Bethesda Children’s’ Homes in India provide a safe and caring environment for children rescued from situations of extreme poverty, living on the street or unwanted by families. Very often these little ones, some just five or six years old, have their lives totally transformed by entering a Bethesda Home. They now have shelter, food, clothing, schooling, and most of all loving care – all these things we take for granted but are rich gifts to children in desperate poverty.
What is life like in a Bethesda Home? Here’s an outline of the routine at the Boys’ home at Cuttack. This home currently operates from small rented premises, and HFI is proceeding with the project for construction of a new premises tailored to the boys needs.
Each morning the house parents, Pastor M C Varghese and his wife Annie, and the fifteen boys aged 8 to 10 years wake up at 5:30 a.m. The boys first have time for cleaning themselves, and then they have devotions for half an hour. After the devotions the children are required to fold their sleeping mats, sweep their rooms and clean the front porch of the Home. Three boys are assigned the chores everyday on a rotation. They also see to their school work before they leave for school.
The children have school from Monday to Saturday, with Saturdays being a half day. The boys walk 15min each morning to the local government school, which is about 1.5 km from the home. After they are back from school in the afternoon, they are given refreshments and then are given time for playing mostly indoor games for an hour or so. At 5:00 pm they all get cleaned and have devotions until 6:00 p.m. They then do their school homework until 9:00 p.m. Dinner is at 9:30 p.m. The children are off to bed at 10:00 p.m. The children like to play and work with art and colouring when they have days off from school.
As well as receiving food, clothing, schooling and loving care at the home, the boys are engaged in a Foundations for Life training program. Over a period of three years this provides the boys with skills usually gained in a home environment including hygiene and toileting, eating and manners, responding to care, communication and social skills, self esteem, regular sleeping patterns and overcoming violent and aggressive behaviour.
The work of Bethesda Children’s Homes is funded by donations from supporters in Australia, UK and USA, as well as funds raised locally by the parent organisation in India. Your gifts to the Heart for India Trust Fund are fully tax deductible. Now at the close of this financial year is an opportune time to make a gift towards this valuable work where every dollar lands on target with the Children’s Homes in India.
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During his visit to Australia in April, Dr Abraham was privileged to have an appointment with the Governor General Quentin Bryce at Government House in Canberra. The Governor General and Dr Abraham were able to discuss the conditions of disadvantaged children and women in India and the initiatives Heart for India is undertaking on their behalf. The Governor General was very interested and knowledgeable concerning India and its culture. She added encouragement and support for Dr Abraham’s efforts from her broad experience as an advocate for the rights of marginalised women and children. It is hoped there may be some further opportunity to connect on these matters during the Governor General’s official visit to India in 2012.