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| Performance |
| The children are
encouraged in local cultural traditions, including
dance and drama. Click below to see a video clips of
some of the older children from Nirmala Children's
Villages performing for some visitors, including
visitors from RTU-UK. This took place in the
'auditorium' where all the young children and
mothers gather each evening for multi-faith prayers. |
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| Children's Villages |
| There are currently four Children's Villages
for orphaned and destitute children, who are
welcomed regardless
of their background or creed. The villages
provide them with a new and permanent
home, and we bring them up to prepare them for an independent life.
There are altogether 90 families with from 6 to 8 boys and
girls, and their 'mothers' who are widows or deserted
women. |
| We receive both babies and and
older children, and we provide them with
care and support until adulthood, independence,
and marriage. No child
is ever refused admission. Sometimes we are
able to place babies with childless local couples
wanting to adopt. |
| The four Children's Villages are
Anbu Illam (which means 'place of love') and
Sirumalar ('little flower'), both in Kallupatti,
RTU's 'home village'. Miriam is a few miles
away towards Batlagundu, and Nirmala is located in
the town of Bodinayakanur. |
| Each RTU Children's Village is
based on four principles: |
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THE MOTHER: Every
child is given a Mother and thus someone to
turn to at all times. |
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BROTHERS & SISTERS: Boys
and girls of various ages grow up together
as brothers and sisters. Siblings from the
same birth family are kept together. |
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THE HOUSE: Every RTU Children's
Village family has a house of its own. These
are simple but well-designed: a good Indian
village house (with concrete block walls,
tiled roof, water, sanitation, and
electricity) rather than a westernised home. |
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THE VILLAGE: The house is an
integral part of the village community. This
gives the children cultural roots and a feeling
of belonging. The villages have play areas,
a meeting hall ('auditorium') where all gather together each
evening, and other facilities such as a small
clinic and a shop run by the mothers. |
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| The Children's Village System |
| Children brought to the
RTU village maintain contact with the world
around, including with members of their birth
family, eg uncles and aunts. They attend
either an RTU-run school (which also accepts local
children) which is a short walk or bus-ride away; or
the local government school. Children are admitted from their day of birth where
necessary, up to ten years old, although the upper
age limit is always waived to allow real brothers
and sisters to stay together. |
| Children remain in the
Children's Villages until they are able to look
after themselves. At around age 13 they move into one of the
RTU hostels next to the villages, which
run separately for girls and boys while they
continue they schooling to age 16 or 18. They may go
away to learn
their trade or study for a profession - still
supported by RTU - and return for their holidays. The RTU village where
they grow up is always regarded as their real home. |
| They are considered our
responsibility until they are married or settled
independently. |
| Accountability |
| Each children's village
has a manager, who is responsible for ensuring
standards are maintained - in hygiene, nutrition,
and all aspects of the children's welfare. New
foster mothers are carefully trained and monitored,
and as well as meeting together frequently for
mutual support and encouragement, there are training
and development programmes for them. For example
AIDS has meant a growing number of HIV+ children
being admitted, and mothers in Sirumalar village
have been given the knowledge and understanding to
care for these children alongside their fellows. |
| Our Success, Our
Philosophy |
| Our whole philosophy
underlying the development of our child-care
practice is based on the words of Jesus
Christ. "Whatsoever you do to the least of
these, you do it to me". And: "He that
welcomes one such little child in my name welcomes
me." |
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