The organisation

The Foundation Isai Ma(i)yam, active in and near Pondicherry (South India), tries to support the poorest layer of the population in several ways. On our website you can find the way in which we try to realise our ideals.

From our Trust “Isai Ma(i)yam”, division The Netherlands, we try to collect the money in order to give the Trust “isai Ma(i)yam” in India the opportunity to maintain all it’s different projects.

Isai Ma(i)yam is Tamil, (south-Indian language) meaning: Centre of Music. This shows that music is one of our main means to obtain our objectives. But nevertheless, other forms of art are also an important part of our educational system.

The Trust has for these objectives two buildings in the town Pondicherry, two houses in nearby located villages (Annai nagar and kottakarai), one house in Thiruchitambalam and one house and two plantations for natural medicines in Auroville.

The foundation is conducted by Helga van Kolck, project coordinator in Pondicherry and musical coach of the children, Willem Jan van Andel, chairman, Brigitte Vink, secretary and Ivar Jenten, the founder. They are assisted in their work by Dutch and Indian volunteers and professional helpers. The project gives trainees and volunteers the opportunity to have a social or art education.