As part of our Mission Action Plan, St John’s encourages partnership with charities abroad and are pleased to have adopted a charity called Chennai Challenge.

Chennai Challenge is a small volunteer-led charity based in the UK, dedicated to supporting personal and community development. This is done through education, skill training and engagement initiatives. The charity empowers individuals to engage, act and transform. The Vision for the charity is to develop compassionate, resilient, individuals by engaging with the communities they visit, actively addressing poverty through holistic, educational and sustainable approaches. Chennai Challenge have two partners: - YMCA As one of India’s oldest NGO networks, founded in 1890, YMCA Madras has long been committed to nurturing life and empowering young people, especially those facing hardship, trauma, and exclusion. Together, YMCA and Chennai Challenge have worked to strengthen community ties, improve living conditions in slum areas, and support YMCA schools that are transforming young lives through education. A key focus of their partnership is the Destitute Boys’ Home, where they provide enriching activities, holiday programmes, improved facilities, and essential resources. Oasis India Since 2008, Chennai Challenge have partnered with Oasis India in Chennai, united by a shared commitment to community. Their work, rooted in compassion, and seeks to confront the harsh realities of human trafficking and violence against women and children, offering not just protection but the promise of a renewed future. Together with Oasis Chennai Challenge support transformative programmes such as Blue Edge sessions, English classes, women’s empowerment groups, and tailoring sessions—each one a step toward healing, independence, and hope within their communities: Chennai Challenge invite volunteers to join them for two weeks in August to go to Chennai and put the vision and work of the charity into practise.  The charity says on their website: - As part of our team, you’ll lead and take part in a wide range of activities—often beyond what you thought possible. You’ll see Chennai beyond the tourist lens, connecting deeply with its people and culture. This journey is about more than what you do—it's about who you become. Whether you feel like a seedling sprouting or a butterfly taking flight, we encourage you to reflect and recognize your growth along the way.