Education that enables empowerment and emancipation is the cornerstone that guides all the activities of the Guild. Mainstream and vocational education for normal and special needs children, skill training programmes for women and teacher training programmes for regular and special educators are our flagship programmes. Our efforts are geared towards making women and children employable, economically independent and effective citizens of our country.
About
Established in 1923, Guild of Service is one of the oldest social service organisations in India. In the last 9 decades and more, the Guild has done yeomen service and built many institutions and contributed to the welfare and development of lakhs of economically weak children, women, differently abled and the elderly. The 22 Units and projects of the Guild help over 5000 beneficiaries annually, the indirect beneficiaries being many more.
Established in 1923, and with a history of 100 years of social work at the grassroot level, Guild of Service is one of the oldest social service organisations in India.
Through its long journey, the Guild of Service understands that education of children, the differently abled and vocational education in collaboration with social welfare programmes is the way for the underprivileged to become self-reliant and financially independent citizens.
Guild of Service spearheads and co-ordinates the progress and performances of over 20 units and projects in Chennai and 16 affiliates spread across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The affiliates are independent entities, which share the vision and mission of the Guild of Service ©.
Over the past century, the various projects of the Guild have benefitted lakhs of children, women and differently abled from the economically backward sections of society by providing them suitable assistance to make them responsible and financially independent citizens.
The Guild of Service is a secular organisation with no religious affiliation.
The primary focus of the Guild of Service is education for all. It runs pre-schools, Higher Secondary schools, schools for special children, vocational training schools and Teachers Training schools. It also runs social welfare programmes for the elderly, residential homes for children, family counselling centres as well as family health centre and the leukemia project for children.
It spearheads and co-ordinates the progress and performances of over 22 units and projects in Chennai and 16 affiliates spread across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The affiliates are independent entities, which share the vision and mission of the Guild of Service ?.
Over the last 95+ years, the various projects of the Guild have benefitted lakhs of children, women and differently abled from the economically backward sections of society by providing them suitable assistance to make them responsible and financially independent citizens. It gives us great joy to see our children who have gone on to become doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals.
Our
Vision and Mission
Our
Vision
Our
Mission
Mission
- Welfare and Development
- Concern and sensitivity
- Team work and Collaboration
- Consultation
- Integrity and Reliability
- Accountability
Good governance
The Guild of Service is committed to good governance, transparency and compliance of all statutory legislation. We constantly strive to better our management practices. We have a decentralised and federal work environment.
Board of Management: The Board of Management provides the framework and lays down policy guidelines for the Organisation as a whole. It ensures good governance is followed in liaison with the Office Bearers.
Office bearers: The Office bearers comprise of the Chairperson, four Chairpersons, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Joint Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. The Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Joint Secretary looks after the day-to-day operations and co-ordinate with the Units, reviewing their performance and operations. They report to the Board of Management.
Campus Committee : For ease of management, 7 campus committees have been formed to manage the Units and Projects of the Guild. These have been established on a geographical basis. The campuses are Annanagar, Egmore 1, Egmore 2, Egmore 3, Kilpauk, Pallipattu and Saligrammam.
Each Campus has a Managing Committee which manages the Units under its ambit on a day-to-day basis. All operational decisions are taken by this committee. The Office bearers of the Guild of Service (Central) hold a review meeting with each Campus on a quarterly basis. Major decisions of the managing committee are ratified by the Board of Management.
Financial Management
We believe in complete transparency of our finances and fund management. Over 85% of donations and financial aid received is spent on beneficiaries.
The Hon. Treasurer of the Guild of Service( Central) is a practising Chartered Accountant and so are most of the Treasurers of our Campus Committees.
Internal audits are conducted on a regular basis by a dedicated internal audit team. External audit is done by M/S Manohar Chowdhury & Associates, Chartered Accountants. Government aided projects are further audited by government appointed auditors.
All donations are eligible for tax exemption Section 80 (G) of the Income Tax Act of India.
Donors from overseas can donate through FCRA.
