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History page

Introduction     Early days     Tamil Nadu     Karnataka

Introduction

This charity was initially started by Kumar Swamy in 2001 and formally registered in 2003 as ‘New Life in Christ Ministries International’, registered charity number 1096852.

As the charity has grown, so has the board of trustees. There are now eight trustees who oversee the works undertaken in its name.

It began when Kumar Swamy was prompted to go to India in response to a letter about a young mother with 2 children whose husband had been killed when an earthquake struck in Western India in the 2001. Kumar was asked to council and support her.

Picture left - Children from a remote village receive towels for the first time, as previously they just dried in the sun.

During this visit, Kumar met the owner of an orphanage who lived in a village nearby to the lady he had gone to visit. Due to lack of funds, the children at the orphanage often went hungry as they ate only one meal a day if that. As a result, some were fainting on the way to school.

With very limited resources Kumar and his wife decided to help support this orphanage, and from this small beginning the charity started. 

Kumar has been helped over the years by innumerable friends, with their wisdom, council, prayers and finances, and would like to thank all who have been involved.

Early days

All initial work was based in Andhra Pradesh.   

Picture right - Lady qualifying from one of the tailoring schools - Please click here for more photos or click on photo.

As Kumar and his wife shared the needs of the children with others, more people were touched and donations were received that enabled the completion of a dormitory that was being built. Also a new kitchen and a dining room were also built.  

The work grew and a child sponsorship scheme was set up and overseen by Joan Henson who became a trustee. This provided regular funds to further improve the conditions for the children and most importantly better nutrition and hygiene. Many other facilities were added at later stages.  

Picture left - First time that children from this home ever saw a beach

Bunk beds were purchased and with the increased numbers of children now living in the home it became appropriate to furnish a further dormitory and separate the boys and the girls.  

Many of the trustees over the years have made visits to India and have been involved with helping in various ways with the children. See visits page.  

Picture right - Two disabled boys who were supported through University, one to study theology, the other microbiology.

At its peak, this children’s home was home for 115 children.    

Below are some of the achievements of this charity in the Andhra Pradesh region since 2001, see more photos on the photos page: -

The young widow who just wanted to die in 2001 is now helping many young girls and women. A new church built of concrete in her village provides shelter when flooding takes place. One who needed help and shelter in 2001 is now able to help other people with their problems.

Tamil Nadu

In 2005 work was also begun in the Tamil Nadu region, and below is a brief summary of how this charity helped in this region.

Karnataka

In 2000, Kumar was put in touch with Pastor Nanjappa from the Karnataka region after hearing him speak on Premier Christian radio. Through this meeting with Pastor Nanjappa, this charity became involved helping in the Karnataka region.

Pictures right and below - Children from home in the  Karnataka region - click on photos for more photos.

In 2005 the charity financed building a small children's home connected to a Church in the area. 

Initially, there were only 5 children, so the local Pastor could adapt slowly to this new responsibility of caring for them.   

In May 2008 due to gifts from a very generous supporter the number of children living in the home was increased to 10.

A new home for 20 children has been built for children ‘from the forest’ and in 2009 two guest rooms with western toilet and shower facilities was added. 

Now guests from the UK can visit the children’s home and bring their various skills to assist in the education and welfare of the children. e.g. by teaching arts and crafts etc to them.

Other achievements in this area: -