Pazhassi Balamandiram Orphanage, Kerala, India
Introduction
The orphanage is located in Nalloorbadu, Mananthavady in Kerala, India. Pazhassi Balandiram Orphanage's history starts on 1985 when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad founded this orphanage on seven acres of land, in memory of a local king, who was known as Pazhassi Raja.
It began with just two resident boys, and in 1988 the orphanage was recognized as a charity organization with the Department of Social Welfare.
The Children
Preference is given to orphans under five years old. However, boys whose parents' income is below Rs 3,600 a month can be also admitted on a case by case basis. The most important function of the orphanage is care for the character formation of the children. Traditions are adhered to, and are kept alive by teachings from the great epics and the Bhagavad Gita. Residents also take part in periodic tours to historical and religious places.
Activities
Farming
The major activity and training of the boys in the orphanage is farming. On the available land, a small scale agricultural enterprise is undertaken with cultivation of coffee, pepper, coconuts, paddy, araca nut and bananas. The children also produce vegetables and rice. The orphanage has a Goshala (cowshed), and the cows produce milk for the boys' own consumption.
Festivals
The orphanage boys celebrate many Hindu festivals, such as Vijaya Dasami and Vivekananda Jayanti.
Daily Activity
Morning
5 .00 - Arise
Up to 6.00 - Morning Ablution, Bath
6 to 6.20 - Pratha Smarana
6.30 - Coffee
6.30 to 6.45 - Physical Exercise
6.45 to 7 - Cleaning Exercise
7 to 9 - Study
9 to 9-30 - Breakfast
9.30 - School
Evening
4.30 - Back from School
4.45 - Refreshments
4.45 to 5.30 - Newspaper Reading
5.30 to 6.30 - Sanghasthan
6.45 to 7.15 - Prayers
7.30 to 8.30 - Study
8.30 to 9.00 - Supper
9.00 to 9.30 - Study
9.30 to 10.00 - Informal and TV
10.00 - To bed
Saturdays
10:00 to 12PM - Agricultural, Cow Protection
2:30 to 4PM - Washing of clothes
Sundays
10:00 to 12:00PM - Balagokula, visit to temple
2:30 to 3:30 - Quiz, TV
3:30 to 4:00 - Awareness
4:00 to 4:30 - Clearing of Doubts, Dialog
Current Needs
The orphanage started the construction of a new building in 1994. The building was completed in 1997 and inaugurated in 2001
There are strong needs to upgrade the current facilities to meet the increasing number of residents. The orphanage is also setting up a fund to begin a vocational training center for the boys.
The most immediate and demanding need at the moment is for a new well to provide the children with fresh water for themselves and their agricultural enterprises.
Executive committees
The Orphanage is managed by a nine member committee which includes:
Sri K. C. Balan - President
P. R. Sahasranaman - Secretary
Sri. N. Balachandran - Caretaker
Contact Address
Pazhassi Balamandiram
Nalloornadu , Mananthavady - 670645
Wayanad District, Kerala, India
Visitors
Various well known visitors have been to this orphanage. Some of the most famous are Mata Amritanandamayi, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Swami Mridananda .
Sources of Income
The main source of income for the orphanage are the donations from individuals from all over the world. The Hindu Heritage Endowment is an important element of support of the orphanage's needs. The orphanage's income is supplemented by the children's agricultural activities.
Please Help Support Us
The orphanage is a totally voluntary and non-profit organization and can survive only by the generous support and donations which are provided by kind hearted people from all over the world. We hope you will be able to join them in this great cause of keeping the children happy in a place they can call "home" and build solid foundations for their present and future.
DONATE NOW
Any donation, small or large, can provide an improvement in the living conditions of the Pazhassi Balandiram Orphanage children.The Pazhassi Balandiram Orphanage Endowment fund was setup in order to provide continuous financial support for the very difficult conditions that the staff and children in the orphanage experience every day. We strive to provide the most secure future for the orphanage and the best standard of living for the children.
As with all the HHE funds a donation to the Pazhassi Balandiram Orphanage Endowment fund qualifies you instantly for a US tax deduction.