July 2005 was just another bundle of events and cheers for the HOPE Foundation family. Or was it? Come to think of it, it was also the month for the “Pilgrims' visit” to our humble abode.
This year, HOPE Worldwide sent 18 eager people to Chennai – people all set to fulfill their dream of ‘being there' for the downtrodden. 9 of them are in their twenties (HOPE Youth Corp) and the rest are from the older generation (HOPE Volunteer Corp). They spent 10 days, visiting the Tamil Nadu Coast - recovering from the devastation caused by the Tsunami - and the programs run by HOPE Foundation, Chennai.
The first stop was Pudupattinam, on 20 th July, 2005 . Together with the neighbouring Oyyalikuppam, it lost about 9 live to the Tsunami. HOPE Foundation, through donors, has given 60 boats to help 180 families in these villages, brining their lives back on track. The “Pilgrims” were abounding in their ardor to be helpful. The fisherfolk were eager to ensure that nothing went amiss in their hospitality.
To ease logistics, the whole bunch was divided into two. One half took up the task of managing the soft side – peppin up the children and generally spreading a spirit of liveliness and brotherhood. They set camp at the HOPE Foundation Pre-Primary School . They conducted games and competitions in fancy dress, colouring and craftwork – the lucky children bagging prizes. The group taught the children some of their own collection of rhymes.
The other group got involved with the ‘hard realities'– watering and fencing up of the nearly 100 coconut saplings that HOPE Foundation had planted as part of the Tsunami Rehabilitation measures, and helping construct toilets for the villagers.
On the sixth day the whole group joined the gratified fisherfolk for a grand celebration. It was a day set aside for fun and frolic. The “Pilgrims” got together with the local youths to put up a skit. They then danced to Indian music. The community treated the “Pilgrims” to tender coconuts and boat rides into the sea.
The next stop was the AIDS Home of HOPE at Sembakkam. It was half a day for both fun and heart-sharing with the women and children at the orphanage for the HIV/AIDS infected. The “Pilgrims” joined the children in simple pleasures – drawing, painting, songs and dances. The residents of the Home, in turn, treated them to their own artistic feats.
The women at the orphanage poured out their feelings before the visitors – no holds bar. The visitors took a lesson home on the limits of human courage and perseverance.
On 27 th the volunteers reached Trichy , at the Children's Village of HOPE .
It was another round of fun and sharing for the motley group, come half way around the world to touch lives. The Children's village of HOPE is an orphanage for children. With 23 Children, it is still in its rudimentary state. It is envisaged as a home where the orphaned young are given support, security and mentoring by the elderly – a solace for both groups in one shot.
Again, the “Pigrims” treated children to games and contests. Children learnt craftwork from their new friends. The group took the children out to enjoy elephant rides. Each kid also got a special gift from the Pilgrims. The group put their hair down and took up brushes to spruce up and decorate the walls of the orphanage. Before parting, the group joined the orphans and their staff at a local wedding hall for sharing and merry making. There were songs and dances by all – the children, the sisters serving them and finally, the Pilgrims themselves.
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