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.
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
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