Aarti M, who heads our Feedback team on a voluntary basis and is probably the most dedicated GiveIndian you’ll ever come across, sent us this heartwarming incident that happened in her hometown of Chennai.
“Iyyapan, a 27 year old young man is the founder of the NGO Sri Arunodayam that runs a residential care programme for destitute mentally disabled children. He started off with one baby, a loaf of bread and a few rupees in his pocket and today he has 90 children today and 15-18 staff (caregivers and others). I have personally learnt the real meaning of determination and optimism from the way he works and his overall approach to life and people. The institution is completely run on individual donations - no institutional grants so far.
When I met Iyyapan yesterday he shared an amazing story with me. He had taken the children and the staff to the beach in Chennai for an outing. He was buying chai for all of them and he was about to pay when some passer-by came up to him and offered to pick up the tab. The next treat in store was 'shundal' (this is a South Indian snack made out of boiled chick peas). Again, another passing stranger passing bought snacks for the entire group. The evening went on and the plan was to end on a sweet note with a Rs12 Choco Bar ice cream. Again, as he was about to pay the vendor, another random stranger walked up and picked up the entire tab! Iyyappan's own cost was nothing- except for fuel.
Three people, complete strangers, demonstrated I think what is supposed to be inherent in all of us- compassion and generosity - the desire to care for others.”
What a lovely true story! Would you like to reach out to the children of Sri Arunodayam?
You can provide medication for a mentally challenged child for one month for just Rs700 (appx US$15)
You can feed a mentally challenged child for one month for just Rs1500 (appx US$32)
Three people, complete strangers, demonstrated I think what is supposed to be inherent in all of us- compassion and generosity - the desire to care for others.”
What a lovely true story! Would you like to reach out to the children of Sri Arunodayam?
You can provide medication for a mentally challenged child for one month for just Rs700 (appx US$15)
You can feed a mentally challenged child for one month for just Rs1500 (appx US$32)
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