Published on Page 1, Weekend, strip
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 23, 2006
Blurb: Oblivious to the realities of life, the children at FFC are waiting for
someone to come with gifts
By Francis P Barclay
They were 420, but 425 now; and they all will celebrate Christmas, for which preparations are on. And in the merriment on the day of revelry, they will try to sink their pangs of destitution; of course not all, because the latest to join the fest are just infants. Accepting them as Christmas gifts from God and also including them in its burly family, the FFC is all set to celebrate the day.
Special kids, orphans, destitute and people with disabilities are in the three houses of FFC - Families For Children - in Podanur near Coimbatore. The mission of each house now is `beat others in decoration'.
The five who joined them on the midnight of December 20 were Amudhan (born on October 21, 2006), Nandhini (March 25, 2006), Oviya (December 5, 2006), Swetha (December 17, 2006) and Madhuri (November 7, 2006) - all from Salem.
The inmates of FFC have sponsors from abroad apart from some local philanthropists as well wishers. A few kids have got new dress for Christmas while some got `new' old clothes. And, there are many who got nothing. Yet, they are waiting for the festival. They are making their own greeting cards to send them to their sponsors.
Each house is making a Christmas crib, decorating the rooms with streamers and lanterns. They hope Santa will come on the day and give them gifts.
A few may get special food from sponsors. Others will have to be happy with their usual meal.
Children, who get education in FFC's own pre-school, are sent to government schools. Students aspiring for higher education are sent to colleges also. After they are settled in life, they are given in marriage and they leave the home. In the case of special people and those with disabilities, they stay in the home for life.
Vocational training is given to all. They spin silk threads from the coocoon they buy at government auction and sell it to the Sericulture Department. They make greeting cards, purses and foot rugs using waste polythene bags.
They have a library and a computer lab, which is also open to the public. They also rear goats. The milk is given to the babes.
Sunbeam Viswanath, Administrator of the FFC, says local philanthropists render good help to the children. They sponsor meals, give clothes and gifts during special occasions.
Saravana Kumar and Naseer, who can neither speak nor hear, use their talents to make attractive greeting cards. Karthiga (17) and Sudha (18) make silk handbags.
Mood is upbeat among them, as only a few hours are left for Christmas. Oblivious to the realities of life, the children are waiting for someone to come with gifts. But, will anyone come?
