Children of Mother India

The night that I arrived in Coimbatore I was able to watch the news with Manoj to see clips of the Mega Youth Rally that he had helped to organize and in which thousands of students had participated. They were marching to increase awareness of the need for a clean environment for future generations as well as recognition of the rights of the disabled and orphans.

Youth Helping Hands is now planning a 3 day concert in mid-March in which local bands, and talented orphans will also be participating.

When I talked to Manoj about what to do with the $300 in donations that I had brought with me he wanted to use it to give a Christmas feast, party and gifts to a nearby orphanage that is very needy. We went to visit the orphanage and I must say my heart was nearly broken to see the situation there. The orphanage is called "Bharata Annai Illam" which roughly translates to "Children of Mother India". It was started by a woman named Nirmala who was an orphan who was sold to an older man at age 14 and badly abused. She had one daughter, Nalini, but left the marriage when her daughter was 3 years old. She worked in a Catholic orphanage but was not happy with the way psychiatric residents were treated so borrowed enough money to rent a large house and start her own facility. She takes in old age orphans, destitute widows, psychiatric and disabled persons as well as street children. Every month she goes out searching the bus shelters, ditches, etc. to rescue people who have been discarded by society. I see her as the Mother Theresa of Coimbatore. She now houses 150 people between the ages of 2 and 99 and is completely dependent on public donations to support them. She now has 60 children (15 girls and 45 boys), 50 old age orphans (35 are women), 22 psychiatric, and 4 physically handicapped people living in her home. The ones who are able bodied help the ones who are not. The older children help the younger ones.

She felt that she needed to keep the children separate from the psychiatric residents so has them in a separate house 10 km. away. Every morning she gets up at 5 AM and goes to the children's home to get them up and fed and dressed and ready for school. The children live in 2 rooms and sleep on the floor. I have spent some time with them and heard some of their stories which are so sad. One little girl Nandini, who is 13, spent 9 years of her life collecting garbage on the streets and selling anything she could to buy food for herself. She has blossomed in the orphanage and is now using the wits she used to survive to thrive. She has already made it to grade 5 and wants to be a policewoman when she finishes school. I will post a picture of her after Xmas.

Nirmala has constant problems meeting each month's rent for the two buildings as well as hassles with the landlords so she very much wants to build her own place. A kind benefactor has donated 1/4 acre of land near the present children's home and construction of a building was started but funds ran out.

It is Manoj and my intention to raise money for her to complete the building and to buy the adjoining empty lot so there will be some outdoor area as well. We intend to start fundraising as soon as we return to Canada. (Manoj is also planning to return to Canada in March).

So at present I am buying gifts for the Xmas party and the children are practicing a dance routine that they will be doing. I will send lots of photos. Nalini and I went shopping for gifts and bought a badminton net, racquets and shuttlecocks, cricket balls, a chess set, more games, a tambourine, as well as a few toys for the youngest children. I am amazed how inexpensive everything is here, so it is much better to send money than to try to send items here.

I am living with the same family that Manoj and Arun live with. It is a humble home and everyone except me sleep on the floor. I am getting used to the Indian toilet and to cold showers.

Yesterday Nalini took me on her motor scooter to Isha Yoga ashram 30 km away. It is a beautiful facility and I plan to go back and spend 3 days there after New Years.

All for now. I wish you all a happy white Christmas and hope that you will hold the Children of Mother India in your hearts as we celebrate with them on Christmas Day thanks to your donations.