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Profile | Activities | Requirements | Chairman | Secretary | Contact
When it all began
The Jeeva Jyothi Trust was set up in January 1997 by Anthony Swamy and Christine Pope. After conceiving the idea many years earlier they spread the word in England and Switzerland, resulting in regular sponsorships to enable the first intake of children as well as some donations towards construction and development work. Much of the funding has come from Anthony and Christine, whose joint qualifications and experience make them perfect Trust partners. A first-stage home for 11 children in the village of Bluff (some 70 kms from Mysore) provided accommodation for two years during construction of the main development at Mysore. In April 1998 the Bugathalli home opened its doors to 12 more children some 5 kms from the town limits, and in April 1999 the Bluff children joined came to Mysore to join their new 'brothers and sisters'. The home has facilities for up to 30 children as well as staff quarters for warden, cook, gardeners, driver etc. Establishment of a sick bay and facilities for disabled children is envisaged for the year 2000.
Where the Trust is based
The Trust's newly-built home, accommodating an initial maximum 20 deserving cases, is on a four hectare site in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, at a village called Bhughathalli.
Here, the young residents, in a happy family atmosphere probably for the first time, can enjoy the benefits of a peaceful countryside environment. The home is 8kms north of the ancient, bustling and rapidly developing city of Mysore, where many royal palaces and new hotels feeding the flourishing tourist trade, centred on wildlife parks, historic monuments and gardens.
Why the Trust is needed
But outside the city boundaries the semi-arid and largely uncultivated landscape tells a sharply contrasting story, of:
- For most people the quality of life is poor.
- Four out of five in our target area depend on the land for survival. Three- quarters of these farmers and their employees are illiterate.
- The children fare worst. Boys and girls of all ages find themselves in bonded labour, enabling unscrupulous landlords to persuade impoverished tenants to hand over their children for small payment. These youngsters rarely complete their education.Girls are an extra financial worry for parents because of the dowry system, and are usually the most undernourished, oppressed group and most likely to have physical/psychological problems. Thus the cycle of deprivation is perpetuated: children forced to work at an early age, child- mothers, low pay for long hours, domestic violence, sickness. Even the working animals suffer from neglect due to poverty in many cases.
What the Trust is doing
At the new development , the Trust also aims to encourage self-sufficiency through giving young people practical experience in helping to manage small dairy/poultry farms and agricultural plots in conjunction with a dispensary for sick animals.
All these activities - from learning to read and write to stitching clothes, gardening and milking cows/caring for animals - will combine to provide a positive springboard for the children's future.
All the major festivals of India are celebrated, and every religion is acknowledged and respected equally. During the Hindu festival 'Gauri-Ganesh' last year the children were presented with new clothes, according to the local customs. The festival was celebrated at the Trust according to tradition with the children escorting Ganesh and Gauri to the nearby river amidst much robust shouting and singing. Special sweets were prepared and distributed to anyone who came to the Home At Christmas each year a crib is made and the children put up the decorations. For Xmas 1999 we had a crib and tree inside as well as outside complete with multiple sets of electric lights! The children learnt some new Christmas carols which were sung around the crib on Christmas night as well as accompanying recorded carols. On Xmas day all went to church and received new clothes or whatever items they needed most. | |
Children from all castes and religions are welcome at the Trust Children’s Home so that they can learn to integrate and live as a family despite their diverse backgrounds. Both children and staff are selected according to the greatest need be it economic or social. Likewise, study, play and work are balanced equally so that the children may be given a chance to learn skills and develop at their own pace. During weekdays the children rise at 6 a.m. and practice hatha yoga. This is followed by carrying out their respective duties. They leave for school by 9 am and return by 5pm;. Evenings are spent playing and helping in the garden followed by homework and private studies assisted by the warden and helpers. As the children are mostly from rural backgrounds they have not received much primary education, despite their varied ages, so extra help is needed for them to reach the city school standards. The day is finished off with a short prayer after which they go to bed or study depending on their age and needs. At weekends they will read moral stories and do singing/dancing practice. | |
| Outings and picnics are arranged during holidays and leave days to places of historical /geographical interest such as famous temples, rivers/waterfalls outside Mysore. Likewise,during the many festivals, sports days and prize-givings for effort in studies, good behaviour, daily duties, etc. are held to encourage a competitive spirit as the culture in rural areas and in the education system tends towards passivity, especially in the case of girls. Small cultural programmes are arranged at Christmas, Deepavalli etc.where the children have a chance to show off their dancing/singing/acting skills. | |
Last year two children from a children’s home in Erumad near Kerala, whom we have been assisting with medical/operation costs, were presented a wheelchair and a walker by the Lion’s Club of Mysore. This was a very moving experience. Sushila, 32 years, the recipient of the wheelchair has been unable to walk since birth, and is also partially blind. Her first words on receiving the chair at the formal presentation was, ‘Now I can go to church tomorrow’. Anita, 12 years, was struck by polio as a baby and is unable to walk normally. The walker is designed specifically for polio victims and enables them to move more easily and quickly. Two brothers, Krishnamurthi and Senthil who were born with club foot will be undergoing a second operation shortly. |
Another ongoing project is animal welfare. We are now urgently seeking sponsorship to cover the medical costs of all the animals (cows and dogs). To date, we have only one sponsor for this part of the project which just foots the food bill alone. Vaccinations, operations, artificial insemination etc. can only be carried out once we have regular resources.. | |
At the moment we are looking for a second-hand video camera so that we can make a film and show the children at work and play. We also intend setting up a playground with swings, slide, basket ball pitch, etc. and are preparing the land accordingly. As a charity we use only local manpower from nearby villages as well as volunteers. The children have also contributed towards making the Trust 'their' home, keeping the plants and trees watered, the animals fed and the place clean. A warden is employed to see to the day to day needs of the children as well as help with the management of the Trust in such a way to allow the Chairman and Secretary more time to look into and research future projects and keep abreast of office/administration matters. How you can help
If you wish to play a part in the Trust's project, please choose from these programmes: 1. Children aged 5-15 yrs To maintain, clothe and educate one child costs \\$30 a month or $360 a year. 2. Adults aged 16-25 A two-year training course in nursing, teaching, typing etc. costs between \\$180 - $250 a year, inclusive of tuition and registration fees, books and uniform plus $28 per month maintenance. 3. Young men and women of all ages Training/self employment schemes in farming, gardening, mechanics, dressmaking, animal husbandry etc. costs \\$25 per month for each student. \\$200 will provide the tools of the trade. \\$200 will provide a cow/buffalo There is no commitment to provide funds beyond the initial time agreed. |
Anthony Swamy
Christine Pope,
A UK citizen, Christine has maintained
links with India since 1981 where she worked in an orphanage in Tamil Nadu, India for five
years helping with the rehabilitation of Sri Lankan refugees. She has held secretarial
posts at the World Health Organization, Geneva and is also an experienced TOEFL teacher.
In 1995 she obtained the ‘Diploma in Pastoral Studies and Counselling’ at Plater
College, Oxford.
For further information please contact us or our volunteers at the following addresses:
India: Anthony Swamy/Christine Pope:
jjyothi@bgl.vsnl.net.in
Switzerland: Mary-Ann Lundby:
lundbym@who.ch
England: Rex&Mary Sandrey:
rex@hoofies.freeserve.co.uk