Governing Board
Vice President Mrs. Seetha Muthiah
Chairman Mr. K.S. Sripathi, I.A.S. (Retd.)
Vice Chairpersons: Mr. S. Rathinasabapathi, I.P.S. (Retd.)
Mr. Binoy Joseph
Dr. Lalitha Natraj
Mr. N. Ramachandran
Hon. Secretary Mrs. Himani Datar
Hon. Treasurer Mr. Ganapathi Subramanian
Board members Mrs. Aparna Bharathan
Dr. Uma Rajkumar
Mr. KVS Gopalakrishnan, I.P.S. ( Retd.)
Mrs Vasantha Balasubramanian
Mr. S.R.Tagat
Mrs. Ramani Reddy
Mrs. Rinku Mecheri
Mrs. Maithreyi Chummar
Our people
The Guild of Service is managed and run by volunteers. This is a unique feature of the Guild of Service. It comprises accomplished people with varied and vast experience in different areas. They work together in helping the needy and economically disadvantaged have a better life..
The staff at the Guild of Service is truly the backbone of the organisation. They are extremely dedicated and most of them leave the Organisation only at retirement.
Our Journey
It was 1923 when Mrs. Waller and a band of European ladies started the Guild of Service with the aim of promoting philanthropic activities. The doors to like minded Indian women were opened in 1936 and this is when Mrs. Mary Clubwala Jadhav joined the organisation. She took over as the Honorary Secretary in 1937. It is under her leadership and guidance that the Guild of Service started taking shape and became one of the well-recognized social service organisations in the country.
1923 to 1950
Refugee rehabilitation, care for the handicapped and welfare of the Armed Forces.
1946
- Indian name, Seva Samajam was incorporated by the Guild of Service.
- Samireddypalayam Centre for the Women, Children and Aged
1949
Registration under Societies Registration Act
1950’s
- Seva Samajam Children’s Home
- Lady Nye School
- Bala Vihar Home for the Mentally Challenged
- Mangalapuram crèche
- Seva Samajam Girls Home
- Seva Samajam Boys Home Industrial School
1960’s
- Gen Cariappa Higher Secondary School
- Foundling Home
- Foster Care and Adoption Unit
- Family Planning Centre at Mangalapuram
- MCJ Higher Secondary School for Girls
- Tasty & Spice Box
1970’s
- Bala Vihar Training School
- Working Women’s Hostel
- MCJ School for the Hearing Impaired
- Nutrition-on-Wheels
- Bakery unit (catering to Khadi Gram Udyog and Modern bakery)
1980’s
- Meals-on-wheels
- Day Care centre for the aged
- Bala Vihar for mentally challenged adults
- Home for Handicapped
- Rajamannar Home for abandoned children
- Leukaemia Project
- Family Assistance Scheme
- Seva Samajam Nursery and Primary School
- Striniketan Seva Samajam Boys Home and PLAN International of the USA joined hands and involved 6000 families in income generation schemes and adult literacy programs.
1990’s
Saw a consolidation of projects, some projects were grouped together while some were phased out.
2000
- Self Help Groups for women
- Family Counselling Centre for the women prisoners & undertrials, Puzhal
- Tsunami Relief Project – GOS Rural Project set up in association with M S Swaminathan Research Foundation.
- JN College of Education
2010 onwards
Helping Hands Study Centre
Over the years, in keeping with the changing needs of society many Units and Projects were closed and new ones started in its place
Our Affiliates
Apart from the wide presence in Chennai, Guild of Service affiliates are present in the following cities/ towns:
Andhra Pradesh
- Bapatla
- Kakinada
New Delhi
Karnataka
- Mangalore
Kerala
- Palghat
- Kasargode
Tamil Nadu
- Coimbatore
- Kotagiri
- Madurai
- Nagercoil
- Ootacamund
- Sivaganga
- Thanjavur
- Tiruchirapalli
- Vellore
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Units/ Projects
0
beneficiaries per month
0
residential beneficiaries
0
Staff
Guild of Service
