Bicycle Donation

Nearing the end of the bicycle part of our journey, we decided to donate our bicycles to a charitable cause. We were not able to find one via the internet or in our guidebook, so it was great luck when, at the end of our last day, we spotted a roadside sign for the Gandhiji Kasthurbaji Children's Home. Tucked away in a residentail area in the outskirts of Kanyakumari, this Home cares for, feeds, and houses 37 boys and girls. Ages range from 5 to 17.


It's a very simple outfit, really. A tree-shaded courtyard is surrounded by a kitchen hut, the founder's room, a staff lodge, and the children's dorm. The dorm is nothing more than two rooms, one for girls and one for boys. All one could see inside were the 37 suitcases containing each child's worldly posessions. There were no mattresses or beds, and hardly anything but a calendar decorated the inner walls. The outer walls were plastered with dozzens of photographs from the prior visits of foreigners and volunteers.

We were warmly greeted by S. Swami, the founder and secretary. He was yet humble as he told us that he has run this Home since he founded it in 1979, and I think for him the Home is a great source of joy. He proudly showed us notebooks filled with names and addresses of foreign visitors and volunteers who have joined him over the years.

When the children returned from school (which they all attend) we noticed straight away how well-behaved and sweet they are. In contrast to many other schoolchildren we have come across, screaming, chasing after us on our bikes, these kids were far more reserved and dare-I-say shy. They kept a distance at first. It was only after maybe 15minutes in our presence, and with the blessing of Swami, that they drew near. As they did warm up to us, hwever, we were so taken with them that we hardly wanted to leave. I noticed particularly that many of the girls flocked to Monica, vying to stand near her. As they showed us around their Home, about five girls held each of Monica's outstreched hands.


I stealthed a two-minute video (link, 24.2 MB) of us meeting with Swami and some of the children in the courtyard.

We signed the guestbook and left them the bicycles which carried us down to the southern tip of India. And we left with the conviction that this Children's Home is a cause to which we will donate money -- if not time -- for as long as it survives. If anyone cares to give to this Home, their bank information is as follows:

Gandhiji Kasthurbaji Children's Home
Savings Bank Account No. 5708
Canara Bank - J 1026
Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
PIN - 629 702
INDIA

The funding level for one child is 5,750 Indian Rupees per year, equivalent to 130 US Dollars. Sending a live US check to this bank address, with an explanatory note, will get the money to the Home.