Page last updated 9/11/2008
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Helping Hands India
THE GENESIS
Sarala was 8 months old when her poor parents left her on one of the streets of Bangalore city. She was diagnosed as suffering from a chronic Asthma. Added to this, there was this superstitious belief that the first-born child in the family, being a girl, is not auspicious for the family. Hence they wanted to do away with her to avoid a possibly bleak future. Nearby slum dwellers found this abandoned child bitterly crying on account of hunger and thirst. Their immediate response was to look for her parents within the vicinity but their efforts were in vain. Given the reality that these people live in extreme conditions of poverty, none of them could immediately decide to take Sarala into their home. However, finally someone decided to adopt her, surely with the thought that she would be a small source of income in a few years’ time.
When Sarala turned 6 years of age, her adoptive parents began to send her to nearby houses to work as domestic help. Sarala’s work at this tender age was to wash dishes, clothes, sweep and clean the household. Within the next one and a half years, her health conditions turned pathetic. Working everyday for several hours in cold water in the early hours of the day, her feet developed cracks and started bleeding. Her breathing problems increased and she became very weak. When her condition was getting worse, her adoptive parents (more appropriately ‘opportunistic parents’) sought ways to get rid of her permanently.
In due course of time, the neighboring slum dwellers came to know of George Fernandes, who can be approached for possible help. George Fernandes was a fresh theological graduate from Bangalore. He was extremely disturbed struck by pain from within when he saw the plight of children on the streets of Bangalore. As a result, he explored different ways of ushering in a transformation in society in pursuit of restoring hope to the hopeless and disadvantaged children. At one point, he set his mind on sheltering and nurturing orphan and semi-orphan children. It was at this point in time that the well wishers of Sarala, brought her to him and left her. She was brought in a very worse condition. She was so very weak and her feet were bleeding with wounds. She was unable to walk and literally crawled on her belly. George received her with love and compassion. He cleaned her wounds, bought her new cloths and for the first time in her life gave her the food of her taste. This was the beginning of new hope in Sarala’s life and this was the humble genesis of the NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME (NHCH) in March 2001 in the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore.
It was started with zero budget and zero capital. All that was invested in NHCH right from the time of its inception was ‘Absolute faith in God’ in and through God. This was complemented by the unconditional support extended by his own family and members of the larger family. After learning of George’s zeal for compassion and transformation in the lives of such helpless little ones, they extended their support and helping hands. This gave tremendous encouragement, joy and motivated George to formally plan the beginning the NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME (NHCH), which till today is nothing more than an extension of his own home. By God’s wonderful leading, presently there are 60 children, ranging from 8 months to 22 years of age. They live, eat and sleep in this Home and study in nearby schools.
THE MISSION
The NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME, an organ of the Helping Hands India was initiated in Bangalore, India, to care for and rehabilitate these children, who are orphans and semi orphans, from the most disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of the society. Also among them are juvenile bonded labourers (working in hazardous and unsafe work environments), street and slum children. Children are also recommended by recognized Institutions, Pastors, Village Elders and so on.
THE 7-FOLD OBJECTIVES
- To motivate the child to live as a better citizen of India
- To provide best possible education to these children
- To nurture the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of the child’s growth
- To sow the seed of love in their hearts and lead them to grow in brotherly and sisterly unity
- To identify these children’s potentials and help them develop the same
- To conduct training programmes from time to time, and counsel them according to their needs
- To provide them space for the spiritual nourishment Thus NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME aims to bring in holistic development in the children’s lives.
To bring holistic transformation and development in the children’s lives.
Our strengths include unity, integrity and commitment of qualified persons in HHI. Our services recognized in part by the Government of Karnataka.
FOCUS GROUPS
Orphans, Semi orphans, abandoned, destitute, slum and street children within the age group of 2 to 8 years.
SOME OF THE STORIES OF LIFE TRANSFORMATIONS
Out of 60 moving stories behind the 60 children living in the NHCH, 3 stories are given below.
