Save the Child Foundation - a day at Joy Home in Kurnool

As part of the support by SAVE THE CHILD FOUNDATION to provide school supplies, kids education sponsorship and a laptop, we made plans to meet the underprivileged kids at the JOY HOME orphanage during our recent visit to India. On July 25th, we visited Joy Home with family and were eager to find out about the activities and care given to kids. More than anything, it's heart touching to read the kids' profiles and their reasons for being part of the orphanage. But the smiles and happiness on their faces are the proof of the care and support given by the people at Joy Home. 

Special mention goes to Mallikarjuna who is running this NGO from the last 13 years. He is a full time engineer working in Hyderabad and travels to Kurnool during weekends to take care of the kids and the organization. His dedication and passion to help underprivileged kids and destitute women is visible in the work he is doing. 

Joy Home is a children orphanage home, run by SERUDS (Sai Educational Rural & Urban Development Society), a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India working for the welfare and development of deprived street children, orphans, destitute women, poor old age people and youth in urban slums and villages. SERUDS has been working since 2003 through its need-based programs focused on access to education, food, livelihood training and healthcare. Right now, around 45 children are provided with accommodation, food, schooling, healthcare, clothes and recreation facilities. 

For me, it's a privilege to be a part of SAVE THE CHILD FOUNDATION, an organization that is driven by the vision, “A world in which all children with needs either related to poverty or medical conditions will be protected and nurtured holistically in an ecofriendly environment". 

Founded by my college senior Ravi Kantamsetty, SAVE THE CHILD FOUNDATION (formerly AshaJyothi USA) was started to help special needs children and then expanded to support underprivileged kids. Its mission is to create an environment of hope and respect for the children with special needs and assist each child in reaching their maximum potential through holistic interventions. True to its mission, SAVE THE CHILD FOUNDATION has partnered with SERUDS to help impact the children in need in the District of Kurnool, both rural and urban. 

During the event on August 25th, my college friend Venkat Bathula handed over school supplies and a laptop donated by Ravi Kiran Manyam to Mallikarjuna.

And our kids were happy to distribute sweets and chocolates to their new friends at Joy Home.

We spoke with the staff at Joy Home and learned that SERUDS selects the candidates by personal visits to kids' homes to assess their family background. They also take inputs from the school head masters to select the students who are doing well in studies.  The staff at Joy Home motivates their parents through counseling sessions to send their children to school. SERUDS also provides day care to kids who come from poor families where both parents work as construction or farm laborers. 

The children are provided hot mid-day meals, snacks in the evening, and pre-school education. Trained staff keeps the children engaged in recreational learning activities. Joy Home Orphanage staff includes one warden, a teacher, a vocational instructor, 2 cooks and an attendant.  A doctor has been appointed as Center Medical Officer to conduct health check-up and treat the sick.

Most of the kids at Joy Home go to Indira Gandhi Municipal Memorial High School, the same school where I completed my elementary. It's such a happy moment to be amongst my school juniors.

Sometimes it feels sad to see how fate decides the destiny of a child. I've been telling my kids how lucky they are to be part of a family that supports their needs and education. At the same time, it made us feel happy to see the kids at Joy Home getting support from organizations like Save The Child Foundation. But they still need more support in terms of money and services. 

SERUDS is running the Orphanage solely through donations. They encourage active sponsorship by arranging periodic meetings between the donor and sponsored child, and sending regular updates on the progress made in school and co-curricular activities. And I'm happy to sponsor two kids Lakshmi and Mounika. I'm looking forward to see their progress and help them achieve their dreams to become independent women. It feels so happy to meet them in person and to talk to them.




We all had a good time talking to kids at Joy Home and being one among them. I wish we could have spent more time there.

And here are few glimpses of kids' fun time...

On the Indian Independence Day, I urge my friends to help a kid achieve their dreams and be part of a child's success story. The more you give of yourself, the more you find of yourself...

HAPPY 70th INDEPENDENCE DAY!!