Boys set to get new hostel!

Great news - DHAN our local partner has secured funding to build a new boys hostel!! This has been a long time coming and will help us realise the vision of Jean Watson for an integrated complex with more equal numbers of boys and girls. This development ensures that the boys have similar facilities to the girls and a larger space so that we could take in more boys than we do currently.

While we did raise some money in the last few years towards this goal, it was not sufficient to build the new hostel. The funding comes from the General Insurance Corporation (GIC) an Indian public sector insurance firm. In 2018 DHAN had received funding from the GIC to build a wall around the new girls hostel. The GIC were so impressed with the level of care, learning and wellbeing experienced by our Illam children, that they have made this incredibly generous grant. The grant also allows the development of other facilities particularly a workshop and training centre for the local community that our children too can access and use. Note that this grant is a one-off and strictly limited to the development of infrastructure.

Sustained support from contributors like yourself over the years and the partnership with DHAN and their effective management on the ground has led to this outcome. What this also means is that your support becomes ever more important to fund the increased running costs as we work with DHAN to slowly increase the number of boys once the buildings are completed. The Illam children will need your continued support to make the most of this wonderful windfall! Watch this space for further details about project start and completion dates as DHAN is racing ahead with obtaining building permits.

Trustees