Annai is the Tamil word for mother.
Before dawn on the eastern coast, a brass lamp sits cold on a doorstep. This is the story of who lit it — and who never came home to see it.
She raised a generation that dreamed of a freer future.
They did not come home. She kept the photograph, the garland, and the date — and carried on alone.
Rooted in remembrance.
Annai
The Tamil word for mother. In our culture mothers are the foundation of family, community and identity. To honour them is to honour ourselves.
Maaveerar
Those who gave their lives for the liberation of Tamil Eelam. Their mothers carry both the grief and the pride.
Thannurimai
Self-respect and self-reliance. Support that lets her live with dignity and keep her independence.
Remembering them is not a ceremony once a year. It is rice, medicine, and a lamp that stays lit.
The war ended. Her waiting didn't.
A roof that lets the monsoon in. One pot on a small fire. A second chair that nobody sits in. Old age found her with no one left to lean on.
Twenty-eight dollars crosses an ocean.
About the cost of one dinner out here. Roughly 5,000 rupees there — landing in her own bank account, in her own name.
Twenty-eight dollars. One mother. Every month.
You give $28 CAD
About the cost of one dinner out. Charged monthly. Cancel anytime.
We wire it home
Through a trusted local partner, roughly 5,000 rupees lands in her own bank account. Transfer fees are covered by our volunteers — never taken from her.
She decides
Food, medicine, the leaking roof. Her money. Her choices. Her dignity.
You should be able to check.
The Annai Foundation is run entirely by volunteers. No salaries are paid from donor funds, and we publish full records every three months.
Rice. Medicine. The roof.
We do not send a parcel and call it dignity. We send money, and she decides what her month needs. Her money. Her choices.
Where the programme stands today
Every donor is paired with one mother
Monthly direct support
Volunteer run
We are newly launched: our first mothers are being onboarded with our local partner now. As the programme grows, real counts — mothers supported, funds transferred — will live on this page, updated quarterly. We publish what is true, and nothing before it is.
Every mother has a name. Even when we protect it.
The voices below are illustrative composites reflecting the anonymized women our programme serves; names, photos and details are protected. Real stories, shared with consent, will replace them as the programme grows.
With stable monthly support, I no longer have to worry about affording basic medicine. I can focus on my grandchildren and our family’s future.
The assistance from the Annai Foundation helps me maintain my household with dignity. It shows us we are not forgotten.
I light the lamp every evening. Now I can also buy the oil.
An illustrative voice. The women we serve remain anonymous by default.
We are the children who remember.
A volunteer-run Canadian nonprofit with one job: making sure no mother of Tamil Eelam faces old age forgotten and alone. We send money each month to the mothers and families of Maaveerar.
Transparency
You see where every dollar goes. We publish records every three months.
Dignity
We treat every mother with respect. She decides how the money is used.
Direct impact
Your money goes straight to her own bank account.
Standing with her is simple.
Commit
Set up your monthly $28 in about three minutes.
Get paired
Within days you are matched with one mother. Not a pool. Not a fund. A person.
Stay connected
Updates as her months get lighter. Cancel anytime.
One mother is waiting.
The pairing takes days. The difference lasts years.
No payment taken here · Donation receipts issued once you are set up · Not tax-deductible (we are an NPO without a CRA charity number).
The questions donors actually ask.
Where does my money go?
Most of your $28 goes straight to the mother you are paired with in Tamileelam. A small part covers bank transfer fees. We show full records every three months.
Can I choose who I support?
We match you with a mother based on need and who is waiting for support. You will know her name and can receive updates about her.
Will I receive updates?
Yes. We send updates on how your money is helping. You can also log into your account to see your donation history.
Can I pause or cancel my donation?
Yes. You can pause or cancel anytime from your account. No fees. No questions asked.
Is Annai Foundation a registered charity?
We are a volunteer-run community organization. No one on our team takes a salary. All operational work is done by volunteers.
How do I know the money reaches the right person?
We work with a trusted local partner in Tamileelam who distributes the funds directly to each mother. We verify receipts and share updates with donors.
Can the mother contact me?
This depends on your privacy settings. When you sign up, you can choose how much information you want to share. Some donors and mothers exchange letters.
What if I want to donate more than $28?
You can set any monthly amount you want. Every extra dollar goes directly to increasing support for mothers in need.
There is still a way in.
Share her story
Send this page to one person who would want to know. Most of our donors came from someone they trust.
Volunteer
We are run entirely by volunteers. The help we need most: Tamil translation, community outreach, and bookkeeping.