| Dear Friends |
March 2005
|
| Dear Friends
The tsunami disaster with its enormous loss of life and unbelievable destruction of property is no longer much in the news. Like so many other disasters within a few weeks it has become a part of history that is of very little interest to most of the rest of the world, including India itself. All those terrible pictures on TV and in the media are now largely forgotten except by the many who lived and suffered in that area.
|
| Within a day or two of December 26th, that dreadful day, we made it known to all those in the Government who were involved that we had two very clear objectives for a permanent solution. One was our readiness to welcome children orphaned by the tsunami. We made it very clear by advertisements in English and Tamil newspapers for several days and by frequent mail contacts with all the authorities concerned. We even quickly organized the construction of yet another Children’s Village. We bought 3 acres of excellent land and the whole complex is well on the way to being ready to welcome up to 112 children and 16 widows to act as “mothers”. Despite every possible effort, so far not one child has been released into our care. By April/May we will be ready to take in new children. We have called for new “mothers” to come in for training. Already several are with us. |
| The other offer made to the local Government officials in the disaster affected area was to rebuild one or two of the villages which were completed demolished. RTU are highly skilled in this area and could have carried out this help to rehouse some of the very poorest. Unfortunately, the local Government officials are making any progress very difficult. We are however channelling any funds that come for this through trustworthy organizations working in that area. |
| Therefore your most generous response to your RTU tsunami appeal will be used for any tsunami orphans who may appear in the future, and also go towards helping HIV/AIDS children who are coming to us in ever increasing numbers. I will keep you informed about this. |
| We know that there are many, too many children orphaned by the frightening epidemic of AIDS/HIV. The problem of tsunami orphans is a one off problem that will eventually end. The problem of orphans from AIDS parents is one that is rapidly escalating and will be with us for years to come. We are discovering that due to myths and misunderstandings about AIDS many schools and institutions will not admit children whose parents are HIV+. Our doors are wide open to receive such children and also those from the tsunami. Presently with us we have close to 200 children affected by AIDS, orphans, or from single HIV+ parents; of these some of the children are HIV+. We know that in the weeks to come many more such children will seek for a refuge with us. They will be welcome. Again I repeat that our doors are wide open for all children in need. There are other children also in great need of our type of family care, that is 6 or 7 boys and girls from babies to teens in their own house with a “mother”, in a purpose built real village. We know the system works very well, much, much better than the dormitory system of up to 100 children with a single warden in charge. This is all the more so for those who have experienced some of the terrible traumas so common among the boys and girls in our care. |
| Last year we admitted 173 new children into our three Children’s Villages. Of these 88 were affected by AIDS. Already 62 were with us from former years. This year similar children are beginning to arrive and we estimate that we will need accommodation for around 100 AIDS orphans or semi-orphans. Tsunami orphans will be equally welcome, should the Government authorities release them. |
| Here is a story about a family that came into our care in recent weeks. I began to notice a child in dirty rags wandering on the road of the nearby village. I have known the child, a girl, for quite a long time. She has 5 other sisters – a real burden for an impoverished family in India. Three girls I admitted to one of our Children’s Villages and then began to enquire about their backgrounds. I was shocked by what I found. The father was absent for months at a time, looking for work in Kerala. Eventually we convinced him to come back. He looked so haggard and ill that we did a blood test to check for HIV/AIDS. He proved to be very positive and very ill, so we admitted him to the hospice for such people, which we help. He is already much improved though he is still heavily HIV+, unable to do any work. |
| Then we went to investigate where the family were living to find that they had a single small room, which housed all those children, the mother and two very old grandmothers who were also incontinent. It is no wonder that the only man in the house wandered off! Life must have been intolerable. We then discovered that the mother had become a sex-worker. After all she had to care for and feed all that lot and other work was just not available. The eldest girl we now employ in our weaving department. The smallest girl is now coming daily to one of our day-care centres. And each day someone comes to collect enough food for three meals for the remaining people in that little house. As a result the mother has stopped her only means of income and is no longer burdened with a very ill husband and too many children. Our motto is “see, judge and act” and this is a typical example of the frequent way in which this motto is applied. |
| One of the newest children admitted is SARANYA. She is a delightful, pretty little girl, 4 years old. Both her mother and father are HIV+ and without special and very expensive drugs will not live long. Her 10 year old brother is also HIV+. In their house there are also two aged grandparents. We now check each child that comes into our care for this dreaded virus. This is essential so that we can care for the children who with this disease have lost all immunity to any other disease. Saranya we now know is also afflicted with this virus. Presently she is healthy, with no symptoms at all. Like all our other HIV children she is fully integrated into our family-care system and our education programmes. But here is a whole family, like so many others, who will gradually wind down to an early death, unless the very special and expensive care is available. It truly does hurt to look at such children in our care knowing they have this disease. Already seven very young children have died in hospice care. We have several little babies who are HIV+. Where will all this end? |
| I wish that I could take you on a visit to our rapidly finishing new Children’s Village. Thee are four groups of four houses arranged so there is plenty of space around each, with pathways and a wide road through the village. The “mothers” from our nearby Children’s Villages were invited to visit the place while we were building and tell us what they would like to see in the houses. They suggested excellent additions. It is a real, self-contained village complete with an auditorium, co-operative shop, clinic, nurse’s quarters, a large playground with swings and slides and enough space for older children’s games, a large water tower, etc.. I look forward to the day when it will also be adorned with gardens and trees. Above all I look forward to the days when it will all be alive with the sounds of happy children. Once again I wish to insist that our doors are wide open to any children in need. |
| People often ask what happens to our children once they have finished their academic studies in our schools (we have four) or in residential schools. Each year we sit with the teenagers and together with career guidance experts plan for their further studies which are always professional oriented. These studies such as doctors’ degree, nursing, engineering, can last up to three years. These children still remain under the care and support of Reaching the Unreached. Eventually they will go through to marriage or become otherwise independent. Even then they remain in touch. |
| It is always a special joy when they come to visit with their own children – grandchildren of Reaching the Unreached.
|
| Cordially yours, |
 |
|
| Brother James
Kimpton |
