Rotary and 2tenfm supporting the community
ROTAWALK
Dinton Pastures, Reading - Sunday 11th May
The Walk
The Charities
- Thrive
Entry
Other Links
- Rotary
Karuneipuri Orphanage
Karuneipuri Orphanage in South India is home for 190 children. It was started in 1970 to serve the very poor in the surrounding area. Some children come from tribal families living in remote hill villages; some are from itinerant and single parent families whilst others are there because their families cannot keep them. All the children attend school and many of them are the first in their family to receive education.
The campus is set in 3.5 acres of land just off the main highway from Tiruchirapalli to Chennai. There are hostels for girls and boys aged 5 to 16 and an elementary school on site for younger children. The older children attend the secondary school in the village.
Karuneipuri has always relied on charitable donations but in recent years funding has declined and so in 2007 The Breakthrough Trust (India), a registered UK charity, was set up to secure its future. This helps with the day to day running costs of the orphanage and has made a difference in simple ways such as providing food, games equipment, school uniforms, medical aid, ceiling fans, additional lighting and organizing decorating and repairs. Many individuals in the UK who support the new Trust have expressed a wish to visit Karuneipuri and help out themselves. Teaching spoken English will be a priority.
Many of the original buildings at Karuneipuri now need replacing. Funding from Rotary is being used to provide a new bore well and to build a new shower and toilet block. Construction was begun in October 2007 and is nearing completion. Another project, planned for 2008, will be the refurbishment of the kitchen and soon after that the focus will be a fully equipped IT room.
Education is the way to increase the life chances of disadvantaged children in India. Karuneipuri hopes to give each child a better, brighter future.
