By Rashmi Fernandes
Daijiworld Media Network—Bangalore (RD/CN)

Bangalore, Jun 23: The members of the Kanara Catholic Association (KCA) donated a sum of ` 70,000 to ‘Anugraha’, a home for girl children run by the Montfort Fathers since 2006. Year after year, the members of KCA contribute money which is later handed over to some needy institution.  KCA president Bertha Fernandes, and managing committee member-in-charge of the project Vimala D’Souza were present on the occasion.

Anugraha has 32 girls between the age of 4 and 14 who come from various family backgrounds from in and around Bangalore. They are children of leprosy patients, AIDS patients, broken homes, single parents, the homeless, and the poorest of poor from the society. As these parents do not have the means or the resources to care for their children, they have found their way into their new home Anugraha.

Anugraha is located at Sumanahalli on Magadi Road, Bangalore. Though a little away from the heart of Bangalore, a few of the KCA members made it there to interact with the children, have tea with them and hand over the cheque to the Montfort Fathers.

KCA members Hariet D’Sa and Everest D’Souza, Fr Michael Menezes, and KCA past president Derick D’Sa were also present.

Fr Menezes, one of the priests at Anugraha, took the KCA members around to show them the facilities. Anugraha has two lady wardens, two cooks, and a tutor.

The children study in St Joseph’s Convent School which is situated 10 minutes away from Anugraha. The children get back from school around 4.00 pm, have their bath and assemble in the dining room for their prayers, evening tea, and snacks. Later, it is time for their studies and dinner.

They go back to their families during the vacation and their parents are happy to see their children performing so well.

Anugraha takes care of their boarding, lodging, medical, education, counselling, prayer, and recreation. They are also trained in various extra curricular activities like singing, dancing, acting, needlework, and the like. The children also help out with the house cleaning and garden work.

Anugraha gets just enough help to survive as little is known about them to the outside world. Fr Menezes informed KCA members that they spend approximately Rs 22,000 per child per year including their school fees but excludes medical expenses and clothes. Though they do not get any kind of governmental aid, Fr Menezes is confident that help will come from Divine Providence through generous donors like in the past.

Just before leaving, KCA member Hariet D’Sa, a retired school principal, said, “This is a very satisfying visit and definitely worth the trouble taken to travel the distance.”

Fr Menezes said, “Anugraha aims to help these children grow up and stand on their own feet and compete with the outside world.”