The Living India orphanage is complete. We have 38 children under our care and we are growing at a brisk pace. Implementing “green” policies is a natural part of our long-term goal to be as self-sufficient as possible. We have all heard the battle cries from around the globe, our planet is in peril, natural resources are in jeopardy, we all must take better care of our planet and educate ourselves to be better stewards of the world in which we live. For those of us who work in the non-profit world this way of thinking has another important application, using the resources that support this project requires mindful stewardship. Going green is an important step toward financial stability.
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Nearly a year into our grand vision the dream is thriving and alive. Our new facilities are now filled with the busy sounds of more than 30 children, AIDS orphans who themselves are HIV-positive. The children have come from the surrounding villages where more than 150,000 of India’s poorest and most vulnerable live and from other villages and cities in Andhra Pradesh.
Living India began with just a few children whose parents had died in a nearby hospice and left their children in our care. Today the children all receive excellent medical care, are all taking ARV’s and all are much healthier than they were roaming the streets of slums or their villages. We have established a school on the compound, employing two teachers to accommodate the varying ages of our kids. We are teaching the kids English and opening up the curriculum to music as the kids become interested. We have a counselor who comes when needed to help those who are still adjusting to their new home.
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