Our Twinning links began in India 50 years ago, where we are now 'twinned' with over 1000 SVP groups.
Overall, SVP India has over 80,000 volunteers who devote their time daily to tackling poverty in their local community and across the country.
Despite being one of the biggest and fastest-growing economy's in the world, there are still over 300 million people in India who live below the poverty line - especially in the rural area.
SVP Conferences (volunteer groups) across India are committed to tackling poverty within their communities through face-to-face visits and providing practical assistance, . The twinning scheme allows us to support over 1000 groups in their mission and support of their "adopted families".
The creation of small income-generation projects, a collaboration between local SVP volunteers and individuals within their community, also helps to tackle the root causes of poverty and promote self-reliance.
Alongside this, SVP India is also committed to wide-scale impact through their student support scheme, operation of a healthcare clinic, funding community projects and micro funding empowerment projects. The SVP England & Wales is proud to be able to support SVP India in this, via the India Fund.
Download our information leaflet on the India Fund here.
We believe that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Providing students with educational support in India helps young people and their families by supporting them financially through their studies. This financial support could cover vocational and technical training fees, higher-education fees to train as a doctor or engineer, the purchasing of uniforms, the cost of travel to school, a year of study in primary school, educational materials, and more.
Just £15 can help a school child remain in school for a year and covers fees, uniforms and books. £120 could cover the cost of a student's higher education fees for 1 year and £70 could cover the cost of vocational training for one year.
Learn more about how to support a young persons education in India
Across India, hundreds of individuals, many of them women, have been given the chance to build a better future for themselves and their families through small, life-changing loans from the SVP.
Guided by SSVP India, and made possible by the generosity of donors in England & Wales, the establishment of micro-funding schemes has begun. These scheme offer more than financial support - they are a sign of dignity and hope.
Local SVP groups invited Individuals in the community - particularly woman - to put forward their business ideas and apply for a small loan. Successful business include tailoring, fish-vending, street food, repairs, and market stalls. Alongside the funding came something just as important: compassionate, ongoing support from local SVP volunteers who walked alongside them, offering guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear. Through self-help groups, motivational workshops, and seed funding, these women didn’t just launch businesses - they built confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of community.
As each loan is slowly repaid, the cyclical nature of the scheme begins - the funds are then offered to new applicants for development of their own income-generation.
If you would like to support similar schemes in the future, please donate to the India Fund today.
The SVP group at St Francis Xavier church in India has been active since 1955, serving a community which was faced high levels of unemployment. Much of its work involves providing food and essential support to families struggling to meet basic needs.
An urgent issue the local Conference identified was the lack of access to dignified mortuary services. After the loss of a loved one, many families are unable to afford cemetery fees or transportation to hospital mortuaries. Due to a law prohibiting the use of public transport for transporting the deceased, some families have had no choice but to walk 6–7 km with the body—a heartbreaking journey.
Recognising this need, the Conference applied for a grant to purchase a mobile mortuary unit. The unit will be shared with nearby Conferences and offered free of charge to anyone in need. The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 430 families, reaching around 1,560 individuals.
Thanks to the India Fund, the mobile mortuary was purchased in June 2025.
Because saying goodbye to a loved one should never be a burden - and thanks to the compassion and commitment of SVP members in India, families in need can now grieve with dignity and comfort.
The local members shared "With hearts full of gratitude, we wish to express our sincere thanks to you ... This gesture is not only a financial help but a true reflection of the values we uphold in the Society, love, compassion, and service to those in need".
Our small projects scheme focuses on skills development and the creation of small income generation businesses that enable families to become self-sufficient.
Responding to local need, SVP groups in India can apply for small grants to help microfinance small projects including livestock, small businesses such as shops, market vending or tailoring businesses, and home repairs. This scheme has a direct impact on the lives of individuals and families.
Interested in the small projects scheme? You can read more about how the SVP helps to build self-sufficient communities overseas in a recent article in the Winter 2019 issue of the Vincentian Concern.
Every Conference (volunteer group) in India is encouraged to have a number of "adopted families" who they regularly visit and help as needed.
Adopted' families currently receive assistance through the provision of food parcels with basic staples, dress materials and essentials every month. The adopted family varies from individuals to children, single parents, and grandparents, and they all receive home visits from local SVP group members.
It is with thanks to the grant of £150 per year, received from their twinned conferences in England & Wales, that SVP members across India can reach so many people within the community. If you would like to know more about twinning please visit our "What is Twinning? page or if you would like to donate towards SVP India, please click the link below.
