At Kolping India, we believe in the power of shared learning and collaboration to create lasting change. Our workshops and events serve as platforms to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and foster a spirit of togetherness.
Kolping India National Office Team reached out to lone pavement dwellers on the streets of Ooty with ‘Kolping Care’ kits to protect them from harsh cold weather. 100 pavement dwellers in Ooty and the surrounding areas, received a kit consisting of a woollen blanket, a shawl and a raincoat. On 16 th June 2025, the National Director, Dr. Maria Soosai and the National Office Team went around meeting the pavement dwellers on the busy roads, bus terminal, near worship places at Ooty and handed over the Kolping Cares kits, despite intermittent rain on the day of distribution. The distribution was coordinated by Ooty Diocesan Kolping. Ooty Diocesan Kolping Director Fr. Stanis and team organized the event more efficiently and successfully. In two separate programs, families affected by the Landslide at Ooty in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala
Cyclone Fengal, a severe cyclonic storm, causing heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu on November 30, 2024. Several districts of Tamil Nadu experienced widespread flooding. The poor people were the most affected by the continuous rain as the life and the livelihood of them was fully paralyzed. At this juncture, Kolping India extended the helping hand to one of the worst-hit villages in Tiruvanamalai district, where very heavy rain measured over 40 cm led to sudden discharge of water from Sathanur dam without prior notice. This resulted in widespread destruction of houses, agriculture lands and public infrastructure. Kolping India in collaboration with Vellore Social Service Society (VSSS) supported 200 families with relief kit at Udayarkuppam, a remote village on the periphery of Tiruvanamalai district.
The National Director interacted with the affected families at a meeting organised on 22 nd January 2025 and distributed 200 relief kit that comprised of essential clothes, blankets, towels required for a family. The families eagerly listened to the life and work of Blessed Adolph Kolping and the activities of Kolping India.
The renovated Kolping Illam (Kolping Regional Centre) at Madurai was inaugurated on 20 th January 2024. Dr. Maria Soosai, the National Director – Kolping India attended the inaugural program, and the building was blessed and inaugurated by Most Rev. Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Bishop of the Palayamkottai Diocese and the Apostolic Administration, Archdiocese of Madurai. Establishing Kolping Regional Centres was a productive strategy, adopted by Kolping India to support Collaborating Partner Organisations to generate revenue primarily to cover the administrative expenses and the coordinator salary of Kolping India projects. The Kolping Illam, the Women’s Hostel at Madurai was constructed with a substantial financial support from Kolping India in 1996. The women hostel after 25 years, required extensive repair as it was found in a dilapidated condition. After series of discussion with the Partner Organization, the renovation work was undertaken by Kolping India in collaboration with Madurai Social Service Society to restore the functioning of women’s hostel at K.Pudur.
The renovated Hostel was inaugurated by Rt. Rev. Dr. Antonysamy, the Apostolic Administrator of Madurai Diocese in the presence of National Director Dr. Maria Soosai, Diocesan Kolping Director Fr. Gabriel and one of the former directors of MSSS. The National Director participated in the event as a special guest. The renovated centre has 14 rooms that could accommodate 40 inmates in room sharing basis. The Kolping Illam is all set to offer a safe and comfortable stay at an affordable rate for women who stay away from home for work or education in Madurai.
Kolping India had responded swiftly to mitigate the suffering of the people, who encountered heavy loss of property due to Michaung Cyclone. Michaung Cyclone battered Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh of South India in December 2023. Unprecedented rain ravaged human lives and livelihood of millions of people. Houses were damaged in Chennai and many hectares of agriculture field and crops were submerged in flood. Immediately after cyclone Michaung, in a gap of ten days heavy rains battered Chennai and the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari, bringing life to a standstill and causing massive inundation. Kolping India team surveyed the situation in and around the affected areas. The team identified the really affected people living in slums, riverbanks settlements that were neglected by the Government relief operations.
