Save A Family Plan

About Save A Family Plan

Save A Family Plan is a Canadian-based international nonprofit organization located in the Old North neighbourhood on Seminary. It serves as an international headquarters for a charity that encourages people from developed countries to assist families and communities in India. The organization is committed to seeking justice and working with the poor regardless of caste, creed, gender, or political affiliation to create sustainable life-changing solutions. The organization operates primarily through two main programs: Family Development and Community Development. The Family Development Program focuses on helping families meet basic human needs while promoting self-reliance through a six-year plan. This includes providing access to medical assistance, covering education costs for children, repairing or building homes, and offering financial support for small businesses. Families also receive training in life skills such as basic literacy, creating savings accounts, improving soil quality, and accessing clean water. The Community Development Program works with entire villages to identify and solve poverty-related problems. These initiatives address areas such as health and hygiene, economic development, environmental protection, food security, housing, and gender equality. Save A Family Plan was founded in 1965 by Monsignor Augustine Kandathil, an Indian-born priest and chemistry professor in Canada, who was inspired by a plea from Pope St. Paul VI to help those in need. He developed the plan alongside his colleague, Dr. Leo Ferrari, to connect families in North America with those in India. The organization moved to its current home at St. Peter’s Seminary in London in 1973. The charity describes its approach as partnering with the poor to build strong, self-sufficient, and empowered communities. It maintains a wide network of volunteers and partners with over 40 other nonprofits to reach thousands of people.