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In India the number of abandoned children, especially the girl child is high and continuously on the increase despite the government and NGOs doing their best to curtail this. There is also an escalating problem of female infanticide with the birth rate for females dropping at an alarming rate in some parts of the country. TEWFI has been concerned with this crisis for some time and it was towards this end that in 2001 it set up Uluru Children's Home (UCH). Many of the residents at UCH are abandoned girls, and also orphans in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
Set in a tranquil environment overlooking the backwaters of the Bay of Bengal, the UCH cares for a particularly vulnerable group of children, mainly girls, in the rural Indian communities of Kadapakkam and Alamparai. Since 2003 UCH has been a home for these abandoned or orphaned children. Currently there are 35 children – 31 girls and four boys, between the ages of 3 and 15 years – living at UCH. UCH has become an integral part of the community by providing employment to local village women, who lovingly staff the home as house mothers, carers, cooks and cleaners.
At UCH they are given shelter, food and clothing – all in a safe, loving and caring environment. The children are given a permanent home and a whole new direction for the rest of their lives. But more importantly, they have access to health care and education, which are crucial in giving them life prospects they would otherwise be denied. In particular, TEWFI has set up:
In the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami, TEWFI decided to extend UCH’s role by permanently accommodating and caring for children displaced by this calamity. The first of the two new dormitories was officially opened in October 2006. There are plans to increase the number of children to 80 but this is being done gradually to ensure that TEWFI’s working structure is solidly in place to give the children a stable and caring environment.
Read speech on Child Rights in India by Patron The Honourable Ron Merkel QC (PDF file / 404KB).
Many people contributed to the development of UCH. In fact, a large donation by a son honouring his parents allowed the project to begin. Arjun Dev Tuli, and his wife, Sudesh Rani Tuli, dedicated the Uluru Children's Home to the memory of Arjun's parents, Shri Dina Nath Tuli and Smt. Purani Devi Tuli.
Another donation came in the form of pro bono work. The architectural and conceptual design was the contribution of the Australian team Sandra Nervegna and Leon Lopata. The theme created is essentially keeping in mind the local, indigenous ambience with an emphasis on simplicity with a light, bright, airy, open yet secure atmosphere for the young children.
The “wishlist” for UCH can be found here. Please take a minute to browse this list to see if you or someone you know would be willing to donate these urgently needed goods, resources or skills.
Alternatively, you might like to support this service via donations.
A UCH child's tale:
Ana, a six year old girl, was referred to UCH by a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Chennai. Their report stated that she was rescued from an old woman who had been ill-treating her and forced Ana to beg.
On further investigation and discussion with the child, it was revealed that Ana was originally from a rural village. She didn't remember the name of the village. Her father was an alcoholic who used to regularly beat her mother, her and her two older siblings – a brother and sister. Eventually, her mother left them and the father remarried. As he and his new wife considered his three children a hindrance he took the children to Chennai and handed them over to his aged aunt.
The children were mistreated by the older relative and planned to escape and return to their native village, but before they could, the elder brother ran away and left his two younger sisters. The elder sister, saddened by her brother's disappearance, then escaped from the house taking Ana with her. But she abandoned her younger sister at a bus terminal. An old woman then approached the lost child and asked her whether she would like to stay with her. Ana agreed and went to live with her in a thatched hut on the pavement. Initially, Ana was asked to take care of some pigs the woman owned. As days went by, she was asked to go begging and hand over her ‘earnings’ to the old woman..
Ana began begging on the streets of Chennai. Fortunately for Ana she was spotted by a member of a local NGO working with street children. Upon talking to her they learnt about her background and reported the case to the police. The police and the NGO took steps against the old woman for forcing Ana to beg, and Ana was handed over to another NGO who in turn referred her to the Uluru Children's Home.
After living in her new home for a few months, Ana was a changed girl – happy, confident and cheerful. She now considers UCH her home, where has made many friends and treats some of the residents like her siblings. She has adapted well to her hostel, school and studies – and a routine which also has the requisite amount of discipline – and wants to live here permanently under the care of the loving and compassionate staff.
When asked about her future ambition, she replied," I don't know, but I think I wish to become a good Indian citizen when I grow up!"
The name of the girl featured in this story has been changed to protect her identity.
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