Our Work, History and DNA.

Since 1993, Life Association has been reaching and serving some of the world's poorest people, through Christian education, children’s homes, child development, vocational training, and disaster relief. With your help we want to do much more.

Over 30 years ago, Simon Hawthorne and Rev Paul Morley visited Uttar Pradesh in the north of India and fell in love with the people of this amazing country. They also experienced first hand the devastating impact of poverty, particularly on children. From this a burden to act followed, and a Christian school was developed in 1993, from which Life Association’s long history began. Over the years our work has diversified, through schools, loving children’s homes, church plants, training, medical projects and even a hospice.

Throughout that time, and into the future, our mission remains the same. We want to reach and serve the poorest of the poor, with the hope and love of Jesus, in word and deed. Our focus remains particularly on children, who are always those most affected by poverty. All our projects are run by local churches and Christian leaders, so that local people are empowered to deal with the problems particular to their own areas.

Over the years there has been good progress in raising many from the depths of absolute poverty in India. However, India’s huge and rapidly growing population means that today there are still huge needs to be met. Below is a range of statistics from some of the world’s leading sources of data, illustrating life in India, accompanied by images of the people and places that our projects serve and minister to. You can click on any of the images to view it.

Life Association is a charity, registered with the Charity Commission (registration number 1115262). We are governed by a board of four independent trustees, chaired by Dr Mike Finnegan, a retired NHS Medical Director who has made several visits to our partner projects across India. Our trustees are all committed Christians who share our DNA of reaching and serving the poorest of the poor with the gospel of Jesus in both word and deed.

If you want to keep up to date about the work of Life Association, please take a look at our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. If you are not already subscribed, please also sign up to our mailing list.

Our Projects

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

The schools we support provides day schooling for children aged from 4 years to 12 years old. The schools offer a good quality, distinctive Christian education, and food support for children from some of the poorest rural backgrounds. The children start and end their school day with devotions and prayers, as well as attending Sunday school to help them grow in their Christian faith.

The afterschool tuition centres offer the children from impoverished backgrounds a safe and loving Christian environment to complete homework, receive extra tuition, and a nutritious evening meal. All of this will enhance their learning and give them better prospects for the future. The children also have devotional and prayer times during their tuition. Each child is invited to share a meal at the weekend and to attend Sunday school, to help them grow in their Christian faith.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Since 2002 we have been supporting a home for street children. These precious boys are rescued from a life of destitution and utter deprivation on the city’s railway tracks and adopted for life into a loving Christian family home. Over many years we have seen them rescued from a life of misery to become married with good jobs and a strong Christian faith.

At the beginning of 2023, we began to support a project that helps children who live in a hospice for children and adults with HIV/Aids. The hospice is like a residential home, a safe haven for those who have been abandoned by their families. As well as a loving home, the children receive a good quality Christian education, healthcare, clothing, school uniform, and school supplies. Each resident also receives counselling to encourage and develop self-confidence and positive attitudes towards their life and future. Right in the centre of the hospice, is a lovely little chapel, where the residents attend services for prayer and worship.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

The tailoring schools we support see ten women who are widowed or close to poverty, trained for six months in needlework, textiles, pattern cutting, and the use of a sewing machine. Each day starts and ends with devotions and prayers. At the end of the course, the women attend a graduation ceremony, and each student gains a certificate of achievement and receives a sewing machine, complete with table and sewing accessories. All of this will enable the women to earn a sustainable income to help provide for their families.

DISASTER RELIEF

Coronavirus had a devastating impact amongst the poorest in India. During the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns we were able to send funds so that desperately needed food aid could be distributed from our projects. We were also able to partner with Christian medical hospitals to provide medical equipment and vaccinations in Jesus’ name.

The adverse weather conditions in India can also have a devastating impact on the local community. We have been able to send funds to provide basic help for villagers who have been left stranded due to flooding in the area.

Ways to help us.

Become a church represEntative

We’re always looking for people to partner with us and advocate for our work amongst some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people. If you share our passion to reach and serve them with the love and hope of Jesus, and want to raise awareness of our work, we’d love to hear from you. We'd be more than happy to visit you and speak on the work in India to your church or small group to get the ball rolling.

host a fundraising event or undertake a sponsored challenge

Put on a curry night, cycle the width of England, have your ladies group round for afternoon tea. These are some of the fundraisers that supporters of Life Association have undertaken in the past, raising vital funds for our work. No matter how big or small your event is, they are a great opportunity to hopefully influence someone else to have the same passion for the needs of some of the world’s poorest people. We’ll give you all the support you need to help you make the most out of your event, and if you haven’t got the confidence to plan it yourself, we can help as much or as little as required. Just get in touch!

Ink for india

In partnership with Printer Cartridge Recycling a leading recycling company, we have developed a scheme to turn your empty inkjet cartridges, mobile phones and unused surplus into valuable funds to help continue our work. If you would like to help us raise funds for Life Association, whilst at the same time reducing the amount of electronic waste consigned to landfill, please click this link to start donating your items on our behalf. Please note we don’t take laser or large toner cartridges. Mobile phones can be in any condition. All the proceeds go to us so we would be very grateful for any donations.