It was twilight when we paid a visit to Sri Saradha Seva Ashram in manivakkam .A juvenile boy greeted us at the entrance of their home with a smile and a Namaste. A Namstaey with a slight bow, hands pressed together, palms converged and fingers pointed upwards, front of the chest. Once we entered the home we could see the girls sweeping and cleaning the house and making arrangements for the evening prayers whereas the boys were seen playing outside adjoining the home. We also got the opportunity of meeting parent of Sadhu Yoga Kumar beneath whose supervision these children are growing up.
We were contentedly seated and were served with sweets and water, and only after this we were taken to see sadhu yoga Kumar who was seated in a thatched room which was also within the premises of the home. Sadhu who practices and preaches yoga didn't look older by a year from our previous visit but the children there had grown taller and smarter. Sadhu explained us that owing to the demand for yoga among the general civic, he has to take up extra classes and his disciple also conducts two or three classes to help him. With the revenue earned through this, they are overseeing the home.
All the kids of the Home formed a circle and gave us there introduction; we in turn introduced ourselves to them. We were also introduced to the caretakers whose number amplified largely from the last time. The reason could be the girls in the home are growing up and this demands more protection and care.
This year around 4 of them are in their final year of schooling, 2 of them will take up their 10th board exams and 3 of them doing ITI and 2 of them are about to finish their college.
We offered them some cricket and shuttle bats as well as skipping ropes recalling their gusto towards sports, whilst we visited prior. The kids, without more ado took these things and kept it in front of the god they worship. For them even these things need to be sanctified by god before they can be used; awe-inspiring devotion!
While rolling the dialect with the sadhu, we could hear to the children ovation while playing volley ball which attracted us and aroused the kid inside us .We too joined them and started playing; stopped only by the darkness drowning the earth.
After the play we were shown the painting of the boy vettri who's earlier works we posted for in our blog. When told this, he was really thrilled and wanted to see it himself, but desolately there was no internet connection in the home. We promised him that his recently drawn painting will also be posted.
After spending few more hours with them and feeling the gratification of being a child yet again; we had to say good bye …!!!!
About Us
The very name "Hastadharan" connote what we insinuate to comprehend. To aid the orphanages fiscally, with the intention that they have enough funds to afford victuals and haven for the vagrants. The plain yet imperative
Obligations - food and shelter.
We came into existence, with the nativity of deliberation in our hearts and moreover entrenched deep in our soul, to lend a hand. A hand in the offing to hold the one in need, to support the less fortunate's, and to embrace the insolvent, wherever, whatever, however and whenever, it is possible.
Hastadharan originated back on May 20th 2009, with measly participation of twelve people, and an eternal motive of supporting the orphanages which are struggling to run their homes due to lack of funds. The initiative we took was a minute step towards the colossal goal, we had in our minds. And this minuscule steps have cemented a potent trail to reach our aspiration.
In the company of our troop, we onset the voyage of visiting the orphanages and evaluating them on the scales of need of fiscal assistance, with that the first stopover of Hastadharan was marked by the trip to Balgurukulam.Our first stride in the line of attack of reaching out to the orphans.
That was our instigation and from then we are never on rest.
We now have approximately forty to forty five members since our onset, and the number keeps going up. The membership of this group is wholly volunteered. The people who have the immense compassion and huge zeal to serve the deprived are the element of the set. They all have the same revere, "Lending a Helping Hand".
To reach out to the mob, which has the identical fervor, we came up with our Blog, a spot where we share our stances and also ventures made so far. This Blog spot facilitate us by providing a middling for extending our horizons, also creating a great deal of societal consciousness and errands towards our fellow beings.
We amass the contributions of all the members and the volunteers who join hands with us and bequeath it to the orphanage we visit.
Hastadharan, with its vision and mission has completed a few expeditions through the manifold helping hands. The idea at the rear of all these visits is the assortment of the solitary orphanage amongst all, which is found scuffling financially, to keep up the motive of cherishing the destitute, and supporting them on chronic basis with unremitting funds.
Our mission is immense and hands are few, but the voyage we commenced will never recede…..since we believe that; As Hastadharan unfolds, indubitably our hands will proliferate……
Join your hands with our hands…….. We embrace more willingly than holding……!!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
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Event 2- Udhavum Ullangal illam
Udhavum Ullangal Illam- an orphanage home started in the year 2001 is situated near St Thomas Railway station. As on date, it houses 125 children who are between the ages 3 ½ years to 15 years.
The children here strictly follow the daily routine of waking up every day at 5:30 am in the morning and doing meditation for half an hour. They are given 45 minutes as study time, after which they have their breakfast and go to their schools. In the evening after coming from their schools they are given time for playing and watching TV. They again have study time allocated, which is around 2 hour, after which they dine and sleep by 9 pm.
