About Karunai Illam
The Karunai illam which started with just seven children currently has forty-three children. The deserving children are chosen through strict screening process. The criteria employed for the selection process are
- The child should be from a family below poverty line
- Should have the willingness to learn
- Single parent/Orphan children
- HIV orphans
The admission process is done in the months of April-May every year. Food and accommodation is given at free of cost to the children. Education is given to them through private or government aided schools. Karunai Illam Trust supports for funding and local donor are also encouraged.
The Genesis
Jean Watsan, who came to India from New Zealand, thirty years ago in 1984 as a tourist in a soul searching process, found that her life had a definite purpose of serving deprived and orphan children in India. During her travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, she visited Gandhiji-Kasturibaji Children’s home where she got the acquaintance of the couple Mr.Subbaiah and Ms.Mariyamma. Jean came back once again in 1987 for a stay in Kanyakumari during which the couple expressed that they were moving to their native place Nilakottai, in Dindukal District and requested Jean also to visit the place. Jean so visited Nilakottai for the first time in 1987, without knowing that the place was going to be a part of her life for the rest of the years.
During the visit, many women who saw her rushed and a woman enquired Subbaiah something in Tamil. When Jean wondered what they are so curious about Mr.Subbaiah replied that “The woman enquired whether you are a Doctor, since she her baby is Sick.” Jean felt sorry for mot being a Doctor during which Mr.Subbaiah expressed that there are many orphan and destitute children in and around Nilakottai, but there is no home to support them.
Jean did not hesitate and said Subbaiah “ We can start a Children’s Home. You start the work for the same in Nilakottai and meanwhile I will go back to New Zealand to arrange funds for the same. Thus the seed for Karunai Illam was sown and it was initiated in 25th September, 1987 with seven children in a rented house.
Jean initially supported the Illam by contributing her own money and later as the Illam and its needs grew, she formed Karunai Illam Trust ((KIT) at New Zealand which started sourcing fund for the Illam. Later in 2006 problems begin to crop up since Mr.Subbaiah and his associates started acting with vested interest. Jean who got worried and suspicious investigated the issue and decided to seek the support of another NGO which can take over the Illam and run. She came to know about DHAN Foundation in Madurai and contacted them through email. DHAN came forward to extend its support and thus the new partnership got established. DHAN Karunai Illam was thus formed in 2007.
What started as a Children’s home, later extended to establish a skill training centre (LIFE centre- Livelihood enhancement through functional education) for the local and also a school.
The Vision
The vision of Karunai Illam is to free young and disadvantaged people from the limitations of poverty and ignorance so that they can find satisfaction and enrichment in their lives and express their full potential.
Facilities Offered by the Illam
Karunai illam currently offers following services to the local community
- Free boarding for destitute children at a children’s home (DHAN Karunai Illam) so that they can attend nearby schools;
- A model nursery and primary school to give local children a quality education alternative, utilising creative methods to encourage their natural talents;
- Fees and boarding costs towards tertiary education for academically able former students of the DHAN Karunai Illam
The children were given balanced nutritious foods and inclusion of small millets in the diet for enhanced nutrition is done. There will be a daily morning prayer, reading and sharing among the children. The children were also exposed to other activities like building their cultural talents viz. dance, music and folk art and they used to conduct their own cultural event once in a month. Training on arts to enhance their creative skills are also provided. The children has made wonderful art using their talent.
A yearly camp is also organized for them during which training on Yoga, Health and hygiene, Heritage walk, Career Counselingand agricultural training were given. The children are also given opportunity to expose their talent during the camp.
The boys and girls have separate hostel facilities and a separate caretaker.
The accommodation was earlier done in a small place with thatched roof which was upgraded to tinned roof later.
For providing accommodation to the poor children a building was purchased in 1991. The facilities in the house were improved later toilets, bathrooms and dining hall coming into place. The Kitchen got completely rebuilt to suit the needs of the Illam. The girl children were presently housed here. A separate building was constructed for boys hostel.
By 2003-04 an additional plot was purchased opposite to the illam in which two large dormitories and care-givers room on a second storey was constructed which housed the boys. Toilets and bathrooms are also constructed. Later the boys hostel was constructed in a coconut grove owned by the Illam. Presently the boys are residing in the newly constructed illam.
The boys hostel was converted in Karunai-Dhan Nursery school by 6th June,2008.