Dear sponsors, godparents and friends of the Hemalata Children’s Homes,
Enclosed is the visit report 29.03 – 07.04.2024 of the sponsors Ulrich Castelhun (1st board member) and Alexander Breu (2nd board member)
The summer vacations have already begun and we would like to use this time of relaxation and ‘catching our breath’ to report on this year’s short visit to the Hemalata children’s homes and ZTI workshops.
We flew from Frankfurt to Chennai at the end of March with great anticipation, but also with tense expectations.
As soon as we arrived at the immigration office at the airport, we sensed a tense attitude from the Indian authorities due to the upcoming presidential elections in India in April. We had to explain to the immigration authorities in detail the reason for our visit and why we were supporting an aid project in India as a voluntary non-governmental organization (NGO). After we were able to credibly prove to the immigration authorities that we have an official license for foreign funding for the Hemalata children’s homes through the state FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment), we were allowed to pass after just over an hour.
We were checked several times at roadblocks throughout the journey, as it was strictly forbidden to carry alcohol or large sums of cash with you in the run-up to the parliamentary elections. When we asked why this was the case, we were told that this was a precautionary measure to prevent bribery of officials or electors in the upcoming elections.
The children (currently around 80 in the Webbs home) were both excited and curious as to who was visiting from Germany. The next day, the children presented themselves in their new colorful clothes, which we had made by the in-house tailors at the beginning of the year. We looked into many happy and smiling children’s faces and let the first impressions sink in.
In the afternoon, all the children patiently gathered in the courtyard and we handed out the little presents we had brought along as well as some Easter sweets. The joy was great!
On Easter Sunday, many people from outside came to the Webbs home to celebrate the Easter service together in the home’s large assembly room: the parish’s main church was closed at this time due to renovation work. The festive meal that followed was a great treat.
In the afternoon, we made our way to our ‘Hemalata outpost’, the ZION Home, which is located around 60 km from Chennai, right on the border between the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
We were curious to see how the children would welcome us and what condition the ZTI training workshops and the buildings on the ZION Home site were in. We arrived at the ZION Home after a 2-hour drive with 15 kg of freshly slaughtered chickens for the Easter Sunday and welcome dinner.
Once there, we were greeted with joy by the children, the ZTI teachers and the current trainees, who had come to the home on their Sunday off to proudly show us around their training facility.
Strengthened by the “Chicken Bryani”, which was prepared by men (from the ZTI training workshop), which is atypical for India, the trainers and apprentices showed us their workshops with various processing stations and tools. We discussed which tools should be replaced or purchased in the near future in order to be well equipped for the new training year starting in September 2024. A total of around 60 apprentices currently want to start training as welders, electricians or lathe operators.
We also attach great importance to the quality of training and the equipment in the training workshops. This focus is necessary because towards the end of 2024, the regular auditing of the ZTI- training workshops and the extension of the associated training certificate by the Indian government authorities.
In the evening, the children performed rehearsed dance and song interludes to modern pop music. They used the new loudspeaker box that we financed with donations at the beginning of this year.
After our visit to the ZION Home and the ZTI workshops, we had gathered enough impressions, ideas and impulses that we wanted to discuss with Hemalata and Grace at the end of our trip.
On day 4 of our trip, we continued our journey to Nelavoy, around 70 kilometers from the ZION Home, to visit Grace Kuhn’s Indo-German School. We have also been supporting children and young people from needy families at this school for a number of years through our sponsorship model. We enable pupils in the 10th or 12th grade to continue their vocational training, an apprenticeship or a 2-4 year course of study after finishing school.
We were very impressed by the school building. Almost 600 schoolchildren attend the largely completed building. 5 school buses are used daily to ensure that children from remote villages can get to school. Grace Kuhn, the head of the school, shows great commitment and organizational talent.
In October 2024, the planned sewing school will open on the premises of the Indo-German School, and from 2025 nurses will also be trained there.
After 6 sweaty days, our journey ended where it had begun – at the Webbs Memorial in Chennai. Once there, we discussed our travel report with Hemalata and Grace and decided on a package of measures that we want to implement in the coming months.
Due to the hot April climate (almost always over 40 degrees) in India, we will next visit the children’s homes and ZTI workshops in February 2025.
It is a matter close to our hearts as a support group to improve the lives and education of the currently approx. 150 children and young people with your support! We want to lead ‘Project Hemalata’, with its history of over 30 years, into a secure future and solve unforeseen emergencies and sudden crises quickly and flexibly on site.
We wish you and your families a wonderful summer!
Your Hemalata support team
From left to right: Grace Kuhn, Hemalata Edwards, Ulrich Castelhun, Alexander Breu
The children present from the Webbs Children’s Home in Chennai
