For our Latest Newsletter CHIT CHAT October 2011
Children’s Homes in India Trust is a Christian Charity formed in 2005 to raise funds for the support of children’s homes, schooling and associated services to provide a brighter future for poor children.
CHIT was prayerfully created in 2004 to rescue two Children's Homes in Andhra Pradesh, South India, from imminent closure. George Kent, who left his post as National Co-coordinator of Goodwill Children's Village Society in 1997, felt God calling him out of retirement. With his able friend Howard Mathers, a senior officer in the Ministry of Defence, he set about what looked an impossible task. There was so much to be done, and so little time.
They sat down with their Indian friend Rajasekhara Babu and prayed. They concluded that if they trusted God and followed His guiding, He would provide, and so it has proved. In four years, £300,000 has been raised from quite a small number of caring Christians.
At an early stage they were joined by Pauline Stanton-Saringer and Rev Christopher Turner. George, Howard and Pauline went out to India and stayed in the Bapatla Home for a week, an experience they have since repeated on three ocassions, taking with them visitors with relevant skills.
In 2009 two new trustees were appointed. Kal Rai was born in India but has lived in the UK for most of his life. He is a well respected GP in a small practice in Coventry. His wife, Mary, is a hardworking Non-stipendiary Minister on the staff at St John's Kenilworth, one of CHIT's most supportive Churches.
On the first, and most important occasion, long discussions, spread over three days, always starting and ending with prayer, took place with the Indian trustees and senior staff and a policy document on good governance was produced, incorporating all their views. Best Indian Practice was our objective. It has taken time to achieve. Each January there is a detailed review and a long joint meeting with the Indian trustees. The Welfare Director's log is examined. Accounts are scrutinised, capital and running cost budgets agreed.
Health and Safety proved to be an area requiring much attention. A new boys' toilet and shower block has been constructed, a resident nurse recruited. Two sickbays with toilets and running hot water, solar powered, are in place. Bunk beds and mosquito nets have been provided for the sick. Further equipment will be purchased as funds become available. Regular health tests have been instituted. Diet has been improved with additional milk supplies from ten water buffalo kept on site. Vitamin pills are dispensed in the rainy season when the children are inclined to catch infections. These can be quite serious for children who have been undernourished in infancy. Most of the children return to their homes in the heat of the summer, frequently returning with health problems.
A risk assessment of the whole site was carried out by an experienced Care Home Manager, and its recommendations have been followed up. Big improvements in education are in progress with the help of two experienced TEFL teachers who visit for six weeks. A Special Needs adviser has also stayed for a week. For further details see the Projects Page.
This website is regularly updated with news from CHIT and the children’s homes we support in South India.
If you are interested in this work and would like to support it, please click on How you can help which includes the facility to donate directly, in any currency, by credit card, or download a Bankers Order Form/sponsoring request here. Gift Aid forms are also available.
Charity Registration No. 1112048