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New Delhi, India

Sahara Centre for Residential Care & Rehabilitation

Project No: I17
Project Managers: Neville & Elizabeth Selhore

Over the past 12 years, Sahara has pioneered innovative approaches, responding to the health, social and spiritual needs of people who use illicit drugs, as well as people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Since its inception in 1985, the Sahara Women’s Care Home has provided services to over 150 women—some of whom are drug users, others who have been abused and/or abandoned. One of the main focuses of the Women’s Care Home is to provide these women with a continuum of drug/HIV/AIDS treatment, which eventually leads to vocational training, after which these women have the opportunity to work in one of Sahara’s income-generating programs. In the process their self-esteem is boosted, they gain financial independence and are able to lead a better quality of life.

The revenue-generating programs have a strong emphasis on feasibility and sustainability. A new program involves weaving hand-woven shawls, cushion covers, throws, tablecloths and mats.

Another self-employment scheme is a pig farm in Manipur, run by widows infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Widows are given piglets, feed and training. After one year, the families gains assets in the forms of livestock, returns one sow to the organization, can sell the piglets, and sets aside a portion of the revenue for the continuation of the process in the following year.

Sahara is a unique NGO that has dedicated enormous efforts to provide care to those most marginalized in Indian society. This includes those affected by HIV/AIDS, men and women who are often also drug addicts or alcoholics, women turned out of their families for a variety of reasons, or more typical middle class Indians who happens to be HIV positive.

Sahara was set up in 1978 as a therapeutic transitional community. Located in the capital of India, the organization has people accessing its services from all over the country and also refugees from other countries. The main focus of the community is to help people get off their dependency on drugs and/or alcohol. But seeing an influx of clients coming to Sahara with HIV positive status led them to also set up a health care service for them.

For more than a decade now, Sahara has pioneered new and innovative approaches, responding to the needs of PWUDI (People Who Use Drugs Illicitly), PLWH/A (People Living With HIV/AIDS) and also people who have been marginalized, discriminated and ostracized by society in general.