The people around the locality of this home sponsor the food for these children on special occasions like wedding anniversary and birthday’s. They get sponsorship for approximately 15 days in a month. For the remaining days of the month they are providing food from the revenue that they gather. On the sponsored day they are provided special meal which consists of a sweet and more than one dish and on normal days their meals have only one dish.
These children are educated in two schools namely Rosily school and A G S Nidhi school, the former being a primary school and the latter higher secondary school. This academic year 10 of these children are going to write their High school board exams. The children who had suffered psychologically need extra help for continuing their studies which is being provided by volunteers. The children of age more than 12 are given basic computer training by Apollo computer centre free of cost. The tailoring class is especially organized for all the girls above the age of 13 years.
The children here are forced to play only indoor games as the home has space constraints.
The home is raising funds by conducting Musical concert every year. It is also getting sponsorship like philanthropists.
The home requires help in purchasing groceries as they are not able to manage it. They also require help in stitching uniform for these children.
The children here strictly follow the daily routine of waking up every day at 5:30 am in the morning and doing meditation for half an hour. They are given 45 minutes as study time, after which they have their breakfast and go to their schools. In the evening after coming from their schools they are given time for playing and watching TV. They again have study time allocated, which is around 2 hour, after which they dine and sleep by 9 pm.
The people around the locality of this home sponsor the food for these children on special occasions like wedding anniversary and birthday’s. They get sponsorship for approximately 15 days in a month. For the remaining days of the month they are providing food from the revenue that they gather. On the sponsored day they are provided special meal which consists of a sweet and more than one dish and on normal days their meals have only one dish.
These children are educated in two schools namely Rosily school and A G S Nidhi school, the former being a primary school and the latter higher secondary school. This academic year 10 of these children are going to write their High school board exams. The children who had suffered psychologically need extra help for continuing their studies which is being provided by volunteers. The children of age more than 12 are given basic computer training by Apollo computer centre free of cost. The tailoring class is especially organized for all the girls above the age of 13 years.
The children here are forced to play only indoor games as the home has space constraints.
The home is raising funds by conducting Musical concert every year. It is also getting sponsorship like philanthropists.
The home requires help in purchasing groceries as they are not able to manage it. They also require help in stitching uniform for these children.
Event 1 - Balagurukulam
Balagurukulam, a place which houses 45 orphans of various ages, is located in a village called Kalikuppam near Pudur. This home is surrounded by vast water body which gives it a scenic view.
The first impression that we got on seeing the children is that they were much matured for their age; the elder ones were parenting the younger ones. The caretakers are doing a good job, like training them in yoga and meditation. The children here are also taught to paint, make handicraft items and swim. The care takers carry out all the daily activities with the assistance of the children and with the support of another volunteer.
One of the caretakers is an ayurvedic doctor by profession who does research on ayurvedic herbs. He is also a counselor of personality development who takes classes in some colleges in the city. The other caretaker works in a private company as an HR. The Organisation is run partially by the caretaker’s monthly income and through loan that have been raised from banks and donation that they get from various philanthropists.
The Organisation wants to bring into their fold minimum of 100 orphans who would be educated and brought into the main stream of society, who in turn could help other orphans to come up in life.
In Line with this motto, 22 of these children are being educated in top schools of that area, namely Vivekananda vidyalaya and Velammal School. These schools charge an amount of Rs.15000 per annum per child without any concession. This academic year the organization has to pay an amount of Rs.1.2 lakh which has not been yet arranged. The daily expenses for feeding these children with milk and food amounts to Rs.2000.
Every year on January 26th, a christening ceremony is held for all the children who have completed one year in age.
The first impression that we got on seeing the children is that they were much matured for their age; the elder ones were parenting the younger ones. The caretakers are doing a good job, like training them in yoga and meditation. The children here are also taught to paint, make handicraft items and swim. The care takers carry out all the daily activities with the assistance of the children and with the support of another volunteer.
One of the caretakers is an ayurvedic doctor by profession who does research on ayurvedic herbs. He is also a counselor of personality development who takes classes in some colleges in the city. The other caretaker works in a private company as an HR. The Organisation is run partially by the caretaker’s monthly income and through loan that have been raised from banks and donation that they get from various philanthropists.
The Organisation wants to bring into their fold minimum of 100 orphans who would be educated and brought into the main stream of society, who in turn could help other orphans to come up in life.
In Line with this motto, 22 of these children are being educated in top schools of that area, namely Vivekananda vidyalaya and Velammal School. These schools charge an amount of Rs.15000 per annum per child without any concession. This academic year the organization has to pay an amount of Rs.1.2 lakh which has not been yet arranged. The daily expenses for feeding these children with milk and food amounts to Rs.2000.
Every year on January 26th, a christening ceremony is held for all the children who have completed one year in age.