Face Foundation alias Foundation for Annam Charity Ease was conceived by Devan ( T R Vasudevan ), a social worker and philanthropist & R Girish, an Engineer by profession in 1986. Justice V R Krishnan Iyer, Father of Kochi was the Patron of Face in the initial period.
The primary objective & aim of this organisation was to provide food to the stranded and helpless people of Kochi. Lakhs of people benefited from this.Daily 200 to 250 people were fed from the weaker sections of the society, people with mental disorders, those who live in streets, people who visit Kochi for various purposes but couldn’t afford a meal But later in 2014, Face started focusing on Education also beyond providing food to the poor & deprived students. It was decided to help these children with financial support & study materials to pursue their education.. Because of this support thousands of students could continue their education. When the earthquake very badly hit Nepal, Face extended its help and support to more than 5000 students affected by this disaster.
During and after the worst hit floods in 2018 & again in 2019, Face in association with Public Relations Council of India ( PRCI ) spearheaded the relief measures. Started a control room to monitor the activities round the clock .More than 75 volunteers actively participated. Thousands of people were provided with food, clean water, medicines, dress etc. Families who lost everything in the floods were given kitchen utensils, cleaning materials, provisions & food grains and books & kit to students. Study materials were distributed to the students of 16 schools in the worst hit areas of Paravur, Alwaye, & Kanayannoor Taluks. Camps were also set up in these areas for the flood affected people.50 families in the water trenched areas of Udaya colony,, P&T Colony, Kummattippadom were given essentials & food grains.
In the early stages of the spread of the pandemic Covid in March 2020, face in association with High Court Advocates Association & City Police provided service using volunteers to people stranded in Ernakulam North & South Railway Stations, KSRTC Bus stand & Vyttila Mobility Hub. The volunteers did dedicated service with the Police and Health workers on a shift basis round the clock. Food, water, Masks, & Sanitizer were given to Police force and Health workers. More than 50,000 masks were distributed to people who returned to Kochi by train from various destinations. During lock down more than 1400 food packets were distributed to Police personnel & migrant labourers in Kochi with the support of Kerala High Court Advocates Association. Apart from that food packets were distributed to more than 3000 people stranded in streets, bus stands, railway stations etc. Transgenders who were staying in the shelter house at Kacherippady, the fishermen who came from Andhra who were living on fishing in basket boats etc.
Face could so far able to feed more than 8 lakhs people during the last 10 years. And support students with study materials & books. Face was always working differently and was able to uphold its commitment & integrity in all these years.
Face through its recently started Face Life Line program is trying to make the Transgenders who are neglected and dejected by the society, a livelihood and an opportunity to be self dependent. Face Lifeline will provide guidance, financial & technical support to the Transgenders in finding a livelihood.
FACE brings happiness to every human face
Foundation for Annam Charity Ease better known as FACE has already carved a distinct place in the minds of people concerned with the suffering of our fellow beings. The primary objective behind the formation of FACE was to ensure food for those unfortunate human beings without proper shelter or dwelling space in Kochi. The idea was conceived by Devan (TR Vasudevan) a social worker and philanthropist along with R Gireesh, an engineer by profession in 2011. Justice VR Krishna Iyer the quintessential humanist readily agreed to be the Patron of FACE at its inception.
Since the formation FACE was instrumental in providing sumptuous food to on an average 200-250 persons every day. Food is served to people from weaker sections of the society, mentally challenged persons, and those visiting Kochi for various purposes but unable to afford a meal. Apart from providing food FACE also started taking care of the educational needs of the students belonging to the poor and deprived sections of the society in 2014. Financial support and study materials were provided to students. The efforts of FACE helped thousands of students to pursue their dream of attaining a quality education.
FACE is also proud to state that we extended to help and support to more than 5,000 students in Nepal when that country was devastated by a massive earthquake. FACE in association with the Public Relations Council of India was in forefront of relief measures when Kerala was confronted with the worst floods in its history in 2018 and 2019. We have set-up a control room with a 24/7 support system with 75-person volunteer crop rendering help to the affected persons. We have served food, drinking water, medicine, and dress to thousands of affected people. We have also distributed kitchen utensils, cleaning materials, food grains, books, and other school kits to the families who have lost everything in the flood.
Study materials were provided to students of 16 schools in the worst-hit areas of Paravur, Alwaye, and Kanayannoor Taluks. Camps were also set up in these areas for the flood-affected people. Fifty families in the water trenched areas of Udaya Colony, P&T Colony, Kammattippadom were given foodgrains and other essential goods.
In the early stages of the spread of the pandemic Covid in March 2020, FACE in association with High Court Advocates Association & City Police provided volunteered to help people stranded in Ernakulam North & South Railway Stations, KSRTC Bus stand & Vyttila Mobility Hub. The volunteers provided dedicated service with the Police and Health workers on a shift basis round the clock. Food, water, Masks, & Sanitizers were given to Police personnel and Health workers. More than 50,000 masks were distributed to people who returned to Kochi by train from various destinations. During the lockdown, more than 1400 food packets were distributed to Police personnel & migrant workers in Kochi with the support of Kerala High Court Advocates Association. Apart from that food packets were distributed to more than 3000 people stranded in streets, bus stands, railway stations, etc. Transgender in the shelter house at Kacherippady, the fishermen from Andhra living on fishing in basket boats etc were also helped.
FACE is happy to state that we have provided food to more than 800,000 persons since our inception in 2001. We have also supported students with study materials and books. Committed to dedicated services with integrity FACE always strives to create a difference in its areas of work and involvement.
FACE has recently launched Face LifeLine program dedicated to helping transgender persons to become self-sufficient individuals. Face Lifeline would provide mentoring, financial & technical support to transgender persons for earning a decent livelihood.
On the happy occasion of the completion of the first decade of our existence FACE is planning a number of new initiatives:
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- Free Health Clinics to provide primary health & to offer check-ups & tests to poor patients.
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- Rehabilitation Centre for those who are fully recovered from mental sickness & disorders.
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- FACE Folklore Academy to promote & support art forms facing extinction.
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- Vasthra Nidhi To provide free clothes to the poor and discerning
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- Free Ambulance to those who can’t afford the cost of hiring an ambulance.
FACE is led by a Nine-member team. Well known writer and a former member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly Prof M K Sanu is the Chief Patron.
About two years back Face Foundation decided to start Face Folklore Academy to support and encourage art forms from Kerala. The focus was on the extinct or about to traditional and contemporary ones.
The Face Folklore Academy is governed by a Committee led by
Dr T Vinay Kumar as the Chairman and T R Devan as the Secretary.
Face Folklore Academy has taken initiatives to support artists during the flood which hit the state very badly.
The Academy is also planning to organise training classes and programs to promote the different art forms and the artists.