About us
Who we serve
Families living in poverty in the south of Mauritius
We work first with families in Rose-Belle, Grand Bois and the villages nearby who live in absolute or relative poverty, and above all with their children.
Our priorities
Who comes first
Our programmes are open to these families first:
- families registered on the Social Register of Mauritius (SRM), whom the state recognises as living in absolute poverty
- households below the relative poverty line set by Statistics Mauritius
- the children and young people of these families, from three months old to their first job
- single parents, and young mothers who need childcare to go back to work
- large families, and households headed by a woman or by a separated parent
- families living in unsafe housing, including the old asbestos houses of Résidence Bethléem
The context
Poverty in Mauritius: the official figures
- Rs 12,378relative poverty line per month for one adult in 2023
- 101,900people below that line in 2023, or 8.4% of the population
- 15.7%of children under 16 live in relative poverty, about 33,000 children
- Rs 4,000SRM income threshold per adult per month from October 2026 (Rs 2,800 per child)
Households: 9.6% in 2017, 7.3% in 2023.
A family can earn above the SRM threshold and still live below the relative poverty line. They do not qualify for SRM support.
Relative poverty
Statistics Mauritius sets the relative poverty line at half the median monthly household income per adult equivalent. In 2023 it stood at Rs 12,378 a month for one adult and Rs 29,200 for two adults with two children.
29,800 households (7.3%) fell below it, down from 9.6% in 2017.
Absolute poverty and the SRM
Mauritius has no official absolute poverty line in its statistics. The state identifies households in absolute poverty through the Social Register of Mauritius, run by the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity.
A Proxy Means Test looks at the size of the household, its housing and its access to water and electricity. Eligible households receive a monthly subsistence allowance. From October 2026 the income threshold is Rs 4,000 per adult and Rs 2,800 per child, up to Rs 16,400 per household.
Who is most at risk
Poverty rates in 2023 were highest among:
- households with three or more children (28.9%)
- households headed by a divorced or separated person (14.8%)
- single-parent households (12.6%)
- households of five or more people (11.2%)
- female-headed households (9.9%)
Our NSIF-funded programmes follow the National Social Inclusion Foundation's rules: they serve SRM households and the vulnerable groups named in its Charter, including children and adults below the poverty line. Figures checked in November 2026. Sources:
Get involved
Be part of the change
Whether you give, partner with us or volunteer your time, you help open new opportunities for children, young people and families in Mauritius.
