KATHRYN'S MERCY HOME TRUST (UK)
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Mission Statement
Help us to break the chains of poverty and transform lives through education and life skills.
About This Cause
Kathryn’s Mercy Home UK is a charity serving the needs of some of the poorest people in and around the town of Devakottai, Tamil Nadu, S India. It was originally set up in 1998 by Rev Jeyapaul of the Church of South India to provide accommodation for a few children from outlying rural villages, so that they could attend Secondary School as a result of his experience, as a son of a poor farmer, being given the opportunity to access Secondary and Further Education. Since then, generous donations and sponsorship from the UK have allowed the charity to flourish. Now there is a dedicated Hostel, providing accommodation, food, clothing and educational materials, enabling around 100 village girls to access Secondary and Higher Education in the town of Devakottai. On the same site, 20 unsupported elderly widows are also given a home where they can feel loved and cared for. By prioritising girls and elderly widows, they are safe in the knowledge that they are no longer prey to the effects of poverty, exploitation, and violence. A night watchman and his wife ensure that the site is safe. As the Hostel is empty during the school week, vocational training is offered to women in the local area and this training is made available to the girls at weekends. The courses followed are validated by the District Social Welfare Department and provide a qualification recognised by local business people. In order to support the education of children attending school in nearby villages, six teachers are employed to provide additional teaching after school for 350 children in a Rural Development Scheme. This scheme also provides cultural programmes and educational visits for children and their families. Health and wellbeing are important areas of development. Twice a year the Hostel is used as a medical centre for those living in outlying villages, whilst a local doctor regularly provides health advice and clinical support for the girls in the Hostel and the elderly widows. In Devakottai itself, KMHUK funds Kathryn’s Nursery and Primary School for local children. This facility has grown over the years, employing well qualified teachers who deliver a balanced curriculum, delivered in English, for children aged between 3 and 11. There is no financial obligation on families to pay anything towards their children’s education. A recent achievement is the building of 8 classrooms and, together with the existing provision, it will be possible to increase the intake from 300 to 500 children. Inspirational leadership on the part of Reverend Jeyapaul and his son Charles, who both live in Devakottai, have made it possible for many children, of all faiths and none, to achieve success beyond their wildest dreams. Young women have returned to the Hostel to speak to the girls about how education has transformed their lives and the lives of their families. Children leaving Kathryn's School and attending the local Secondary school are commended on their educational achievements, particularly in their competency in English which is a requirement for further education. Women attending Vocational classes are able to contribute to their families' income. Elderly widows, who would otherwise be living on the streets, find companionship within a happy community where the girls and women live in harmony and develop friendships. How can you help? Our charity prides itself in providing as many children as possible with the opportunity to break the cycle of grinding poverty experienced both in the town and in nearby villages. Therefore, there is room in the Hostel for more girls to begin to take advantage of all that education can offer. The new classrooms, although built, have yet to be fully kitted out and the rising costs of material have presented us with a challenge we are determined to meet.