Meenambakkam, Chennai While selecting the communities Kolping India had chosen locations where Kolping Families were present among the affected communities. However, the relief materials were distributed to Kolping members and all other affected families irrespective of their association with Kolping India. The required relief materials for distribution were procured in bulk, well packed at the National office and was taken to the affected areas for distribution. The relief kit distributed by Kolping India comprised of a Blanket, Saree, Dothi, Lungi, Turkey towel and Ordinary towel. Each of these items were best of quality available in the market. The distribution of relief kit was done on a phased manner, first completing the relief operation in Chennai and Chengalpattu districts, then the team moved to other districts like Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari for relief work. The Kolping Collaborating Partner Organisations extended the required support for Kolping India to organise the distribution smoothly. Overall, 2500 families in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari were supported with the relief kit.
Kolping SHG members took on a rally to spread awareness about conserving nature. The rally was flagged off by Dr. L. Balaji Saravanan – Superintendent of Police, Tuticorin at Anthoniyarpuram. Over 300 women members walked through the busy road raising slogans on water conservation, proper disposal of waste, environment cleanliness, safe sanitation and hygiene
Commemorating World Nature Conservation Day, Kolping India in collaboration with Tuticorin Multipurpose Social Service Society organised a public rally and kickstarted plantation of palmyra seeds in the panchayat land near Anthoniyarpuram, Tuticorin on July 23, 2023
Honourable Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Mrs. P. Geetha Jeevan launched the Palmyra plantation drive initiated by Kolping India and Tuticorin Multipurpose Social Service Society and lauded the efforts of Kolping SHGs at Anthoniyarpuram.
Kolping SHGs at Anthoniyarpuram had commit themselves to nurture the seeds planted and promote palmyra plantation further in the neighbouring areas.
The Conference had four different thematic sessions, dealing with the need of conserving land based and sea based natural resources. The Experts Mr. Mathivanan, Professor Fatima Babu, Pastor John Samuel, Neiythal U Anto deliberated on the topics assigned to them. Dr. Maria Soosai dealt with the concept ‘development’ and its inclusive nature. The Conference concluded with the vote of thanks by Fr. Amalan, Director of Tuticorin Multipurpose Social Service Society. Environmental protection activities taken up by Kolping India across India was displayed and eco-friendly, value-added palm products produced by Kolping SHG group members were exhibited at the conference venue.
Msgr. Christoph Huber, the General Praeses in his speech highlighted that Kolping brothers and sister around the world are united as a global Kolping Family, connected with each other under a discreet family identity beyond territories, religious beliefs, and cultures. He cited the life history of blessed Adolph Kolping and his unquenching thirst for exploring new ideas and working strategies according to the demands of the time. Msgr. Christoph Huber invited all Kolping families to work collectively towards establishment of equality of all in the society.
Since this was a special coordination meeting, an exhibition was organised under the theme ‘Women at the Centre of Development – Kolping India Way’ that showcased the Development Initiatives of Women from the Marginalised Community Groups. Msgr. Christoph Huber inaugurated the Poster and Product exhibition and appreciated variety of products that were displayed in the stall. Exposition of Kolping India activities through professionally designed posters drew amazing acknowledgement and appreciation from the General Praeses and the participants.
Naming a building is a symbol of infusing an identity that summarises human values lived and shared over the years. Msgr. Christoph Huber named the new building as ‘Kolping India Home: Adolph Kolping Resource Centre’ and inaugurated the centre by unveiling the name plaques and cutting the ribbon to make way for all to enter the newly built centre.
Most Rev. Dr. A Amalarj, Bishop of Udhagamandalam, Blessed the building and presided over the concelebrated Holy Mass, organized in the Main Auditorium. After the Holy Mass, children of Kolping Members presented a welcome dance. Fr. Maria Soosai, the National Director welcomed the gathering and presented a brief historical evolution of the Resource Centre and the people associated with the project. Msgr. Christoph Huber, Most Rev. Dr. Amalraj, Mr.Nelson and Fr.Anthony Raj shared few words during the occasion. The National Director specially thanked Kolping International, Kolping Switzerland, Kolping Augsburg and Oswald Foundation for their consistent and unremitting fund support to Kolping India to have a resource generating centre. Finally, the event was concluded with cake cutting and a
family meal. We are pleased to proclaim that our dream project has seen the day of light after overcoming several obstacles including the devastating Covid Pandemic.
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