The Orphanage
Pudhu Irudhayam (PI) is located 7 kilometers outside the town of Trankebar in the state of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India. Here, Enable has purchased a plot of land approximately 100,000 square meters in size and built an orphanage to house and educate vulnerable Indian girls.
The orphanage includes a large assembly hall, a guesthouse and office, a multifunctional building, a kitchen house, and a small house for the town's guard at the entrance to the town. Additionally, there is a Parent Hall for visiting family members, which is also used for tutoring the girls, as well as girls from the nearby village and boys up to 8-10 years old.
Furthermore, there are several spacious houses where the girls live together in a normalized environment that includes school, homework, play, and chores in a safe setting.
Caste System in India
Although the caste system has formally been abolished in India, it still persists strongly. Most of the girls at our orphanage come from the lowest castes, which means they are from the poorest and most disadvantaged group in India.
Being a girl in India, in addition to the caste system, unfortunately comes with a number of other challenges.
Being a Girl in India
In India, girls are abandoned ten times more often than boys. This is due to the high dowry that parents must pay when their daughters marry, and because it is the sons who take care of their parents in old age.
Girls are also very vulnerable. If they are unwanted, they may be killed as newborns (a practice, fortunately, that is gradually disappearing). If they end up on the streets, they are often kidnapped for prostitution.
Experience shows that educating a man means educating one person, whereas educating a woman means educating an entire family. Educating women is also the most effective form of child limitation.
At our orphanage, we provide the girls with the safe and stable environment they need to complete their education.
The Girls' Upbringing and Education
At our orphanage, the following adults are responsible for the children: the director, wardens, nurse, and others.
The girls are socialized and raised in an Indian style, with (self) discipline, household chores, and homework. Although the girls don’t have much free time, they have the opportunity to play, dance, watch movies, and more.
There are only a few wardens for the many children, but the older girls help the younger ones. What’s important is that the adults are present and see each child. When children feel loved and supported, it strengthens their inner belief that they matter to someone, and this contributes to their self-esteem and resilience in both childhood and adult life.
The girls are provided with a healthy and balanced diet and are taught about hygiene. We have a dedicated nurse assigned to the orphanage, who closely monitors the girls and has a good sense of each child’s health and well-being.
We have chosen to finance the girls' education at the best schools in the hope that they can continue their studies at higher education institutions. Unfortunately, some of the girls' families are against their further education because the girls are expected to return to the village to help out and work, so they can earn money for the family before they get married or to prepare for marriage.
36 girls have graduated from college. Currently, we have 100 schoolgirls and 35 girls in college. During their studies, they typically live on the college campus or with family nearby. A few girls live in very small “apartments” that they rent together with other girls.
Enable continues to stay in contact with the girls after they finish their education, even those who are married and have children. They come to visit when Ernst and Hanne (the founders) are in India. There are now so many former girls that it is done in shifts, so only half of them are invited to each visit.
Tolerance towards Different Religions
Approximately 90% of the inhabitants of Tranquebar are Hindus. The remaining 10% are divided between Muslims and Christians.
This distribution is also reflected at the orphanage, and there are no hard feelings between either the adults or the children because of this. The different religious holidays are celebrated together, regardless of origin.
All the girls receive the same upbringing, regardless of their religion. In practice, however, most of the Christian and Hindu traditions are followed. For example, the Christian girls are also ritually celebrated when they begin puberty.
Collaboration with the Girls' Families
The orphanage places great importance on collaborating with the girls' families. The more involved the family is, the easier it becomes to gain their support for the girls' education and further studies.
However, maintaining contact can be challenging due to vast distances, poverty, and a lack of resources. Additionally, some of the girls have no close family members.
Until now, the girls have met their families outside on the orphanage grounds. A Parent Hall has now been built where the girls can meet their families, sheltered from the sun and rain.
Daily Operations of the Orphanage
The daily operations of the orphanage are managed by St. Joseph Development Trust (SJDT), which is also responsible for selecting the girls who will live at the home.
SJDT already runs three other orphanages, as well as a microfinance bank, self-help programs for women, and more.
The Future
Enable is a small association whose ambition in 2006 was to build and establish an orphanage for vulnerable girls near Tranquebar.
Over the years, we have succeeded in creating both good physical conditions and a safe upbringing, as well as schooling and education for 100 girls.
We do not have ambitions to replicate our orphanage concept and start from scratch elsewhere. Instead, we are focused on ensuring and consolidating the operation of our current orphanage, with the maintenance of physical facilities and financing the upbringing, schooling, and further education for a continuous group of 100 girls, with the aim of their self-sufficiency and a good life.
However, there is still potential for some minor expansions. Once fully developed, Enable will accommodate around 125 girls.
