Operation Shanti - Karunya Mane

The question arises, "where do they go next?" when children are rescued from situations in which they are being exploited. Often, there is no easy answer.

One 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 can live without worry or fear of being snatched or "sold."

Karunya Mane -- We Are Open!
Turn Here!	Our new facility is on the outskirts of Mysore, 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 women and girls, a storeroom, and a medical clinic. The second floor contains the kitchen, our manager and his family, and the boys. An excellent private school is a short walk away.
At Karunya Mane, destitute children have the chance to be kids and enjoy their childhood years. The nearby school provides a proper education and learning environment. We installed a solar panel system for environmentally friendly hot water for baths and an industrial-strength water filter that creates clean drinking water from our source of hard water. Our residents are also given good and healthy food, sufficient clothing and footwear, oustanding medical attention, and comfortable bedding. Here, our 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 and currently house 29 kids, nine adults, 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. The children are from the poorest backgrounds, and first choice is given to children with no parents or with just one parent.

We target children demonstrating motivation, a capacity for learning, and 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.

Each child is selected through an interview process and by visiting and evaluating his/her current living environment (if one exists). The home targets children from the age of three to sixteen, with a focus on younger kids.

The adults that we support at Karunya Mane are either unable to care for themselves or have special situations that prevent them from being independent. All are of the poorest socio-economic background and lack proper identification in their society. The stronger adults contribute to caring or the kids and assist with the elderly who cannot care for themselves.



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