The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Transforming the lives of neglected children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 06, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Transforming the lives of neglected children

Staff Reporter

Christel House helps them develop their personalities and knowledge

Bangalore: Today 555 neatly groomed, confident and English-speaking students stand tall at Christel House India's weekly assemblies. Such was not the case before the school opened its doors in 2001 to 240 malnourished and neglected children. The school has contributed to the transformation of these students, who now look healthy and are neatly clad in uniforms, eyes bright with joy and anticipation.

Christel House children come from a culture of neglect, abuse and abandonment. They lack not only opportunities but also self-esteem, confidence and dignity. Majority of parents and caregivers of the students are not literate and many work as daily labourers.

"In this place, children develop their own personalities and knowledge. No other school has given me this kind of education. We must work very hard to bring a good name to those who have given us this opportunity," says Akhila, a student. Students show excitement in coming to school and the overall attendance rate is 95 per cent.

Shiva, who lost his parents and struggled with depression and loneliness, was taken into Christel House in June 2003. Counselling and guidance was provided to him, and today he is the class representative of grade six. "I want to be a software engineer," he says.

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