Community Care Homes

Presently most orphanages (foster homes) in India are supported and managed by either the government or NGOs. But the standard of care and life in these institutions usually falls way short of appropriate for many reasons. For one there is usually a paucity of funds at such establishments. Sometimes it can be because contributions are limited and at other times it may be due to corruption that leads to money being siphoned off. I have contributed significantly to one such orphanage myself, so I’m talking from first hand experience. Then there can be issues of management: whoever is deputed to run any such establishment at a given time may just not be keen about his or her job and end up making a half hearted effort. And it’s the kids staying there who suffer. Sometimes one may find criminal elements engaging in exploitation or abuse of children at such places. This can completely destroy children and scar their psychologies for life.

What we need to do is to get involved ourselves. Here’s what I propose:

Most of us either live in housing societies or socially well connected neighborhoods. Let us, through clusters of such housing societies and neighborhoods, take it upon ourselves to collectively set up and manage foster homes for parentless or abandoned children in our areas that provide good living conditions, nutritious food, quality healthcare and education till a stage when the child becomes a responsible adult. And during an individual’s years at such a foster home, let the members of the community managing it befriend them, spend time with them, connect with them as human beings, counsel them in a manner that brings stability and clarity to their minds and inculcates a sense of confidence and self-respect in them. This way even those of us who can't adopt and children ourselves can love them and care for them at such community run foster homes. And each act of love and humanity matters. It brings hope. It gives strength. It lights up the way forward bit by bit.

You may wonder if I'm suggesting an investment of time, money and effort that is out of proportion? Not at all. Here is an example to illustrate this:

The population of Government Colony in Bandra (E), Mumbai, is approximately 18000 (Link: Government Colony, Bandra East, Mumbai Suburban | Sublocality | GeoIQ). Assuming that 2/3rd of this population, i.e. 12000, is capable of contributing Rs. 100/- per month, it adds up to Rs. 1200000/- per month. That's an annual budget of Rs. 1,44,000,00/- to run an foster home in just one colony of 18000 people! Assuming a monthly expenditure of Rs. 10,000/- per child, this foster home can support around 120 children: shelter + clothes + food + education, with complete safety and ample psychological and social support.

And who will manage this foster home?

The residents of Government Colony itself! They will elect a manager, deputy manager, and support team from amongst themselves once every 3 years! Responsibility sharing on a rotation basis.

The total population of Bandra (E) is approximately 1,50,000 (Link: Bandra East, Mumbai Suburban | Locality | GeoIQ). Just extending the above calculations: We can have eight community foster homes taking care of around 120 children each just in one small suburban area of Mumbai - completely supported and managed by the people of Bandra (E) themselves. Each of these will be small enough to be easily managed, yet just Bandra (E) will take care of 900-1000 parentless/abandoned children.

Now extend the above idea systematically to the whole of Mumbai.

The first step that I recommend towards implementing the above plan is that we take the time and make the effort to visit orphanages that are functional as of today. Locate those in your cities and towns. Go there. Meet the kids. See if you can help in some manner. That’s how it started for me too.

As the famous Nike advertisement punchline goes: #JustDoIt.

But yes, if you do have the capacity to adopt a child and think that you will be able to give the child your love and care for him/her as your very own: please do step forward. Bring light and love to a soul. Such an act from your side will be a blessing to the child as well as the world. And you will be setting a tremendous example for many others.

In fact, let me extend the above idea a bit further:

If instead of Rs. 100/- per month, 2/3rd of the people living in a neighborhood donate Rs. 200/- per month, we can convert each orphanage / foster home to a Community Care Home that houses parentless/abandoned children as well as childless/abandoned old people who are finding it difficult to live by themselves. These senior citizens can help with taking care of the younger children and the slightly grown up children can help with taking care of these senior citizens.

Just Bandra (E) can then take complete care of about 900-1000 parentless/abandoned children and 900-1000 childless/abandoned old people in Community Care Homes that are completely supported and managed by the people of Bandra (E) themselves.

Again, systematically extend this to the whole of Mumbai.

Are you able to see what I'm saying?

I would like to end this post by placing what I call a “Humanity Challenge” before you:

Can we, as a global community, resolve that not even one child grows up feeling an orphan, not even one aged person has to spend his or her final years fending for himself or herself without anyone caring for them and not even one disabled person has to be on the streets begging for money. I want us to remove the word destitute from our languages. I want us to end this menace of inhumanity amongst us humans. Can we take this up as a challenge and not rest till we win?

I think it's possible if we work collectively. As I have hopefully demonstrated with a few simple calculations above, the math is certainly on our side!