- BARNABAS - Age: 12 Years
Barnabas is the youngest of 5 children to his parents. He is in the 5th Grade. His father was a wood cutter, the only bread winner to his family. However, being an alcoholic, he spent all his earnings on liquor and ended up borrow money heavily. In due course, the burden of huge debts led him to commit suicide, by lying before a running train. Barnabas went through the pain of seeing his father’s mangled body minus the head. (Imagine the terrible agony in this tender heart!). Soon he was on the streets left all alone to fend for himself. The President of Helping Hands India brought this child to NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME. Initially, Barnabas was not able to concentrate on anything. Almost every night he wet his bed following the nightmarish experience of seeing his father’s torso. After much counselling he slowly managed to come out of this trauma. He loves and enjoys athletics. He shows much respect to his elders. He is an excellent artist. His ambition is to become a Pastor. He stands among the first three ranks in his class at school.
- GANGA (PADMA) - Age: 12 Years
Ganga is one among five children of her parents. She lost her mother at a very early age. After 5 months of her mother’s death her father brought these children to the NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME. While on the one hand, he was unable to take care of his five children, he also had plans of marrying his wife’s sister. So he wanted to get rid of them. When this girl was brought to our Home she was 7 years old and now she is 12 years old. Ganga is a sweet child. She is very affectionate and soft in nature. Ganga is good in her studies. She ranks 5th in her class. She has a good memory. Ganga’s favorite subject is English. Her hobbies are dancing and painting. Her favorite colour is pink. Her ambition is to become a Doctor. She is in the 6th grade at St. Mary's School, Bangalore.
- NAKSHATRA - Age: 5 Years
Nakshathra is the youngest child of her parents. At an early age she lost both the parents. Her Grandmother, a beggar used to take care of this child. Nakshathra was having only one meal a day. Suddenly, her Grandmother passed away leaving her and her other siblings on the street. Village leaders, who came to know about NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME, brought this child to our Home. Nakshthara is brilliant in her studies. She has an excellent grasping power. Her ambition is to become a doctor. She is studying in the 1st Grade at St. Mary’s School, Bangalore.
Today the strength of this NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME is grown to 60. Most of these children go to one of the reputed schools and 20% of the children score between A and A+ in their studies and 60% of the children are stand in between B and B+ grade and the remaining 20% are doing their best.
Children are participating in many activities such as SPT Sports Academy Winter Foot Ball Camp. In Cultural Programmes, Singing and Choreography Competitions they got the 2nd Prize. In the Winter Foot Ball Camp one of the Children, Karthik has been selected for further coaching. Some of the girls attend dance classes, 5 boys go for football coaching, two of them are doing well in Cricket, to name a few. Their talents are such that they make lasting impression on the audience. Daniel is the eldest in the Home. He is studying his 12th grade (pre-university level) and receives awards and recognitions for his outstanding performances. All those who visit this home witness the transformation that takes place in a big way in the lives of these tender ones. The family members of George Fernandes are very supportive in this ministry. His 68-year-old mother, who was a chief cook at Bangalore Baptist Hospital cooks food for all of them. Mrs. Jyothi George is ably coordinating the Home. At present 8 staff are working for the children.
The uniqueness of this “Home” is that George and his family with two little children live in the same house with all the 60 children to provide them the homely atmosphere. George feels that staying away from these little ones, in another house, would once again make them orphans. Thus their stay together gives these children the love and care of a large family, of course with the love and care of a father, mother, grandmother and so on.
FUTURE VISION
- To add many more grassroots children in NHCH
- To start Children Homes in each state of India
- To provide love and care to 1500 children in 6 years
- To reach the most unreached children
- We need helping hands to sponsor children i.e. Rs. 1200 per child per month
- We need bunker cots
- We need a land
- We need a building
- We need vehicle (45 sheeted Bus for children to travel to school)
DIRECTOR, HELPING HANDS INDIA
No 1, 3rd Cross, Sonappa Block, Benson Town, Bangalore - 560046
Karnataka, South India
Phone Numbers: 0091-80-65836594, 0091-9449987774
Email: hhindia2001@yahoo.com or psgeorge@hhindia.org
Website: www.hhindia.org
Visit the Helping Hands India web site.
