Half-way home for underprivileged kids

The children amidst their play and fun, stopped to welcome me to their home.

Fit Institute, earlier named as Fit Person Institute, a home for girls was started in 2001 by Hilda Rayappan at Bejai. The founder of Fit Institute, also the founder of Prajna Counseling Centre Hilda Rayappan has the administrative house at Kankanady which she looks after with the assistance of 5 other trustees.

When asked about how this thought came to her mind, she said “children need to grow up in families and get the love and support of a family”. Earlier, they used to look after 12-13 children who worked as child labourers. Some were fallen on the streets, some worked as domestic helpers and many used to do stone cutting work.

With great difficulty, they got these children admitted to normal schools as convincing their parents, was a tedious task. Having accomplished the task, they were forced to admit the parentless students at BCM hostels and SC, ST hostels as they did not have homes to stay.  

Thus they thought of hiring cottages to provide homes for these children where they could live as a family. “Children do not like to be called orphans,” points out Hilda Rayappan. Therefore, they did not name it as an orphanage, rather a home for children. 
 
As the number increased, they shifted to Marnamikatte as the place could not accommodate many children. Presently, there are 45 girls in the Institute from the age group 6-18 years.  They are enrolled in nearby schools such as St. Rita’s, Casia High School and Jyothi Pre University College. The funding for their fee, food, books, uniform and other requirements is looked after by the institution.

Looking after these girls from a year and a half is Jayashree, who has completed her Masters in Social Work. To a query on what keeps her in that place, she said “I take pleasure in being with the children. They give me happiness”. Fit Institute also has a House mother and a cook to look after their needs.

The children are fed in the morning before they leave to school. They get their afternoon meals at the school through the Mid Day meal programme. After their classes, they return home where tea and snacks is provided to them. They spend their evenings playing and studying. They also assist in the daily chores.

In the year 2007, the Government Women and Child Welfare Department started providing a grant to this Institution. Abused, destitute, orphans, missing or street children are brought to this place. The Institute cannot accept all the children that they come across. The Welfare Department approves and provides children to them. Thus only with the consent of the Child Welfare Committee, they accommodate children.

The permission of adoption of these children should also be obtained from the Child Welfare Committee. 

Weekly activities are conducted for the children at the institution. In addition, a number of youngsters as well as elders come in groups and spend time with the girls. They conduct games and entertainment programmes for these children. 

The Fit Institute has other sister homes called the Swadhara home and Short Stay home were mothers and children are looked after. “Children who have parents should live with them,” says Hilda Rayappan. Women who are abused, having alcoholic husbands or thrown from their homes are provided accommodation at these homes along with their children. They are encouraged to employ themselves and giving training for work.

“Girls who turn 18 may not be in a position to face the world,” says Hilda Rayappan. Thus these girls from Fit Institution are taken to Shwadhara home or Short Stay home where they are taught employable skills such as stitching, handicrafts etc so that they can employ themselves.  Basic knowledge of computers is also taught to them. Some of them who score well receive ITT or KPT training.  Few girls have been given training at Graphics Institute and one of them has completed her engineering studies.

Efforts are made to make sure that these girls are capable to earn for themselves before they let them go. 

Some of the girls are married in good families were they get an opportunity to receive love and affection. Before the girls are married, they visit the family and enquire about their safety. If they feel the family is suitable for the girl, they continue with the arrangements.

Hilda Rayappan strongly believes that every individual needs to be loved and cared for. Even if they cannot do much for the girls, when the girls are settled in families, it gives them contentment.  She also feels that it is time for these girls to show love in return to their family members and she always encourages them to give love to the new families they live in.

Fit Institute survives on the funds and grant it receives. But this is definitely not enough as there are thousands of girls on the street who do not have a home, says Hilda Rayappan.