Carmel Cunningham, a supporter of SARC from Northern Ireland, visited Sr Selvi in April 2008 and records her impressions as the re-named Anbaham (Tamil for House of Love) was emerging amidst the dust and debris of the builders' work.

My return to the Anbaham project at Muttom gave me that sense of joy that comes from seeing the positive creation that can be made from an active response to human need.

I was delighted to see Sr Selvi at Trivandrum Airport. It felt like huge abundance to step into the comfortable vehicle supplied by the joint ventures of Coventry and Nagercoil Rotary Clubs. On my previous trip two years ago, I had taken a train through the beautiful Keralan countryside to Trivandrum and a bus to Nagercoil. Travelling by local transport, one is afforded a fascinating insight into Indian life. I was delighted, however, that life was made easier for the project by the purchase of this very serviceable vehicle.
When we arrived at our destination, even though it was late in the evening, I was struck immediately by the changes that had transpired in the last two years. I was awestruck at the sight of the impressive structure that had risen from the building site I left in June 2006. To me the building looked magnificent. In the night, with only the light from the house, the garden looked luscious and full, with trees and flowers, compared with the sand and bareness that was there before.

I walked up the steps (over tiled floors) into the central courtyard area. I looked up at the second floor which was a mere dream when I had been with Sr Selvi before. Work on this level is obviously still on-going and I look forward to the finished product with completed rooms, balcony, and on top of this floor, a flat roof with another small balcony. From here one can feast on the view of where the Bay of Bengal almost meets the Indian Ocean and drink in the sea breezes. (sorry if this sounds like a travel brochure).

Selvi took me on a tour that first night. My delight increased on seeing the developments in every room – Selvi’s well-equipped office with computers for the children, the study room with desks, the sewing room with sewing machines, the children’s room with their compartments for their possessions, the prayer room and guest rooms.

And the garden! What a profusion of trees, plants and flowers. How this desert-like landscape has been transformed into a garden of eden – well nearly! I am told that Jill has been a veritable Charley Dimmock – with her enthusiasm in buying and planting trees and plants. Selvi and Tata (Grandfather) the gardener, are working hard in covering even more ground with the shade of trees and bushes and colour from the various array and displays of flowers. The children all have responsibility for “their” trees, and water them every day at 4pm. Tata uses the hose pipe for those plants nearer the house. This elderly man takes good care of planting and nurturing the garden. When I was trying to plant a mango tree – a photo opportunity, I admit (please see attached photo) – I was pulling the plastic covering too soon and was quickly informed to be careful; I knew to leave the rest to the expert.

I was fed royally throughout the time I was at the project. Selvi makes the most of what they produce. She and Tata obviously know to have the trees produce fruit at different times so there is always a ready supply.

The children were o school holidays and at their own homes when I visited. However, Reena and Lensa were there to help the two ladies in the kitchen. One of these women brought her year old baby who provided great entertainment. With these different generations, including Tata the elderly gardener, there was very much a family feel to the place. Different children visited briefly. While I was there it was nearly time for school to begin again and for the project to resume its work in supplying added benefits to the lives of the children who will live there. Mothers, sent by the parish priest ,who wanted their children to attend, came to talk to Sr Selvi. One of the cooks who previously worked there came and said she was staying there until she got her old job back. Anhaban Project is a place not only giving that little bit extra to local children and families in need but also providing much needed employment for the area. As Michael, the builder, said to Selvi, this place has fed my family and the families of all the workers here.

I feel enriched by my stay, albeit short, with Selvi in this project and my previous time here. I see the positive long-term consequences of human beings responding wholeheartedly to what started out as tragedy and I am glad to have been a small part of it.

Michael, the builder, chose August 20 2008 as the day for the blessing of the completed upper floor at Anbaham. It was a particularly auspicious day in India and was just right for this important event.

Mass was celebrated by Fr Arul, one of the Trustees of SARC, together with the parish priest of Muttom. By a wonderful co-incidence, Andrew Collingwood was able to be there and to represent all the friends and supporters of the Bede Griffiths Charitable Trust who have supported SARC from the beginning and who made all this possible.

The day was also celebrated by the ritual boiling of milk in the inner courtyard. The heating of milk and its sudden boiling over the rim of the pot is the tradition Tamil way of inaugurating a new place or a new ventre. The sudden and expansive way in which the milk boils over symbolises the overflowing nature of the love of God.

Of course the children were there with their mothers and the girls provided a programme of dance to make this whole day complete. Local dignateries such as the chairman of the panchyat were also there to mark their support for Anbaham.

The completion of the building is a magnificent achievement by Sister Selvi, Michael, Arul, the mothers, the children and all the supporters in Muttom.

And all is in only three and a half years since the tsunami!

In December 2007, President of the Coventry North Rotary Club, David Robinson, together with his wife, Bernice and another Club member, Ashwin Kanabar, visted SARC, now renamed Anbaham, to see the project and to see how the grant from the Coventry North Rotary Club had been spent.

Here is their report on this memorable visit.

