Ashirvad Residential School
The desire to help the children of the families affected/infected by HIV/AIDS was borne in us in 2003. Most of them had already lost their fathers to complications with AIDS and several mothers were HIV positive. Some of these children were themselves HIV positive and doing very poorly in health. Most had no opportunity for proper schooling. We observed that the children in these families had very little hope of coming out of the vicious cycle in which they were living.
We considered providing some of these needy children with a residential facility from where they can attend a neighborhood school. When we surveyed several neighborhood schools, we quickly found that the children from HIV families would not be granted admission in these schools due to the fear, shame and stigma attached to the disease. That is when we realized that we would need to begin a residential school and hire full time teachers.
The school started in July 2004 with 11 children and currently there are 31 resident students. 9 of the 31 are HIV positive. 4 AIDS widows (also mothers of the resident children) stay with the children in this residential school, and are trained to serve as caregivers. We have 5 full time teachers.
At present Ashirvad School has classes from Kindergarten to Class 8. The children range from ages 5 to 15. The medium of instruction in the school is in English, to give them better future prospects.
The first thing that strikes one upon entering Ashirvad School is joy. An outside observer can sense the harmony of the community work, commitment to individual education and focus on providing children with the skills and tools necessary to pass successfully into adolescence and adulthood.
Healthy diet, Medical attention and caring and nurturing residential environment provides for good health and security in the children.
Of the 30 children, 16 have already placed their trust in the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. They daily spend time in personal quiet time. They are being discipled on a daily basis. Scripture memorization is a very integral part of their spiritual training. They are also learning to share their faith with others.
Curriculum:
- Small group activities
- Science and Math
- Reading, writing and speaking literacy in three languages
- Spiritual training
- Field trips
- Parent and community education
- Health and hygiene education
Those Currently benefiting:
- 30 children (plus 2 day-scholars)
- of these 9 are HIV +ve
- 4 widows (caregivers)
Our vision is to expand this facility so that within 2 years around 200 children are provided this opportunity.
Bharathi
Bharathi is our first totally orphaned child. If you see her today and compare to how she was when she arrived on December 14th 2005, you will marvel at God’s grace in transforming this little one. Bharathi was born on November 15th 1999. Her father died next day on November 16th due to complications with AIDS. Her mother continued working as a basket weaver until she died in November 2005. It was shortly after her death that friends approached us and requested if we would accept Bharathi in our residential school. Bharathi’s brother was in their children’s home but they were unable to take her in as Bharathi tested HIV positive. As we evaluated the situation and prayed about the desperate need for a proper home for this little one, the Lord motivated us to admit her in Ashirvad School.
To make it possible for her to adjust faster, we kept her 10 year old brother, Sunil, with us for a few days. How she clung to Sunil when it came time for him to leave to return to his children’s home! She was very insecure and found very hard to trust anyone. It is anyone’s guess what all she may have endured in her young life.
But we praise God and rejoice to share with you that she soon became a very special part of Ashirvad School. Her impish, cheerful smile wins our hearts. She has been a slow learner but now beginning to go forward in her studies. Her relatives, also basket weavers, have visited couple times but are afraid to invite her to their homes on account of her HIV condition. We have tried to explain to them how HIV can and cannot be transmitted, but there is no change in their response towards her. During first Summer we invited her brother, Sunil to spend 2 weeks in our home while all the other Ashirvad School children went to their homes or relatives’ homes. Now her relatives take Sunil home during holidays but Bharathi is not included. We were very grateful when Annapurna, our caregiver happily included Bharathi along with her 2 children on her visit to her family in May 2007.
