The Trust started in 1990 when Pat, on what was meant to be a one off visit took on responsibility for a small children’s home that was in danger of closing. This was the beginning of a long and often difficult road to develop projects with long term friend Muthukumar, that today include a shelter home for street elders, a slum lunch centre, tuition facilities for over 100 slum children, support for a leprosy colony and in the past 5 years development of a programme under government licence to help the poorest children suffering from cancer. This followed a 16 year project to provide palliative care to housebound Dahlit cancer patients.
The Trust is registered in India as well as the UK and had always promised to send all donated funds to the projects.
As a registered Trust we retain ownership of all of our land and buildings.
Family Trip expenses were paid personally.
Dear Friends
After a shorter visit to India I can at last say that we have, following all the government criteria, passed on our project, buildings and land, in Mavelikara, to the Marthoma Church. ( Mar - St. Thoma - Thomas). St.Thomas is believed to have taken the Christian faith to Kerala and established the church there.
The church has a lot of projects throughout the state and a strong emphasis on working with the poorest.
For those unaware of the history of our project a brief resume.
The project was started with a building programme , 2 dormitory buildings and a dining block, to help children and families after the Tsunami in 2004. Tens of thousands of acres of paddy fields were contaminated by salt water and or destroyed, affecting the livelihood of hundreds of families who existed as workers on this fields. Families were divided as fathers moved to other parts of India to find work leaving children with a homeless mother who needed to work.
At the time we were running a boys and girls home in Trivandrum city in rented buildings, property buying beyond our means in the city area, but the opportunity to build our own complex in this devastated area was made possible by generous donations from our supporters and we were recipients that year of the Norwich Diocesan Lent appeal. So we moved! The early days were based in a cows shed as building was underway, over the next year our existing 40 children were joined by tsunami affected children, till eventually we had over 60 resident children.
Over the next 16 years we were able (thanks to sponsorships) to provide excellent accommodation for several hundred children plus have tuition facilities for many more.
Then came the pandemic.
As the pandemic eased we realised that residential accommodation was no longer a priority, or even a necessity in an area that had recovered from the Tsunami effects, our children were all reunited with their families because of the pandemic, so it was decision time.
Here I emphasis as always, that our Trust owned the land and buildings. Without intending criticism many foreign charities buy land or erect buildings that then become property of recipients. In the short term this may seem fine as projects run but at some point in the future ownership will pass to individuals who stand to make a substantial personal profit. There are many examples…….
However, I did register as a Trust before purchasing land and buildings which meant and means that ownership was secure with us.
Our complex had doubled in value over the years and there was an option for selling commercially. This was considered and discussed but there were complexities around tax, agents fees and also a myriad of problems to face as I was “Settlor”, which meant that nothing could happen without my permission. This was ok when we set it up, but changes in the law meant that no foreigner is allowed to be in that position now, this would have taken some sorting out!
However, commercial sale was not what we thought appropriate. The initial donors of our project to build the complex gave willingly to help those most in need, not for commmercial gain. It could be said that money raised if we had taken the commercial route could have helped our other projects, but in fact we would have lost a considerable amount in fees / taxes, to say nothing of the potential year(s) it could have taken.
Then came my meeting ( in the U.K.) with the 2 senior Bishops of the Marthoma church ( see previous report) and the decision to gift the buildings to the Marthoma church with the assurance that they would always remain church property and for project use.
In the 2 years that we were non functional we had actually appointed a social worker who was using the buildings for self help groups for local women, also our local friends and trustee had small projects running, so there was some use of the buildings. The bonus was that the church also took over responsibility for providing finance for them to continue.
So on Easter Monday after time in the local registration office our complex was officially handed over to the Marthoma church. They have yet to fully decide how to use the buildings but are considering a respite centre for children with cancer and possibly a home for destitute widows. We have absolute trust in them.
For our supporters there is the knowledge that thanks to them and the 16 years we were operational hundreds of children from our original homes and from the indigent communities affected by the Tsunami, were able to grow up in a safe place and to have an education and security. There are IT workers, bank clerks, chefs, masons, carpenters, even a Bollywood dress designer who would otherwise have dropped in to the child labour system. Now our Marthoma friends will continue with new projects.
The meetings and travelling ( more of that later) involved from Trivandrum to Madurai to Mavelikara meant that time on our remaining projects was somewhat limited. However we did spend time in Madurai and shared in the wonderful work that continues.
Madurai
Now we can concentrate our efforts on the slum that is the base for our work and on continuing with our support of the poorest children with cancer.
Drought remains a major issue in the slum where homes have no water, toilet or electricity facilities.
