Miracle Manna Ministry

A. Shivaji and Prema's passion for nurturing abandoned children: Miracle Manna Children's Home in Jakkur, Bangalore, is a loving home to 22 young girls and boys - orphaned by their natural parents at different ages- and embraced by the large hearts of Shivaji and Prema. Their purpose- to raise abandoned children with loving care, provide a good education and instil great values. The couple began their unplanned journey, desiring to welcome their 2nd child by adoption. Despite their own economic background being modest - Shivaji was a driver and Prema a BPO staffer- they took in children in distress, orphaned by poor parents, some neglected and oppressed - and over the last 10 years ... read more A. Shivaji and Prema's passion for nurturing abandoned children: Miracle Manna Children's Home in Jakkur, Bangalore, is a loving home to 22 young girls and boys - orphaned by their natural parents at different ages- and embraced by the large hearts of Shivaji and Prema. Their purpose- to raise abandoned children with loving care, provide a good education and instil great values. The couple began their unplanned journey, desiring to welcome their 2nd child by adoption. Despite their own economic background being modest - Shivaji was a driver and Prema a BPO staffer- they took in children in distress, orphaned by poor parents, some neglected and oppressed - and over the last 10 years it has the strength of today. Recalling the journey say Sivaji and Prema: "Our children home that we started on 2010 was our dream for past many years.We wanted to change the poor, abandoned kid's incomplete life into a complete life so they have a bright future. All the children who came to us were from poor background with single or no parents, no relatives to take care of them. Many were in bad condition - without cleanliness, having infection, not getting proper food. We give them good care, love and affection to change each child personally. To change a child's trauma of neglect takes a year of continuous care. We are striving hard to make each and every child should imbibe good values and have a good education and bring out their character as a good citizen". Run like their own home, raising abandoned kids like their own, Shivaji and Prema now spend all their time in running their Home. With no institutional support for funding, they were dependent on donations of good samaritans. Often they would have months of unpaid rents and would be going bare bones. B. Support Group of citizens partnering Home: Three years ago, impressed by the dedication of the couple and the excellent values and behaviour of children at Home, a couple of people from the neighbourhood pulled together a Support Group (SG) of individuals & families to raise funds for sustainable operation of Miracle Children's home. Soon, the partnership spilled over to other areas - Mentoring the couple for better administration, book keeping and financial planning, children assessment, better schooling, volunteering to teach kids etc.. The SG defines its objective as: 'to create sustainability in operations to ensure Proper nourishment & hygiene to kids; in providing a good education that builds right skills in children to be confident, responsible and productive citizens for the state and country.' SG currently has about 30 families, two-thirds of them provide committed funding and balance members support in other activities like raising resources thru crowd funding, volunteering to teach kids, administration, etc.. Win-Win partnership: - The Support group has felt enriched by the giving for a worthy cause, by partnering in activities that create social uplift .and by the visible impact of their action. - The Founding couple have benefited thru higher funds for better running of the Home, better management of operations, greater confidence in children thru better education & volunteer interaction, transparency in communication and greater fulfilment in working towards their own goal. - Total spend of the Home has more than doubled from INR 1.1 million in 2016-17 to INR 2.5 million in 2018-19. C. Transformation of Children: Miracle home's mission 1.Transformation of Physical and emotional well-being Better Nourishment and care Healthy growth of children is dependent on right food and nutrition. This also enables them to be more productive at school. Glass of milk in the morning and after school, meals with balanced nourishment have helped children become healthier. Additional two bath-cum-toilets have been made enabling better hygiene and convenience. Nurturing lifelong values Responsibility, discipline, helping one another, honesty, good citizenship and other virtues are imbibed by children along with love and care given at Miracle home. Daily prayer time, celebration of festivals while understanding their significance, learning by demonstration and open discussions are the means deployed for Miracle kids to imbibe Values. It is a wonder and delight to see the 22 kids at Miracle home for their sense of goodness, eagerness to learn and affection. They are positive, support one another and their new Home. 2. Knowledge Transformation 18 months ago, kids have been placed in a decent English medium schools in order to open them up to discover their true potential Aurbindo Public school (CBSE), Sahakarnagar: 16 kids: 1-8 grades and George English school (State), Kempapura: 3 kids: 9-10 grades. Outcome: Kids are liking school and have improved even as it is work-in-progress; school has the belief. Bridge educational deficit Coming from disadvantaged background, 80% of kids had deficit of one to three grades in terms of English reading and comprehension, Math skills and subject knowledge. Initiative: Mediated Home study, English reading program, Math skills enhancement, Volunteer tutoring, individual track etc.. Outcome: Greater awareness of kid-wise strengths and gaps, skill building and founder's appreciation of mediated home study. It is work-in-progress and practice needs to be sustained. Kids are gaining in confidence. All kids have been promoted to the next grade.. Almost all kids have shown academic improvement over the year 3. College/Vocational education and gainful employment The first child of the Home has just finished college (Bachelor of Business Administration) and is looking forward to fashioning her life of independence thru employment ! The rest of kids are still at school. The founders and SG are committed to support kids with relevant support based on each child's aptitude with college education /vocational training till they get employed, becoming independent, productive citizens. Miracle children home's mission is to transform children through goodness.