates gender sensitivity in both men and women.
Family Counselling:
The FCC has been functioning for more than 25 years. The services offered at the centre focus mainly on women’s issues, due to women’s vulnerable position in society. MCCSS aims to help and empower individuals by assisting them through the legal system, where cases regarding divorce, maintenance, and property disputes are handled.
FCC facilitates a favourable environment for women, men and children to improve their family and home life. The Family Counselling Centre accepts individuals and families dealing with issues ranging from spousal problems, greater family disharmony or parent and child tensions. Counsellors work to find sustainable solutions that satisfy the mental and emotional needs of all individuals or family members involved in the counselling process. The FCC offers job placements for destitute women, offering housemaid jobs, tailoring jobs in export companies, and office jobs.Women in distress are provided with temporary shelter when needed. MCCSS also works in collaboration with the police on matters concerning marital problems, dowry harassment, and domestic violence.
Integrated Complex of Special Homes for Seniors and Destitute Children
The main objective of the ICSH is to ensure that the abandoned elders and children are provided with better quality care and protection in order to reduce their vulnerabilities thereby creating an opportunity to live in a safe environment. They provide care, protection and rehabilitation services in the Integrated Home. They also provide holistic care to 25 children and 25 senior citizens. They are encouraged to live as if they were family, in order to develop real connections between each other and make them feel as if they were at home.
Prevention of Human Trafficking
Ujjawala Project
NGOs estimate human trafficking affects between 20 to 65 million people in all India. People are frequently illegally trafficked through India for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour. The Ujjawala project, is a comprehensive scheme for the prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of trafficked survivors. This project is funded by the Ministry of Women & Child Development, New Delhi.
Contact
Contact information
Office Hours:
9.30 am – 5pm (Monday to Friday)
9.30 am – 1 pm (Saturday)
Address
No.21, 6th Main Road
Jawahar Nagar Chennai – 600 082
(Opposite to K5 Police Station)
Tamilnadu
India
From India
044 + 2670 3246
044 + 2670 0744
044 + 2670 5486
From Overseas
0091 + 44 + 2670 3246
0091 + 44 + 2670 0744
0091 + 44 + 2670 5486
