"Sister Aid"

Chamarajangara, Karnataka

In November 2010, YGB visited Deenabandhu, a home for destitute and orphaned children in the rural district of Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, South India. More than 45 boys and 22 girls live here, ranging from 3 to 19 years of age. Deenabandhu was founded in 1992 by a zoologist professor Dr. G.S. Jayadev as a small home for eight orphaned boys. In 2010, with the help of foreign donations, they built a home for orphaned girls. This environmentally friendly "Green Home for Girls" now accommodates orphaned girls as well as rescued single mothers with their children. They eventually hope to accommodate up to 40 girls.

Today, YGB sponsors two single mothers at Deenabandhu—Puttamma and Radha, and their children. Puttamma is a victim of domestic violence, and Radha is a widow whose husband died with HIV last year. Radha and her two children are HIV free. With the support of YGB, they have bought sewing machines and have started earning an income. Their children are all at school.

In February 2011, YGB Ambassador Sophie Herbert hosted two events and raised enough money to sponsor one orphan girl, Gayatri, 4 years old. An affectionate, happy and positive girl who used to live in an orphanage where personal care was absent, she is now in full swing at the Deenabandhu Children's home, studying hard with other children. An annual cost of $500 (Rs. 22,500) per child pays for all housing, food, education (school and tuition), clothing, extracurricular activities, and other entertainment (such as day and overnight trips and summer camp).

"Sister Aid" Map