Maitri (Sanskrit): Loving-kindness, compassion and friendship
Maitri is a developmental humanitarian NGO based out of New Delhi, India which was founded in 2005 by Gen (Retd.) Bhopinder Singh and Winnie Singh. The organization was born out of a felt need to fill in the gaps in awareness about essential health impacting information such as STI’s, HIV/AIDS and TB for the uniformed services and their families.
Since 2007, Maitri has expanded its areas of reach through a variety of programmes. These programmes include domestic violence awareness , victim support and victim-to- survivor program (with a special focus on the uniformed services and their families) Maitri also promotes respect, dignity, and support for abandoned elderly widows in Vrindavan (Mathura, India). Some of our other initiatives include improving the health and welfare of vulnerable migrant populations like rickshaw pullers and the homeless. We provide educational opportunities for slum children in Delhi with a nutrition programme. We also organize HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns supported with a voluntary counseling and testing centre.
We believe that:
- A healthy home is a happy home
- No woman (least of all a mother) should ever have to live in destitution and humiliation
- Women have the right to live with respect and dignity even in the sunset years of their lives.
Statement of Purpose:
Maitri is committed to facilitating citizenship rights, basic services, dignity and respect for the most vulnerable populations in India with a focus on:
- Abandoned and destitute widows in Vrindavan
- Violence against women (domestic violence)
- Migrant workers and their families (rickshaw pullers and homeless)
- Empowering women and children from economically challenged families from Delhi slums
