Operation Shanti - Karunya Mane

The question arises, "where do they go next?" when children are rescued from situations in which they are being exploited, live on the street or in horrible slum conditions, or are abandoned by their moms. Often, there is no easy answer.

Our answer is to provide such children with shelter; a home where they receive the support and guidance they need at a tender age; a home where they live without worry or fear of being snatched or "sold" or forced to beg for their parents.

Karunya Mane -- We Are Open!
Turn Here!	Karunya Mane, our shelter, is on the outskirts of Mysore. It is close enough to the city for convenience, yet far enough away to enjoy peaceful surroundings. Karunya Mane (which means "House of Compassion for the Poor" in the local language), is a fully equipped two-story building. The first floor houses the girls and a storeroom, and serves as a dining area. The second floor contains the kitchen, an area for our manager and his family, and the boys. An excellent private school is a short walk away.
At Karunya Mane, our once destitute kids get everything a child in a middle-class family gets: The chance to be kids and enjoy their childhood years; Quality private school education and daily after-school tutoring; Medical and dental attention for all healthcare issues; Excellent food, clean, filtered water, and milk and snacks twice a day; Interaction with other members of society; Arts and crafts, singing and chanting, and karate lessons. We installed a solar panel system for environmentally friendly hot water for daily baths and an industrial-strength water filter for clean drinking water. Our kids also get clothing and footwear monthly hair cuts, and comfortable bedding. At Karunya Mane, the kids have the chance to mature into self-sufficient, independent, productive adults who learn the value of giving back to society. We opened on February 10, 2008. As of June 2009, we house 42 kids, one adult, and three staff members. Read more about our residents at Our People and through our blog.
Selecting the Children

Focus and discipline in child selection is intentional to ensure a successful and effective program. Our kids are from the poorest backgrounds, and first choice is given to children with no parents or with just one parent.

We target children demonstrating a willingness to live in the structured environment of our shelter. If the child has a parent, the parent must understand the importance of a good education and must follow our rules.

Sumitra, Devaraj, Manikanta, Jyothi, Netravati, Pallavi

Kaleem, Lokesh, Venkatesh, Amita

Each child is selected through an interview process and by visiting and evaluating his/her current living environment (often, this is the street or a tiny, one-room house). Karunya Mane targets children from the age of three, with a focus on younger kids and kids that no other institution or facility would accept.

All of our kids are from the poorest socioeconomic background and were shunned from their society. During our first year, an often-heard comment we received from visitors to Karunya Mane was, "I can't believe these kids used to live on the streets. They are so clean and well-behaved."



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