’Sudar’, the NGO run by the FMM nuns who also manage the twin schools – St Raphael’s and Rosary Matric in San Thome is a project that was born out of a crisis, born out of the pandemic time.
It started of as a support unit for single mothers and transgenders who sought refuge and instead got some smart, income-generating skills.
Today, the ’Sudar’ bakery project is slowly taking off – the bakery is already preparing to make cakes and cookies for Christmas and taking orders as well.
On one recent Sunday, this team set up a stall at the San Thome Cathedral campus where church-goers could buy bread, cookies and cakes and place orders for Christmas cakes too. “We need people to know of us because we want this business to work well and help us train more women,” says Sr. Philo.
The bakery project began in early 2021 when ‘Hot Breads’ Mahadevan, famed owner of the food chain of bakeries and restaurants agreed to train 12 single mothers at the unit of Winners Bakery in Alwarpet and gave them a stipend of Rs.5000 per month. Six months later, six women were ready to work at the bakery of ’Sudar’ in the San Thome campus.
“We now have a Hot Breads expert working here to guide the women because we want to offer the best in the business,” says Sr. Philo.
You can buy bread, cookies and puffs at this bakery all days of the week. The fresh bread is sold out by 3 p.m. Puffs are also hot-sellers here.
Sr. Philo says if the bakery can get large orders every day, the revenues will help take care of the investment and then fund training ahead.
She and her bakery unit team are hoping that the Christmas season will bring them many orders. Cakes, cookies and snacks.
You can call their marketing staff Praveen – 9384505478 – to place large orders for the family, a company or for your campus.
You can also walk down to the bakery ( via the access at St Raphael’s School main gate) and purchase bread or cookies or even place a birthday cake order.
