IIDA Timeline
1974
Formation of the Society IIDA
On 17th March 1997 under a portico in Hindustan Bible Institute the first members of IID met and formed the Society. These are the founding members of IIDA: Dr. Paul V. Gupta (chairman), Pastor S. B. Daniel (vice chairman), Jochen Tewes (Secretary), Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu (Treasurer), Mr. U. Benjamin, Mr. Samuel Daniel, Mr. Robert Moses.
Starting of Fitters Training in a thatched shed at Pallavaram, first course in IID, with Mr. Alexander
After initial preparations the first training course of IID was started in July that year as a fitters training in a thatched shed in Pallavaram. It consisted of 7 trainees from various homes of Inter-Mission and Mr. Alexander, a retired air force officer, was the first instructor and leader of this center. Mr. Jochen Tewes, who headed the registered office in Besant Nagar, came to the centre almost every day to teach technical drawings.
1975
Beginning of a Printing Training Course inside the HBI compound
With the encouragement and cooperation of Dr. Paul V. Gupta, the printing unit in HBI was converted into a training centre, and Mr. Arulnesan was the manager and chief instructor. The boys who opted for this training were accommodated inside HBI
1976
First Women’s Training Course: Weaving Training in a rented Shed at Aminjikarai
Mr. K. M. John offered the terrace on the roof of his house to be converted into a weaving training centre for women. Mr. Alexander who had experience in both metal work and weaving was made in charge of the centre, which started with around 10 trainees.
Starting Carpentry Training at Pallavaram
The vast space that was available in Pallavaram was suitable for expanding the training activities and in 1976 a second training course for carpenters was started. The fitters course meanwhile had been recognized by the central government in India and the carpenters training would later be recognized by the state government of Tamil Nadu.
1978
Purchase of first plot at Aminjikarai
The need of having our own training centre for girls became acute because orphan girls from various Inter-Mission orphanages reached the age of leaving school and needed help for their future. A plot in Aminjikarai, Madras, was bought with the help of Inter-Mission.
1979
Starting Weaving and Batik Training at Aminjikarai
A shed made in Pallavaram with pipes and asbestos sheets was erected on the plot in Aminjikarai in the year 1979 and the weaving training was moved to this plot
1980
Purchase of first portion of land at Thoraipakkam
A Dutch Television crew visited IID in this year and broadcast their films about the IID training courses in Holland. A good amount of money was collected through these shows, which was invested in a property at Thoraipakkam for training youth. Later other adjoining areas of land where bought with the help of donors of Inter-Mission.
Start of Day Care Centre at Besant Nagar
Near to the IID office in Besant Nagar was a slum called “Thideernagar”; a Day Care Centre was started in a thatched shed in 1980 for the poor children of this slum, supported by Inter-Mission for many years. Jochen and Johshy Tewes personally supervised the centre as long as the office was in Besant Nagar. The shed had to be rebuilt several times after fires or floods destroying it. The Centre is still functioning today, now with the help of donors from England and within India.
1981
Starting of Batik and Tailoring Training in Aminjikarai
Mrs. Parwin Benjamin took over the management of the girls training centre at Aminjikarai in 1981 and the new tailoring course was started. Some time later the batik training that had been started in Guduvancherry was also moved to Aminjikarai. In the year 1982 Mr. U. Benjamin and Mrs. Parwin and their family settled in a simple building on another plot that IID bought nearby. Mr. Benjamin, who still serves as the Treasurer of Inter-Mission India today, became the head of the Support Centre for all the Inter-Mission homes in the Madras Area.