These Inspirational Women Need Our Help Urgently

We are sharing this on behalf of some amazing & courageous women - known as Grihini Women - who need our support right now.

The “Grihini Women” are students, graduates & teachers of a joint Australian & Indian education program - Kodai Grihini.

It was started to give very poor, illiterate and often oppressed young women the confidence and skills needed to confront social injustice and gain fair employment.

It has been a true ‘pay it forward’ movement; women supporting women to end a cycle of oppression and poverty.

Before Grihini, these young girls were referred to as Dalit or as the “Untouchables”.

Yes, girls literally described from birth through womanhood as an Untouchable, relegated to a life of menial labour, sometimes slave labour, illiteracy, as well as unchecked abuse and discrimination.

Instead, they now proudly say: “I am Grihini’.

You can read some of their incredible stories here.

In their own voices 

Heartbreakingly, a natural disaster at the end of 2018 has left these women, their children, families and communities devastated; and homeless.


Cyclone Gaja decimated the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu; worst hit were the hills’ communities around Kodaikanal, where Kodai Grihini is based.

It destroyed homes and wiped out the subsistence crops that provide Grihini Women with their only source of incomes.

To this day, many still have no electricity, nowhere safe and warm to sleep (it’s currently winter and temperatures in these hills villages drop to zero at night).

26 homes were completely destroyed

20 homes were badly damaged, losing their roofs and suffering major structural damage.


The Grihini Women have no way to earn an income.

They have no way of attending Kodai Grihini.

Each new home will cost a total of $700 (Australian dollars) to build.

Each damaged home will cost a total of $400 to repair.

This includes all materials and labour.

A full budget breakdown is below.

The total cost to provide the Grihini Women and their families with shelter and repair their communities is $35,000

As co-founders of Kodai Grihini, we are aiming to raise $20,000 so that work can be expedited and these families can have new homes within the next two months; or hopefully sooner.

Two of the very worst affected villages are Malaiyakadu and Kaduguthadi; it is these hills town this money will go towards rescuing and rebuilding.

The risks of ill health through pneumonia and other sickness is now very real.

The Grihini Women  do not seek handouts.

Since Kodai Grihini, they have become proud, independent and self-reliant women and communities, albeit living in incredibly harsh conditions with few social safety nets.

The fact that the cost of a new home - $700 - is beyond their needs speaks for itself.

Importantly, raising this money will not just provide basic living essentials.

It will allow these women and their daughters to return to Kodai Grihini to continue to devote their time, and in many cases their lives, to the betterment of the next generations.

You can read more about Kodai Grihini at www.grihini.org.au 

We realise that at this time of the year, not everyone can afford to donate to every cause.

All we would ask is that you please pass this on to your families, your friends, colleagues and social networks so that 2019 will be a successful one for the Grihini Women, as well as their families and communities.


Please share this and join in with us in:

#IamGrihini

#Grihini_Women

Thank you



The Grihini Family: Adelaide-based Professor Janice Orrell (right), Co-Founder of Kodai Grihini, her husband Norman Habel, founding member, their daughter, Anjali Habel-Orrell (Grihini ambassador),  her daughter Michaela Habel-Orrell (the next generation of Grihini Women) and respected Grihini Director and co-founder Dencey Michael (far left) 

Together, we can help the Grihini Women rebuild their lives for a better 2019.

Detailed project budget below photographs 

The hard work has started, but we now need your help.

It's winter, and temperatures drop to zero at night

Kodai Grihini ... 

In happier times on a beach excursion: "The first time we saw the ocean!"

On their way to class

Before Grihini, this was how many Grihini Women earned a living, carting wood on their heads 12 hours a day

Women supporting women: Co-founders Dencey Michael & Jan Orrell

Grihini Women

Cyclone Gaja's ruin

Devastated, but ready to rebuild!


Full Budget:

(Australian Dollars, based on  local quotes)

Cost per one temporary shelter : 

1. Galvanised roofing sheet @16 per house  16 X $25        = $400

2. Galvanised roof top 18ftx2.5ft                         1 X 50             = $50

3. Reeper wood log (12 pieces)                        12 X $2.50         = $30

4. Door (6ft x 2.5 ft)                                                                                 = $50.00

5  Accessories / hardware                                                                   = $20.00

6. Labour charge (3 days)                                                                     = $90.00  

7.Transportation charge                                                                       = $60.00          


Total  (per shelter)                                                                                    = $700



Total number of houses fully destroyed     26 X $700 
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                         = $18,200


Houses partially damaged (roof )                  20 x $400         = $8,000


Total     (to build new and repair damaged homes)               = $26,200


(Please note, this excludes repairs to restoring crops, access roads, paths)