Project India

supported by Compassion 4 Kids International, Inc.

Supporting Street Children since 2005

When we get to Narasaraopet, Kiran, his father (Gollapalli), and Amar meet us along the road. At first they wanted me to get into their car but with my 3 bags, we would not all fit so we follow them in the taxi to their house.

When we got out of the car, they put 3 fresh flower wreaths around my neck. Then they through flower peddles onto me. I thought back to when I was showered with rice when I got married. The peddles kept coming.

 This is the most different greeting I had ever received anywhere I have ever gone. I do not know how many people greeted me but the time flew by and 9 pm came and they asked if I needed to get to the hotel.

The hotel had a very small elevator with a scissor door so after using it one time, we just used the stairs. The hotel  begins on the 3rd floor.

The hotel room was almost wall to wall (2) twin beds with a TV, and 3 chairs for putting the suitcases on. The bathroom did have a flushing toilet but they brought me a bucket of hot water for taking a bath every morning.

While I was with Kiran, we talked about setting up a foundation, the new income and expense ledgers to keep, hard copy ledgers, board members, responsibilities and on and on.

We traveled a little of the area to see the topography which is mostly flat with small hills. They live on the outskirts of Narasaraopet and there was an 8 block walk to the closest store.

 

If I decided to go for a walk, I had 4 or 5 with me. Some of the houses were pretty nice concrete homes, then there were grass thatched walls with grass roofs and others in between of wood. India is mainly Hindu. While walking I took random pictures and asked to take a picture of a woman. She ran and got her young son and posed for me. After taking the picture she asked me to pray for her. I asked my interpreter why a Hindu woman would want me to pray for her. He told me that she may be getting closer to converting to being a Christian. So I prayed for her. (right)

I believe I read that 60% of the population is unemployed. So most of the people are poor and a high percentage of them are very poor.

Later in the week, Kiran found and brought in 16 children that either did not have any parents (4), with the others having one parent that they did not see as the parent who worked 12 to 14 hour days.

There is one 14 year old girl in the upper back left side. She is an orphan. None of them go to school because those they live with do not have the income to pay for their school books and clothing. They try to find little jobs to help anyone or beg for money and food. The children are between the ages of 8 and 14. One of the children did not know how old he was and the other children just said "He is 10."

After we had a long chat with the children I asked if they would like to learn a song in English. They were enthused to do that.

I first taught them the words to a song that goes "Allelue, Allelue, Allelue, Alleluia, Praise Ye the Lord." After they could sing that on their own, then I taught them the body body movements of squatting and standing when it was their turn to sing. They had a ball with that and I got my cardiac exercise for the week, or maybe it was for the month.

Then after our sing time Kiran had his mother and the other helpers bring in the food. It consisted of rice and a sauce that had at least 5 vegetables, maybe some meat, and curry powder. When their dish emptied a little, the mother brought more rice and more sauce until they were full. They do this for kids at least once a month.

After the meal they relaxed and I heard them humming the song I had taught them. When I return to India, I will see if any of those same children remember that song.

 That night we went to a church way out in the "sticks." Yes they have the sticks there also. We were supposed to be there at 7 pm but we were not able to get there until 8:45 and no one was at the church except for one person. The word went out and about 30 people came. But the children Kiran expected were not there. So two days later, he got the pastor of the church to find a vehicle and bring the kids. Six small boys, aged 8 to 10 came shyly into the house. We talked a little to each other for introductions and I told them a few things and then the food was brought to them.

These six boys did not have parents. They had no relatives that would take them in or allow them to stay with them. So they work every day tending goat and sheep herds. For this they are given the clothes they wear and one meal in the morning and one after dark when they get home. Their ages are 8 to 11 years old. They do not go to school and no medical care.

Now is where you come in. These children, as you have read, do not have living parents that oversee them. They do not get the love and care as your children receive from you. Do you have enough love? Talk it over with your family and provide the children here, with the support that will allow us to send to Kiran and give them a home where they come home to from school, not work, and have the loving care, like your children or grandchildren receive.

It is only $40.00 per month to provide shelter, clothing, food, medical care, education and a loving home structure, plus you and your family. That is less than the cost to take your whole family out to one dinner at a nice restaurant. Or maybe you could give up a special coffee or soft drink at a fast food or 7-Eleven. Maybe you could support even two children per month or send gift support periodically to help us with the building of a home for them. It will cost about $12,000 for a 1,000 square foot house with furnishings. Many of you could make that possible. We have already started the project but need additional support to completely finish it.

Go to one of the project pages in the left column page links and see what is happening and what items we need support for.

You now can use PayPal to help support us. Just click on the "Donate" button and follow the instructions. You have a choice of the major credit cards and PayPal. This is completed through PalPay.com.

Thank you for your support!

support@compassion-4-kids-int.org

OR

supportthekids@compassion-4-kids-int.org

OR

compassion4kids@compassion-4-kids-int.org