‘Orphanage’
The welfare centre was established in 1961, with the objective of reaching out to women and children living in dire poverty, in the nearby villages and islands in and around Ernakulam. This is done by focusing on meeting their daily needs and promoting economic and educational programmes. As well as the basket making enterprise, the centre provides educational courses with accommodation, day care of the elderly, community development programmes and 2 orphanages, Valsalya Bhavan and Adelaide Bhavan.
Valsalya Bhavan ‘House of Affection’
is a home for girls who have been rescued from dangerous situations on the streets. It was established 12 years ago, and has helped many girls at risk, such as sexual abuse, begging, drug abuse, child labour, abandonment etc. The home is registered under the Charities Societies Act. The girls arriving here have not had any education, own no possessions and have invariably suffered abuse and ill treatment.
The home gives the girls a sense of family and stability for the first time in their young lives. It provides the girls with health care, personality development extra curricular activities and awareness programmes, as well as sending them to school. The aim is to empower the girls to become responsible, self-reliant and dignified young women.
Whilst the home is well run, its efforts are limited by the conditions in the orphanage. It is a small, rented, sub-standard building, with poor, cramped facilities and subject to flooding during the monsoons. Facilities for personal washing are outside, with just one toilet and the girls sleep in 2 small rooms on a concrete floor on mats in rows, giving no privacy. The study room will only accommodate 9 girls. The small hallway doubles up for indoor games, yoga, dining area, dance practice and for sessions of communicative English. The house itself fronts onto a busy main road, where traffic is constant. There is no pavement, and the safety, particularly of the younger girls, is a concern.
Funding is needed to be able to make a start on a new replacement building. The new home would be able to provide space for more girls, as a response to the ever-increasing numbers of children needing protection. A piece of land has been acquired, and some money raised, but £92,000 is required to complete the work.
Profits from Kerala Crafts are used to help pay some of the maintenance of the girls at the 2 homes, but as a small project, it does not have the capacity to fund a building project of this scale.
CAN YOU HELP PLEASE?
WAYS TO HELP:
1. Any contribution to the building of a new orphanage.
2. Furniture – Chair x 35 @ £4-40 each
Large table x 4 @ £45 each
Small table x 6 @ £30 each
Steel cupboard x 3 @ £100 each
Bed x 35 @ £37 each
3. Kitchen – Fridge £150
Gas connection and cooker £125
Utensils and equipment £300
Cutlery and crockery £250
4. Sponsorship of girls
This is how much it costs to support each girl per month:
Per girl Per month
£10 buys food
£5 buys education
£5 buys toiletries, clothes, medicines
£5 buys electricity, water
£5 buys extra-curricular activites
For further details please contact Christine on 01225 319642 or christine.snow@blueyonder.co.uk