26th December 2004 is a date most people remember. As well as being Boxing Day when families get together to enjoy the Christmas period, it was the day of the dreadful Tsunami. Members of Coventry North Rotary Club, ably assisted by their Inner Wheel Club were soon motivated into action and on New Year’s Day, were allowed to do a bucket collection at the Coventry City Football Match. Their collection was used as part of a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant to fund a vehicle, six sewing machines, six computers and other facilities for the St. Adrian’s Reachout Centre in Muttom, Tamil Nadu, Southern India. This centre was the idea of Sister Selvi, a catholic nun whose family lived in Muttom. With the aid of the Bede Griffiths Charitable Trust from England, she was able to set up a home for poor and disadvantaged children affected by the Tsunami. Many children come from very poor families, some having lost one or both parents and other members of their families. Most families, whose income came from fishing, lost their homes and their fishing boats.
As an Inner Wheel Club, we were only too glad to support our Rotary Club, but felt we wanted to contribute something in the name of Inner Wheel. As President, I emailed Sister Selvi to ask what was needed. It was decided to buy all the curtains for the centre, plus mosquito nets for the beds in the guest rooms. We wanted to buy clothes for the children as well, so with monies from a raffle at our games evening, and a generous donation from one of our members, we collected enough money for those as well.
On the 28th October 2007, PDG David Robinson, Past President Ashwin Kanabar, both members of Coventry North Rotary Club and i flew off to India, via Dubai, to see the project for ourselves.
After an overnight stay in Dubai, and a wonderful half day city tour (need to go there for longer next time, not enough time for shopping!), we were off to Trivandrum, Southern India.
Sister Selvi, and Jill Hemmings from The Bede Griffiths Charitable Trust met us at the airport. We then travelled to Muttom in the vehicle purchased by Rotary.
After a three hour journey, along unlit, potholed, dirt roads, and with a stop for fresh coconut juice (still in the coconut), we arrived at the centre. It was now 11.25pm. All but three of the children had managed to stay awake to greet us. After being presented with garlands, the traditional scarves, and a welcome song from the children we entered the building. It was a beautiful place, all the floors were tiled and the walls painted cream. Inside was a courtyard garden. Our rooms were not five star but very adequate for our needs. Each guest room had an en-suite shower room with toilet. The children all slept together in one room on the floor on sleep mats.
The next morning we were woken at 5.30am to the sound of the children singing. They have prayers, yoga and breakfast before going to school.
The centre has plenty of land and it is being tended by Tatha the gardener who is growing fruit and vegetables.
During our stay, we were taken to see the memorials in Muttom and the next village Colachel, to the victims of the Tsunami. They were inscribed with the names of the dead and missing from the Tsunami disaster. Hundreds of people from a few months old to the elderly, lost their lives.
The children were wonderful. Even though they could not speak English we managed to communicate with them.
On the second evening, Father Arul the local priest came to hold mass at the centre and to bless the items from Rotary and Inner Wheel. This was a very moving evening. The children were all in their traditional Indian dress. They looked beautiful. After supper the children put on a display of singing and dancing.
Our shopping trip next day, to buy clothes for the children, was quite an experience. The girls all wanted long skirts with blouses to match. The boys weren’t so particular. The centre is basically for girls but the two boys had such sad pasts that Sister Selvi has allowed them to stay for a while.
We went into Nagercoil, the main town in the area, to a large clothing store. It took about two and a half hours to get all our purchases. The children were so excited when we gave them the clothes. We had some money left so we bought new sleep mats as well.
The children themselves were a credit to the centre. They live there from Sunday evening until Friday evening. They then return to see their families. It is hoped that they will pass on the hygiene and cleanliness they have learned at the centre to their families, to make their lives better. These children are from the poorest families in the village. They are beautiful children, happy and contented at the centre and at school.
The centre also provides for the women of the village by holding sewing classes each day. This is bringing new ways to support their families.
On the fifth day of our visit we moved to stay with Rotarians and Inner Wheel members. Nagercoil has eleven Rotary Clubs but only one Inner Wheel Club. David and I stayed with the Inner Wheel Secretary, Anitha. We had a wonderful time. The Inner Wheel ladies really looked after us. These were our sightseeing days. We went to the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Tirparappu Waterfalls and to Kanyakumari, the most southern tip of India. Ghandi’s ashes were kept here in a monument, and they were then scattered into the sea. It is here that the Bay of Bengal, The Indian Ocean and The Arabian Sea meet. All around this area was affected by the Tsunami.
We were also taken to visit a girls’ refuge and a boys’ orphanage. All these children had been affected by the Tsunami. I am afraid the facilities were nowhere near as good as St. Adrian’s, but the children had a place to live, good food and an education.
On our last night in India, a Deepavali celebration was held. The ladies of Inner Wheel presented me with a sari to wear. I felt so elegant. After speeches by Rotarians and Inner Wheel members, me included, we had a delicious supper.
On our last afternoon our hosts took us back to St.Adrian’s to say goodbye to Sister Selvi and the children and the staff. There were many hugs and kisses and a few tears as well.
This was my first visit to India and I cannot wait to return. I hope we can continue to support the work of the centre. At the moment it is only one storey but as I write this, I have had news that the next storey is being built. The only snag is money.
This article is only a taste of all we did on the visit. If you would like to hear more, I am very willing to give a presentation to clubs, please contact me at: bernice@david190.orangehome.co.uk