NZ High Commissioner opens newly-completed School and unveils Foundation stone for new DHAN-Karunai Illam‘ dreamhome’

Our new school building was opened by NZ's High Commissioner to India Jan Henderson in a joyous celebration that took place on 10 October 2012.  She came with her husband and daughter and friend all the way from New Delhi together with the NZ Honorary Consul in Chennai.  This is the first occasion in 25 years  that we have been honoured by a visit from the High Commissioner. The primary and nursery school children danced and sang a prayer and there were speeches.  The new School was festooned everywhere with artwork done by the children and coloured decorations.

Just before that, the High Commissioner and her party had been taken to our ‘Garden land’ where all the Illam children and staff along with many others gathered by the DHAN Foundation were assembled under a thatch sunshelter.  After puja and speeches including from Jean and the High Commissioner, she ceremoniously unveiled a foundation stone for the new ‘unified’ Illam hostel building.  Her visit was a great success and a happy occasion - in which our students did splendid dancing and put on presentations for our guests.