History

Although the idea for the group had been germinating since 2008, TIG did not begin officially until February of 2012. In 2008, two friends raised in the Christian tradition made a life-altering trip to India. On that 2008 trip, people were literally coming out of the walls—or at least hovels—begging for help. Of course, in India, this type of “coming out” and “begging” is hardly unique.

However, this uncomfortable experience provoked the two travelers to ask, “What are people who call themselves ‘Christians’ supposed to do in the face of such overwhelming need?”  They felt called to do something, but what?  After meeting a young father, they decided to “adopt” his child and send her to a private Catholic school for $250 a year, which included tuition, uniforms, books, the whole school deal.  So affected by that first trip, they made a number of subsequent trips to India and learned much more about the beauty and ugliness of that country.  More and more they got the sense that they needed to share what they were seeing and learning with a larger group of people.  The obvious place for them to look for a greater audience was in the Christian tradition in which they had been raised.
They worshiped at a socially conscious parish in New York City named St. Francis Xavier.  They put a notice in the church bulletin inviting people to work with/for the poor in India and/or journey with them to India.  In 2012, one of those original “voyagers” and three new “voyagers” from the parish traveled to India and built on the relationships that had been made on that first trip in 2008.  In 2013, six “voyagers,” both parishioners and non-parishioners who had heard of the unique opportunity to meet and see “the real India,” made the trip.  TIG now takes a small group each year to India to meet and work with the families. If you are interested in joining a trip, contact us at [email protected]

Catch up on our latest news with our 2023 Fundraiser Video.

Purpose
The purpose of the work in India is not to change institutions but to help individuals.  The needs in India are so staggering that one of the first goals of TIG was to decide what “small things” the group could do to effect the most change.

Fortuitously, there happened to be three educators and one healthcare professional on that 2012 trip. The expertise of the members of the group coincided exactly with two areas of need the Indian families had identified.  Illiterate or semi-illiterate, the parents wanted their children to get an education, and they often needed health care that they could not afford.  The decision was made: Our purpose was to help in the areas of education and health care.
TIG is a 501(c)3 organization, Tax ID 45-5361590
Proudly powered by Weebly