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Cared
for by Edith,
16
special children have found love and respect at Olivia Home in Jageri
near Kollegal
The long rocky winding
uphill stretch to Jageri near Kollegal and 160 kilometers from
Bangalore seems to lead you, to nowhere, but the foot of the hills.
There is not a soul in sight and you begin to wonder if
there is any human life.
But tucked away from the countryside, far from the pollution and the
hustle bustle of the town, is Olivia Home, where physically and
mentally children have found a place they can call their home. With
their severe handicap, these children cannot be rehabilitated. They
cannot be placed in adoption homes or foster care.
On five acres, these 16 children bellow 10 years are looked after by
Edith, a Swiss National. The home is run by the Jeevan Jyothi Trust,
an affiliate of the Ciao Kids Trust registered in Lausanne in
Switzerland. The Trust helps children with disabilities caused by genetic or antenatal
problems, diseases, accidents,
violence or malnutrition.
Edith came to Bangalore in 1997 to do voluntary work. The following
year, she worked at an orphanage in Mangalore and promised Derrick,
one of the mentally challenged orphans |
there that she would return for him. And in November 2000, she kept
her promise.
Says Edith "These children are abandoned from birth or as soon as a
disease or handicap is discovered. They are referred to by the police,
orphanages, hospitals and the Women & Child Welfare Center of
Bangalore, who work with us".
Compared to the comfort of her Switzerland home, the secluded and
austere life at Jageri is a total lifestyle change for Edith. But she
has no regrets. "I felt that at 45, my life is not complete. I can
help in my own small way".
Edith admits that it was tough in the beginning. "Until recently, we
did not have electricity, or a telephone connection. To make a call we
had to go to Belakodi, which is 8 kms from our place. For water, our
staff had to walk a few kilometers. Thanks to the Bathyagala panchayat,
we now have a mini water tank".
Lack of public transport has forced Edith to continue to ride pillion
on her two-wheelers, with a co-social worker who is a resident of
Jageri.
Since the home is not equipped to provide specialised treatment like
physiotherapy and psychotherapy, the children are brought to Mysore or
Bangalore for medical care. Hence they are forced to stay overnight.
"This makes it difficult because we do not have any place to stay at
during the
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treatment". Besides rehabilitating
disabled children, Jeevan Jyothi also educates the residents of Jageri
and Kollegal to prevent female infanticide. "Actually that is the
reason I came to India. I had seen on television, that this is a big
problem un India. Our work in the villages has reduced infanticide,"
says Edith.
Jeevan Jyothi has opened a kindergarten and sponsors the education of
10 normal children who are selected from schools in Jageri. The
children stay at the hostel provided by the trust. A day creche enable
the parents to go to work, and the older siblings to go to school.
Jeevan Jyothi also runs four balwadis for children between 3 to 6 of
age living in the eight villages of Jageri. The children get one hot
meal every day. Their Jeevan Nilayam program enables families without
resources to build homes.
The children, be it Mark who is hydrocephalic and blind with a cleft
palate, Derrick who is affected whith cerebral palsy, or Joaquim who
is mentally challenged, have found a space for themselves at Olivia
Home of Jeevan Jyothi.
By
Matilda Yorke
Deccan Herald |
