Robin Cappuccino is currently traveling to all of the Child Haven homes – here are some thoughts from road.
Namaskaram from our Child Haven Home in Hyderabad, with 229 children and 26 staff (including several part-time tutors). What has moved me the most here has been witnessing once again, the resilience and responsiveness to loving care and a secure home that little children so often demonstrate.
Sandip and Varun – best buddies in their school uniforms.
Early morning bus to school, pretty much filled up by our kids.
Among our first conversations with our Home’s Manager, Sunil, upon arriving was about the 30 or so new children who had joined the Home since my last visit.
Two sets of siblings came from especially challenging backgrounds. Two of them, ages 5 and 7 had been visiting their Grandmother when a neighbors killed their parents and older brother over a wall built between their houses. They lived in a village with a number of people who had heard about Child Haven, and after receiving the needed paper-work from the village head and determining that other family members were unable to care for them, both children came here.
Madu has some irresistibly pinch-able cheeks.
The other sibling’s mother died from illness, and their distraught father, overcome with grief, wandered away leaving the children, ages 4 and 6 to wander around the village begging for food, and staying alone in their small house. Again, villagers knew about Child Haven, and after obtaining the necessary permission from village elders and relatives the children came here.
Akshaya – what a sweetie.
What was most striking about these children, was how well-adjusted and cheerful they appeared, playing happily with the other children and smiling readily when I spoke with them. Visitors often marvel at how happy Child Haven Homes tend to be in spite of the hardships many of our children have experienced. These four kids exemplified that for me in a very moving manner.
Meet Anu and Shrisha.
Madulatha and Madu enjoying some afternoon soya milk.
Sravanphi and Pooja.
Kitchen scraps going into our compost bins – Shiva and Anil helping one of our cooks Mariama.
First sprouts.
Manjula preparing vegetables.
Tomatoes, chilies, and curry leaves – ready for the sambar.
Venkatamma getting some help from Kalyan.
Photos show the first seedlings in our new garden, the new vermiculture compost facility, kids enjoying soy milk and our wonderful cooks.
Kalyan – there’s something about boys and wheels – endless pleasure.
Today we’re off to our home in Savarsai. More information on Child Haven can be found at www.childhaven.ca.
Until next time,
Robin Cappuccino for CHI
Stay tuned for more ‘thoughts from the road’ as Robin continues his journey through the CHI homes in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Tibet.