Home of Hope
Integral to the fulfillment of our vision and mission has been the establishment of the Home of Hope.
The Home of Hope is a Christ-centered home where destitute children irrespective of their background are accepted, cared for, transformed and empowered to be salt and light in society.
There are currently 35 children who form part of the Home of Hope family, with plans to expand in due course to welcome another 15 children.
Our aim is that the Home of Hope will become partly self-sufficient through growing vegetables and other produce, alongside keeping livestock.
Healthcare
Bright Morning Star supports the work of Prabhat Tara Sanstha, India, who, in conjunction with Wanless Christian Hospital, Miraj regularly runs health clinics and immunisation programmes in the red light areas of Miraj, Sangli and Gokul Nagar. Medical records are kept of all members of the community who attend these clinics. Recent clinics have included eye clinics, follow-up eye surgery particularly for cataracts at Wanless Christian Hospital and an ENT clinic.
Some Board Members of Wanless Christian Hospital are also Board Members of Prabhat Tara Sanstha, India.
From time-to-time visiting medical personnel from across India and overseas will also undertake medical work within the Red Light Areas on behalf of Prabhat Tara Sanstha.
Medical conditions addressed by category include:
mental health, neurological, ophthalmology, ENT, dental, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, orthopaedic, gynaecological, skin diseases, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition.
Education
In the three red light districts, children of sex workers are deprived of their basic rights and privileges. But because Bright Morning Star supports the pre-school education centres set up by Reverend Jalam, 200 children are given an opportunity to learn and prepare themselves for school. Encouragingly, a good number of girls are attending the pre-schools.
After pre-school is over the children are given a meal. This might be their only meal all day.
Provision of textbooks, note-books, school-bags and school uniforms are a very motivating factor for the children to attend the school regularly.
In extra tuition classes, special attention is given to children who have difficulty with the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. A number of the children have secured good marks in their examinations, and the pre-schools have brought the communities together
Some of the girls from the Red Light Districts are now going forward for Government examination and certification in basic tailoring. This gives them recognition and a 50% cost reduction in purchasing sewing machines. This will enable them to establish a cottage industry and break away from the cycle of the sex industry.
Child Sponsorship
In the Red Light Districts many families live in very poor conditions and the children are undernourished and frequently ill, particularly suffering from diseases relating to dirty water. Many have intestinal problems and some are HIV positive or already have AIDS.
Our child sponsorship programme costs £6 per month per child and supplies the children from the red light districts with clothes, food, teaching materials and medical care. If you would like to get involved with the programme, child sponsorship forms and further details are available from:
Sue Bartlett
E-mail: twobartletts@excite.com
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