Sweet treat: Even though the boys loved these laddus, they saved some to share with friends. Niloufer Venkatraman
While the home’s committee hopes and intends to provide the children with computer skills, proposals for such funding have yet to find takers. Similarly, other immediate needs that would greatly improve their overall well-being and future include the services of a trained counsellor and conversational English classes.
The Family Home’s aim is to create an environment that is as close to family life as possible. The boys go to school, play, do homework, eat meals together, have affectionate caregivers, are disciplined from time to time, and even fight with each other the way siblings do. It is run as an open home, in that the children are allowed basic freedoms, including going to school by themselves and leaving the home with permission, much in the way children in a regular family ask parents permission to step out and play outside.
A managing committee (mostly senior citizens) looks at the fund-raising, and long- and short-term requirements of the institution and its children. While the government provides some money for the children’s upkeep, the bulk of the money it takes to raise 20 energetic boys comes from funds solicited by committee members from their friends and family and from organizations such as Wereldkinderen, a Dutch project aid organization. With more support, perhaps the Family Home could provide six more destitute youngsters a decent childhood, and improve the lives of those already under its protection.
Write to lounge@livemint.com
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If you want to volunteer
People can start a computer lab on the premises with regular and competent instruction or teach the boys conversational English. They can also help with renovations and improve the interiors of the home. A sensitive and skilled counsellor is always required. Professionals (both individuals and companies through their corporate social responsibility divisions) can contribute by virtue of their skills—for instance, a construction or interiors firm, an architect or anyone else could sponsor some interior upgrades. For more information, call the home’s superintendent, Swati Sawlapurkar, at 022-24130721
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Rs5,000 for this charity can
Pay one month’s salary for a part-time counsellor
Buy the children two sets of clothes each
Get an AMC (annual maintenance contract) for the computers
Cheques can be written out to “Family Home, Guild of Service” and sent to: Family Home, BDD Chawl No. 16A, BJ Deorukhkar Road, Naigaum, Dadar, Mumbai-400014
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People like us
SOS Children’s Villages of India
Money: Rs6,000 a year will sponsor a child for one year, paying for food, education and living expenses. The same amount can also be donated to the village’s general fund.
Time: The organization encourages people who would like to volunteer to do so on a long-term basis for teaching different subjects.
Contact: ‘www.soscvindia.org’ or call 011-24359450, 24357299
Balagurukulam, Chennai