Lakshmi rises before the sun most mornings at Jeevarathni. Being a bright young student, she makes sure she revises her studies that's been taught on previous day in school. Even though her past background still haunts her, when she was abandoned on the streets by her parents – Lakshmi hasn’t lost hope of someday graduating from college and standing on her own feet. "I wish to work for a big corporate company and travel the world" when asked about her aspirations. 

 

Unfortunately, Lakshmi could not clear her recent semester exam in school.

She felt sick after suffering from Cholera days before her exam and had to been taken under immediate medical attention by the doctors. You will find many ambitious girls like Lakshmi at Jeevarathni, but what stops them from achieving their potential at times is a basic necessity – clean drinking water and a hygienic environment.  

 
Clean Water Changes Everything 

Jeevarathni is a home for the orphans(mostly girls) based in Nallur village, close to Hosur. We face extreme hot/humid weather conditions here on the outskirts that often makes our area saline, thereby making the groundwater unsuitable for drinking. Instead many times we have to rely on tankers for the water supply and sources of this water is unknown to us. But because the demand for water is so high (especially during the summer months), many of these reservoir tanks often stand empty and the borewell dry up too. In-fact, the borewells have failed thrice and we have had to re-bore it thrice with a cost of Rs. 400,000 per borewell. 

Borewells here at Jeevarathni are small, unlined pits and because these pits are poorly protected, much of the water either seeps into the ground or evaporates away. Borewell water is hard and dangerous for consumption without treatment and it causes health problems for our children.

Every year, we have to spend most of our personal expenses on fixing our borewells or water tanks trucked into Jeevarathni. This often means, we are never able to put any of these funds for other important projects at Jeevarathni - higher education of these children, infrastructure etc.

But there is a solution to solve this problem and YOU can help us solve this major problem. 

We are looking to implement a recycled plant at Jeevarathni that will recycle the grey water and will be reused for the garden, and the multi-cropping project. This will help make our environment more safer and hygienic for the children. 

For Jeevarathni, having this recycled plant is as important as the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the house we live in. It will serve as a sustainable source of clean and safe drinking water for all our children all year long. And it will be an asset that will stay with us for generations to come. 

Cost-Breakup: The cost of the plant is approximately 4 lakhs.

 

Q. What does Jeevarathni Foundation do? 

The Jeevarathni Foundation has been in operation for eight long years. With 38 children under our care, 80% of which are girls at Nallur Village close to Hosur (about 9Kms before Hosur) and about 11 Kms from Sarjapur road.

 

Our children come from very poor backgrounds, found abandoned on the streets, abused, some were rescued before being sold for various purposes, and some have witnessed their parents being killed in front of their eyes.

 

The mothers that are employed to take care of these kids come from similar backgrounds, so it is a two-fold benefit to both the women as mothers and the children too.

 

We hope to bring up these children to be equal citizens in the world. And the big plus is that this campus is home to these children – not an institution.

 

Q. For how long do the children stay at Jeevarathni? 

Most of the children we have come from the streets and slums of Bangalore, and a few from Sarjapura area. Our plan as of now is to give them a safe haven till they are on their feet.

 

Q. How will this project have an impact on Jeevarathni’s children?

The sewage water that is accumulated at Jeevarathni is extremely harmful and affects the health of the children and mothers alike. Access to this re-cycled plant, will restore the health at Jeevarathni and the children can focus on more important things, like going to school, studying and enjoying their childhood.   

 

Q. Will I receive an update if I am contributing?

 

Yes, all contributors will receive an update about the utilization of funds. In-fact we would be happy if you visit our center to see the impact you will be making in the lives of these children. Also, names of all contributors for this project will be inscribed on the wall near the plant once it is built.

 

Q. I have more queries, who should I contact?

 

You can write to: michelleanncherian@gmail.com and we will respond back to your questions within a day or two.