Our daily lunch provision for over 50 elders is literally a lifeline. We also help with medical care.
The work with our elders is so rewarding. These dear souls are so thankful for their daily lunch and often rely on us for medical care
Sewing Project (Jill Day Centre)
We are delighted with the success of this work. Slum mothers, many of whom had been building labourers, spend mornings or afternoons learning tailoring skills over a six month period. As they complete the course we donate a sewing machine so that they can work from home. Close to 100 have completed the course.
Leprosy colony
We are in our 6th year now of helping this small colony of 30 families providing monthly food support and medical supplies ( bandages, antiseptics etc.) Although many have had treatment for the disease they suffer from hand and limb deformaties. They are also victims of severe discrimination and our role with them is to show acceptance
Children with cancer
As you may have noticed from the photos I was not alone on the trip. With me was my daughter Jo ( a trustee) and grandchildren Freya and Daniel. Jo had not been able to visit for several years and for Freya who is almost 18 and Daniel 16 it was a first trip.
The special thing about Freya being there was that she had cancer at the age of 9 and needed several years of treatment. She was happy to share this and to show that she had recovered to the families on the unit that we care for. It proved to be a very encouraging thing for the families and I was so proud of her willingness to share openly.
We have been working in the paediatric oncology unit for several years now ( under licence) having previously worked with the main Regional Cancer Centre in Trivandrum for several years until the pandemic. Our Unit is part of a large hospital but without the facilities of the Regional Centre. It is undoubtedly overcrowded and lacking in facilities. However, we retain our links with the RCC and children have ( with our support) been transferred for example bone marrow transplants. Treatment is free for children but often short of essential medication and treatment options. Our role is to provide supplementary food and often medication which we source from wholesalers and transport, as many live in surrounding areas or other parts of the city without money to cover travel costs. The children we support come from the poorest sections of their communities.
The other main element is emotional support, something that our staff are well equipped to deliver.
We see this work as an essential for the future of our work as India evolves and progresses. We also support several children based at home, usually in slums or isolated ( drought affected ) rural villages. The essential food and medication we provide for these children is literally life saving.
So, we had a wonderful time with these special children.
The Children’s Centre
Our visit coincided with end of year exams for our children, in for some of the older children it marks the end of their formal education, however all of them will progress to apprenticeships or higher education. All of the children in our centre live in the slum and our centre is essential as we provide tuition and supplementary high protein food. Without electricity ( it gets dark at 6pm all year round) they cannot do homework. So we have a generator. Around 100 children are registered with us from 4-17 years. Even after completing their time with us most of the children remain as volunteers,excellent role models for the others.
If you are a sponsor of one of our leavers an extra
Letter will be with you soon.
So,a shorter trip than usual but essential as we had to fit in with the available appointments at registration offices and of course with the Marthoma Bishops over a busy Easter period.
Easter this year will always be remembered. On Easter Saturday we travelled from Madurai with an overnight stop in Kumily, then on to to Mavelikara a journey of 5 hours. On the way we passed uncountable processions of witness, each procession having hundreds of people. It was incredibly moving. It was also very special that all shops and offices closed over Easter as a mark of respect for the Christian communities. Even though Kerala has the highest Christian membership count in India it is still much less than a quarter of the population.
When I mentioned the processions to one of the Marthoma clergy he said “ if we don’t show, how will they see?”, words that have very much stayed with me.
An incredible experience.
As always we are thinking of our longer term future. We still have ownership of our shelter home and see that as security. Severe drought in Madurai particularly affecting slum areas where there is no hope of sewage connections indicate that we should try to continue for the near future at least. The children with cancer work really needs to continue and ultimately may be the focus of our work.
All that we do or have managed to do is thanks to your incredible support. It is 34 years now since the “ rescue” of a small group of boys - who are now in their 40’s. Our two main staff members, Kartik and Ranjith were part of the next batch, educated by us and now essential for our future.
Dear Muthukumar has been the mainstay of our projects for over 20 years, so we are as secure as possible. We hope and pray that we can continue to serve the very poorest in a simple but loving way.
Many hundreds of children have had educational and emotional support whilst living in conditions that photos can’t really explain, but they grasp the opportunities offered and are so grateful. Our elders, with life stories that would horrify now feel loved.
For the children with cancer we know ( without wanting to seem dramatic) that many lives have been saved by our intervention. We are open, fully registered with authorities and above all have secured our assets so that they will never benefit individuals but will be used for the poorest
So far it has worked!
Thank you all so very much for your trust and ongoing support. All you have read today is thanks to you.
With love and prayers.
Pat
