July 24th, 2008
My Trip To Joanna Buthello’s Orphanage in Madh Island
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When a reader of my blog suggested that I donate my belongings to Joanna Buthello’s orphanage in Madh Island, I thought about it, and, in order to make up my mind, took a little trip to Madh Island on Saturday to meet Joanna Buthello and her sixty children.
After a long train ride from Churchgate to Malad and an even longer auto-rickshaw ride to Madh Church, I turned into a little lane and came upon the orphanage. My first thought was — “this can’t be the orphanage!” My second thought was — “sixty children can’t fit in here!”
Well, this little shack is indeed the orphanage and sixty children do study and stay here, along with the sixty-something retired schoolteacher, a dog and a few cats.
During the day, the veranda and the little compound turn into a school, with wooden blackboards and benches and even a computer or two. At night, the girls retire to sleep in the room inside, while the boys put the blackboards on top of the benches and sleep out in the veranda.
There’s a little kitchen next to the office/ visitor’s room where she cooks food for the children. The only toilet in the orphanage is a little structure next to the main building.
The lady herself is charming, and her commitment to the children is obvious. She introduced me to some of the children and told me their stories. Some of the children shied away, while other tentatively replied to my “hi!” with a “hello, uncle!” of their own.
As I left, I asked her if I could take a couple of pictures. As I took out my camera-phone, even the children who had shied away earlier came forward, and openly posed for the camera.
On the way back, I stopped for a few minutes at Aksa Beach. It’s pretty in a nondescript way, lined with rows of little shacks selling street food, as all such beaches in India are.
So, am I going to give away everything I own to the children? If I was to make my decision based on whose need is the greatest, it would have been the obvious choice. Except that the children need a building more than they need my furniture, and selling my stuff won’t get them enough money to solve their problems.
So, if you want to help Joanna Buthello’s children, by giving a donation, do call her at 22919196/ 28804371. The Joanna J. Buthello Foundation is registered and enjoys 12AA and 80G IT exemption.
