Healthcare to130 HIV/AIDS infected orphans-orphan

Saravana Kumar aged 21 years is HIV +ve. He belongs to Salem District and lost his parents in 2003 due to HIV/AIDS he was just 11 then. Fortunately his younger siblings a brother and a sister didn’t fall prey to this deadly disease. His grandparents and uncles were taking care of all of them but with the time it became difficult for them to take care of Sarvanan. They felt bad but had no alternative then to find an orphanage for him. During their search they came across HOPE foundation’s orphanage and dropped him in the orphanage in the year 2005. He was 14 and studying in 9^th grade but had lost interest in studies hence didn’t want to continue his education. But continuously counselling made him continue his studies and later he was given an opportunity to learn computer hardware course. He accepted the opportunity wholeheartedly and side by side he also learnt some trick of photography.

Now, Saravanan is rehabilitated in the community and staying close to the orphanage. He is working as an admin assistant and earning Rs. 3500/- as his salary. His dream is to become a great photographer.

Saravanan may not be staying in the orphanage anymore but it is not that HOPE foundation has left him all by himself. He is provided medical & emotional support and also given counselling from time to time for him to lead a smooth life.

Hope foundation’s goal is not only to provide food and shelter to the HIV affected and infected children/youth & women but also to help them get a job and earn their living for self-sustainability.

Links:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCBXDlqfmr4&feature=youtu.be

Children living with HIV face multiple HIV-related stress including illness stigma  discrimination, disclosure of HIV status, loneliness, isolation, family conflict or uncertainty. Arias Home takes lot of care to ensure the Home Children don’t go through the same. However in spite of minute observation and care Ayyanar aged 13 was not his normal self. Couple of month’s back, all of a sudden he started losing his appetite, he started isolating himself from every one and started deteriorating in health. When checked, it came to light that his CD count had fallen down drastically. Doctors immediately asked to get him admitted in the hospital.

The staffs of the home were very worried and on asking him, he revealed that he was feeling very helpless and bleak as he could not help his mother. Being the only son, she was concerned about him but without the least knowledge kept telling him family problems which was worsening his health. He too would patiently hear to what his mother said but at the same time felt very uneasy and dreary for his state. This started making a negative impact on him and his health.

Everyone was much moved but immediately poised themselves and took necessary action of counselling him and his mother and ensuring them that they are not alone.

To sum up this is one such story of a child from amongst the many living a helpless childhood but Aynnar is fortunate to have a HOME which takes care of his physical, emotional and psychological need.

Today Ayannar is healthy and back to normal. We are very happy that timely intervene has helped not only Ayannar but also his mother to realise as to what has to be discussed with Ayannar and what not.

It is said that laughing is good exercise for health as well as heart and
when it comes to children it is the best form of expressing joy and happiness that
they experience in their day to day life.  A group of volunteers from Seb’s Projects
India, Vellore & Humanitarians clowns Abroad from Australia visited the
home and performed various acts which kept the children so engaged and happy
that they were almost rolling on the ground 
out of laughter. It was great to see the children having a heartfelt
laughter without any trace of fear, anxiety or tension. The group performed
some magical acts and were dressed up like clowns so bright and cheerful. This
show for some time took the children to a different world of happiness. The
happiness that encourages them to live life to its fullest.

Success Story of Rehab

Tamilarasi, Devi, Shenbagam and Lakshmi  came to HOPE foundation at average age of 12, from different districts of Tamilnadu. All of them contracted HIV/AIDS from their parents and after the death of their parents were taken care by the extended members of the family. With the time, these girls started facing some very serious skin problems and were brought to Tambaram Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine (GHTM). While undergoing treatment, it came to light, that these girls too were infected by HIV/AIDS. Their family member were not ready to take them home, they started behaving differently with these girls, would not come regularly to the hospital to meet them. In short, started neglecting them, thus they were referred from the hospital to ARIAS Home of HOPE, a program HOPE foundation.

After coming to the Home, they underwent treatment and then admitted to regular school and now, after 7 years, they have completed their 12^th grade and pursuing their Under Graduation from Annamalai University through correspondence.

These girls took up training in basic computer courses and passed with good grade. Tamilarasi was lucky to do one more course called Tally with the support of a donor. 

HOPE foundation staff helped Tamilarasi to find a job of computer billing in one of the big shops in Madurandhagam, she is been working for past 6 months and earning Rs.4000/- a month.

Devi , Shenbagam and Lakshmi  are working in Madras Export Process Zone (MEPZ) , Tambaram, Chennai and each of them earning nearly Rs.4300/- per  month.

They express their gratitude towards HOPE foundation for providing food, secure accommodation, medical support, counseling and education. Also, they are happy to stand on my own feet and willing to give hope to those who have lost hope in their lives. They thank God for this wonderful life.

These four girls have developed so much confidence that they have taken a separate house and are staying there. They have been rehabilitated in the community and now they are on their own feet facing the world with full of hope and courage.

Tamilarasi’s Testimony

Tamilarasi says that, when I lost my parents I thought there was no one in this world for me and when I came to know that, I too was infected by HIV/AIDS, I thought, I will die soon. I was expecting death to come any time as I had seen many children of my age dying through this disease every day.  I was hopeless, and was not willing to think straight and positive.  But now, when I see my life, it’s totally changed and I have gained so much of confident to face the world.  

Sometimes I wonder ,"Is this all  true, am I really doing my graduation, am I really going for a job, am I really living with this big family or am I dreaming”.   I just can’t believe that, I’m still surviving in this world.   I can only say that, this is all true and it is all because of HOPE foundation. I was hopeless but they gave me a hope for my life.  I will never forget the love and affection the staff has given me and the care and support they provided me for my life.

HOPE foundation operates three orphanages in Tamil Nadu.

About 130 orphan children are given love and care in these homes. These homes are situated in Acharappakkam, Trichy & Tirunelveli.

The children in Acharapakkam & Tirunelveli homes are abandoned infected & affected HIV/AIDS.

These homes are open to those who want to come and celebrate their special days such as Birthdays/anniversaries/festivals etc., by providing special meals.

Here is the short movie titled "Little Angels" to get to know the lives of these children.

To come and SHARE YOUR LOVE & CARE

please contact...+91 9381046671 or write to malar_prabath@hopeww.org

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