Make a wish
About the center
Sri Arunodayam is a home for mentally challenged children who have been abandoned by their parents. Rescued by the Department of Social Welfare, the police and Child helpline, they are sent to Sri Arunodayam center, where they are nurtured, rehabilitated and at times, restored to repentant parents.
I have been there for the first time in 2015 and donated two wheelchairs. This moment of sharing love & care is memorable. I got so much love from the kids, respect from the staff that I am unable to express it just show by tears who automatically came out when few of the kids took me in their little arms, hug me and give me a kiss me.
That was the most beautiful gift that I can have… Usually I never came back at the same place for a social project, just because I want to help different centers but when I came out from this center, I decided that I will definitely come back here again.
To get back this great feeling, I decided to know more about their needs.
Thank u to Sophie from Belgium: Clothes/shoes and stuffed/soft toys donation
One of my colleague at work asked me where she can donate her kids’ clothes & toys. She preferred to donate abroad to an association who will not sell them for the need of the center. She wanted that another kid can enjoy wearing her kids’ clothes and play with those toys. I absolutely understand what she means. I told her that am going to Chennai at Sri Arunodayam and I can distribute all her stuff directly to the kids on her behalf.
I bought special vaccum compression bags so I can transport a maximum of stuff given by her. J
I specially bought little more expensive flight tickets delhi to Chennai with sufficient baggage weight allowance.
And here is the result….see this video
https://player.vimeo.com/video/275235384
Why all this? just because someone wants to donate but don’t know where and how … I like encouraging people in sharing their care by donating clothes, toys to the underprivileged ones, without any commercial purpose behind
When I came back, I was glad to send her that website link where she can see the “result” of her contribution which is now unforgettable, a part of my souvenir website
Here is the Video: Thanking Sophie : message from the Center
https://player.vimeo.com/video/275239820
Wish tree
I saw on their website, a wish tree. My next target was to fulfill all kids’ wishes. Everyone still remember when we were child the feeling we had when mom, dad entered home with a surprise for us and especially with what we desired…. I wanted to create the same magic atmosphere, to see and make them feel that happiness, to see their eyes sparkling, to see a big smile on their face…
We do donation most of the time to fulfill the center’s need, knowing of course that it will directly benefit the community, all the kids but in this case we will give importance to each child, to listen with a very attentive ear to his/her wish
I contacted the center and asked them to ask to each child what they want and to send me a list with all the kids’ wishes. There were 122 kids in the center. Here my purpose was that the child will have the opportunity to express his/her wish and to see it fulfilled.
All over kids smiling, running with their own gift in the hand…. I loved seeing that : mission was done
My best moment was the distribution of all those gifts, and see their eyes full of joy …
The association celebrated my bday !!! Thank u so much … unforgettable one !!!!
To fulfill all the wishes, I launched for 2 months, a fundraising program : selling Indian meals and all the income I was putting it separately in a saving box in my temple : thanking God and promising that all of it will be used for helping others. During that period I met new people who ordered my food via the website Menu Next Door : Thank u sooo much ! I met so many new people and here a very special thanks to
- Nadine who financed 3 radios for the 3 blind kids of the center ( see pic of one of them) and watches to the youngsters
- Jacqueline, for all her regular orders
- Marco ( social worker friends : Marco, Yvette( her son Benjamin), my work colleague Isa
- Reinhilde, Olivia, Rina !!! Nurses from the High Unit care where I am volunteer who ordered meals to support that wish tree project. I brought from India silk scarfs to thank them from Jaipur… they loved the scarfs!!!
That way they got a delicious Indian meal with a social purpose behind. That was a great adventure from my side – working – cooking- greeting the people at my home place (they come to pick up their meal) and delivering to their place too. My motivation was my energy and my motivation was my social work.
Here is the video :
https://player.vimeo.com/video/275244327
Cheer Up Foundation 