30 January 2013
Dear Friends,
What a privilege it was to spend a few days in India considering the possibilities
of ministry for orphans. I apologize for being slow in putting this email together. I am currently in South Kerala attending various meetings, about 5 per day and have a little time between meetings so I write a few emails.
The Need
Around 40% of children under age three suffer from malnutrition, since inadequate sanitation and lack of clean water multiply the water-born diseases that impact mostly children and the poor. In India, an estimated 900,000 people per year die as a result of drinking unclean water or breathing polluted air. The health sector is overstretched, under-resourced and prone to corruption. India has the world’s third-largest HIV-positive population and accounts for one-third of the world’s tuberculosis cases.
Children in crisis – no country can rival India’s staggering need.
Of India’s 400 million children under 15 years old, possibly up to 35 million are orphans. Eleven million are abandoned (90% girls); three million live on the street. There are 20 million child laborers (including many instances of bond slavery to pay family debts) – some estimates claim 50 million. Up to two-thirds of children suffer physical abuse, and one-half some kind of sexual harassment or abuse. Over 1.2 million children are involved in prostitution; many of them are Nepali or Bangladeshi.
The Opportunity
To reopen the Gentle Hands orphanage in Tamil Nadu with a potential of caring for 100 orphans.
The Reputation
Gentle Hands originated in the Philippines in 1990 as a service to the urban-poor pregnant women and babies. During the early years of Gentle Hands Philippines over 5000 babies before the organization shifted towards child care in the mid 2000s.
In 2004 Gentle Hands refocused it's emphasis towards crisis childcare and adoptions. Currently, Gentle Hands Philippines is directed by Charity and Evan Graff.
Gentle Hands India was opened in 2002. Due to some administrative issues ceased operation in 2009 and after restructuring will reopen an orphanage in Tamil Nadu.
The Challenge
First - to finish the legal requirements for reopening - in process
Second- to draft plans for expanding the current building
Third- to renovate and enlarge the current facility
Fourth- to select appropriate qualifies staff
Fifth -to select search for appropriate children for the facility
Sixth- financial
Money is needed for the following purposes
- Immediate administrative costs of finishing the legal work - $2500
- Obtaining an exact cost of construction - $5000
- General administrative expenses $10,000
- The cost of construction estimate - $100,000 (Will have definite price once I consult with the builder.)
- Raising a new operational budget estimated at $50 per child per month.
Once we start the renovations we'll begin screening new potential staff.
Would you have any contacts or people of interest who might be able to help raise this money? Please contact me as soon you can and we can get necessary information to these individuals; it would be great to see this project under way just as soon as we can.
Blessings,
Dennis Heppner
Projects Coordinator,
Gentle Hands of India
Here is a letter that Tracey sent out to her supporters in regards to her experience on the trip...
Hey friends & family!
As you know, myself along with
Jonathan's dad, Dennis, my cousin Blayne and wife Tara, and brothers
David & Greg Evans from the USA all went to India in January.
Our
main purpose was to scout a building and property that was given to
Gentle Hands of India, which was running a few years back until there
was some administrative issues that forced it to close.
What
we saw was awesome--the potential for this very run down building was
great: a building that could be renovated and then house up to 100
children, on property that has space for a large grassed yard plus a
garden. It is located in a nice middle class neighborhood.
After touring through it, taking photos from all angles and listening to
Dad and some Indians talk about the actual structure of the building,
it really came alive! Our whole group was very excited about the
potential that this ministry could do.
Here's a part of something I wrote about my trip to India...
i
recently went on a quick trip over to india from the philippines. 6
days actually. and in those six days i took 7 flights, stayed in 3
hotels, drove by bus, van, taxi, auto (3 wheel trike), train and walked
a ton.
the trip was for the main purpose of documenting for
an NGO that will be opening a girls home/orphanage sometime this year,
outside of chennai, tamil nadu.
then we went to mumbai for 2 days and then to nagercoil for the last two.
what i didn’t know is that my world would be completely rocked in mumbai.
“mumbai 10:30pm – i have no words to describe what i saw. all i know if that i will never be the same. and i will not be silent.
driving
through the infamous “cages of mumbai”, in amongst pimps by the
hundreds, lie dozens of streets upon streets of what look like
residences. except they are not. we are in amongst the biggest known
brothel of the world. women and children, stolen & bought into sex
slavery. they say there are over 200,000 people living in this area.
when
my eyes wandered thru the crowds as we slowly drove thru this hell on
earth, I saw one–one young lady sitting, waiting. and as we drove past
her, I saw her eyes meet mine and all there was was dark loneliness
screaming for hope, or someone to love them. as we drove past and onto
the next street, a couple of young children no older than 5 playing at
11pm at night in the streets, in the middle of this hopeless death.
I
am only one. and I am not sure what one like myself can do. but I know I
came here for a reason. more than one reason. and I, in my own
brokenness and frailty, will now begin to search out where it is I fit
in all this…because I know one thing–I cannot be silent after what I
saw tonight.”
i have always had a heart for
india. and in recent years been more and more aware of the the reality
of the sex slavery that goes on in our world in this day and age.
i loved every single moment i spent in mumbai. in all of india actually.
and
so as i am back in my home in manila, philippines, i see those girls in
my dreams, i see them daily. and i anticipate the days ahead when i can
go back…and do more.
This describes my time in Mumbai, yes, but also describes my heart for the children of this nation.
Gentle Hands of India needs your financial help and many prayers.
If
this is something that moves you, and you would like more information
on how to be involved, we would love to have more conversations with you
about it.
So that is the basic of my update regarding India. It
was really an amazing, eye-opening trip. And I’m excited to see what is
in store for the many orphans of India.
Much love,
Tracey
