Outreach Program

Vocational Training Centre for Women

This Centre was established in 1999. It provides a year-long free diploma course to about 25 women to acquire skills in weaving, tailoring, embroidery etc. They are enabled to find jobs or become self-employed. The scope of vocational training is being expanded to cover other areas. Recently, a short course was conducted for ex-students of Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School (OMHS) to enable them to work as electricians.

Social Welfare Centre (SWC) - Day care for children

SWC provides free day care to about 100 children in the age group of 3-5 enabling their parents to go for productive work. The children are well looked after; are provided with nutritious meals and health care; and are taught nursery rhymes, games, songs, dance, and alphabets.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (HPB) Hostel for boys

The boys' hostel at Besant Gardens, Adyar, founded in 1971 and named after H.P. Blavatsky, houses about 25 boys from disadvantaged families, in the age group of 10-16 years.  Boarding and lodging is free. It is sponsored by members of The Theosophical Society in various countries.  They are also given parental care and general guidance in studies and activities by the Warden on campus.  Their daily activities include yoga, meditation, exercise, games, prayer and listening to edifying stories.  The boys also do gardening work around the Hostel cottage.

Access to Health Care

Help is extended to mothers and children with the assistance of the Theosophical Order of Service (TOS).

Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary

In 1968, The Theosophical Society erected a building in the Besant Gardens premises of the Society at Adyar for running an animal dispensary, with facilities for hospitalization when necessary.  In 2000, Mrs Radha Burnier inaugurated the new Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary in the same location, and it has grown to become one of the largest animal shelters in the heart of Chennai, housed within the sprawling Theosophical Society Campus in Adyar.

It is equipped with an in-house veterinary clinic, primarily to rehabilitate injured and sick animals. The shelter has been ever expanding, to accommodate more dogs, cats, horses, bovines, donkeys, pigs, goats and other animals. BMAD is a busy shelter that provides admirable support to a large number of animals. It currently has close to 60 large animals, and 200 small animals, under its care. There are currently 18 full time caretakers, 7 vets, 4 rescue staff, 2 special consultants, and an ambulance for emergencies.

The idea behind BMAD is to rehabilitate and find homes for seriously unwell and stray animals. The veterinary clinic also treats outpatients at very nominal charges, bringing affordable care to the general public with sick animals. BMAD has the resources and staff to perform most surgical procedures.

Animal Birth Control (ABC) is BMAD's signature program to neuter strays, at low cost. BMAD carries out close to 1000 ABCs a year.

Pet adoption - BMAD strives to find homes for rescue and rehabilitated dogs and cats. BMAD has taken pet adoption to a new level, visiting prospective pet parents to understand if they have the wherewithal to provide the requisite pet care.

Rescue - BMAD has been involved in innumerable rescues, rehab and release, including horses, donkeys, camels, bovines and wildlife like snakes, monkeys and birds, with the help of the Forest Department.

Outreach program - BMAD sponsors community caretakers in various locations in Chennai, to provide care for animals in their respective areas

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