Newdawn India

NewDawn India is a Christian charitable trust established in 1990 by Neville Cooper in East Anglia, UK, dedicated to relieving poverty among slum and street children in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Inspired by a partnership with Dr. Jim Jesudoss, it exclusively supports the Sakthi-Vidiyal programme, embodying Christian values of unconditional love, trust, mutual respect, and child empowerment. Its distinctive relational model transcends traditional funding, offering long-term pastoral, moral, and advocacy accompaniment to foster holistic transformation without operational control, while embracing beneficiaries of all creeds and castes.

The funder prioritises comprehensive support for Madurai's most marginalised children and families, funding education (school fees, uniforms, tuition), healthcare, crisis shelter (e.g., ChildLine reception home), family outreach, vocational/life skills training, creative/sports activities, and elderly care. Key programmes include drop-in centres for 300+ daily attendees, sponsorship for 160+ children, nursery/kindergarten, and mother/child camps—all delivered through Sakthi-Vidiyal to address poverty, caste exclusion, and child rights.

Eligibility is highly restrictive: only Sakthi-Vidiyal qualifies as the sole implementing partner; no other entities, regardless of size or income, are funded. Work must occur exclusively in Madurai slums. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding decisions are internal, rolling, and needs-led via UK trustees' consultation with the partner.

Annual grants to Sakthi-Vidiyal typically range £30,000–£70,000, including project-specific, capital, and core costs; individuals can join a £10–£30/month child sponsorship scheme. Distinctives include lean UK volunteer administration, personal sponsorship integration, unwavering single-partner focus, and high-trust empowerment of local leadership, excluding political influence, unrestricted grants, or external organisations.