CALCUTTA GIRLS FOUNDATION :

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.