Looking beyond harmonious socialisation

By Our Special Correspondent

“Let there be charity , so that other people may share our family's prosperity…….”

It all started with a humble beginning in May 2005 when the Shalom Kids Garden has opened its door for the orphans. Since then it has made significant contributions to the society especially children, involving itself with a variety of activities. Value based ethical operations and commitment in toto are Shalom Garden's real strength.

The landmark achievement in establishing a home for orphans only reiterates our unstinted commitment to the unwanted kids in the society. The Trust has in due course assumed the responsibility to protect, shelter , educate and ultimately bring them in the society which is divided on the basis of caste, religion and region. When the Trust adopt a child we are not really bothered about his history, faith, religion or region. At Shalom Kids Garden ,we look beyond all these parameters.

Just imagine a situation when a child got nobody to look after, no material benefit to fall upon, no shelter to sleep, no food to feed his mouth. He was literally thrown out in the street and the world is his home and the sky is his shelter which protects him from the vagaries of climate. Shalom Kids Garden is preciously the place for them.

Shalom Kids Garden is meant for the benefit of all the sections of the society. The orphanage is recognized by the Board of Control for Orphanages and the Government of Kerala.

This home has attracted kids even from North Indian states, Orissa and other Adivasi dominated areas of north eastern states. At present, the Garden has 28 inhabitants. However, the strength is likely to touch the figure of 100 within a short span of five years.

The actions and behaviour of kids and the prevailing environment stamp clear impressions on a child's mind and at least partly determine his behaviour. If there is right people with a right environment, the child develops accordingly. The child cannot distinguish between right and wrong actions by himself . Therefore, in the Shalom Kids Garden adults around the child interact with them to develop moral standards and correct thinking in the child and provides right education. Socialisation of the child then becomes harmonious.

Shalom Kids Garden targets children from the poor and backward families, who are normally deprived of formal education. The Garden provides them with shelter, education along with free distribution of books, uniforms and other study materials.

Shalom has ambitious plans to develop the Garden . In order to meet the growing needs, we are planning to construct a welfare complex and individual homes. The system we are planning to follow is one-home, one-mother with every ten students. Let the destitutes grow up under the shelter of Shalom Kids Garden and enjoy mother's affection, father's protection and a social security.

Published in “Deepam”, inhouse magazine of Shalom Trust

January-March, 2007 issue * * * * * * * * * * * -------------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * **