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CALCUTTA GIRLS’ FOUNDATION  (Patron: Steve Waugh)

This project was started in March, 1998.  Its objective was to set up a girls’ wing at UDAYAN (a rehabilitation home for 300 boys from leprosy colonies, started by Rev. James Stevens and supported by Dominique Lapierre).  The money for this was raised at a supper auction in June, 1998, and the building was ready in August, 1999. Calcutta Girls’ Foundation was also able to help UDAYAN get a substantial grant for a multi-purpose building, which has a dining-cum-assembly room on the ground floor. The ground floor also houses a brand new kitchen, with equipment to cater for meals for 400 children, twice a day.  The first floor houses classrooms, facilities for teachers, and a well-equipped computer centre.

Steve Waugh has been extremely successful in raising funds through auctioning cricket memorabilia at charity dinners. The second event was for a rehabilitation centre for destitute or disabled girls.  Part of the money raised at this function was given to UDAYAN for construction and repair work, and the rest is still in C.F. account, We hope to use it towards a home for visually impaired girls, in Nepalgunj.

CALCUTTA GIRLS FOUNDATION STORY:

Leprosy is as old as the hills. People of God such as Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa did their bit for the leprosy afflicted. But childcare in leper colonies was a grossly neglected cause. It was the foresight and vision of Rev. James G Stevens, which focused on the plight of the children of lepers about 30 years ago, and it is the dedicated participation of Domnique Lapierre in this cause, which gives Udayan the shape and the stability it enjoys. Udayan’s claim to fame is having Domnique Lapierre as its patron since 1982, the man without whose unstinting love, dedication and donations, the UDAYNAGRAM project would not be where it is today.

Then came Steven R Waugh at the invitation of Mrs. Shamlu Dudeja, Director Calcutta Foundation. During an India-Australia test match in Calcutta, in March 1998, Australians lost the match to India in four days. The 5^th, free day was utilised by Steve Waugh to visit Udayan. The healthy, happy look on the boys’ faces, the verdant surroundings, the mango groves, the palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze, the serene waters of the ‘pukur’ and above all the dedication and love which flowed from the workers at Udayan, convinced him that he must get involved in the girls’ wing project. He agreed to become the Patron of the project, and laid the foundation for Nivedita House. He keeps visiting the Udayan village to strengthen his bon hommie with the boys and meet the girls he has taken on to improve their lot.