DELHI BROTHERHOOD
We were very disappointed not to be able to visit the Brotherhood, due to bad timing really, it being a holiday time and Fr. Weatherall being in hospital. However, we did get lots of information and were amazed at the scope of their work.
They began when a group of priests from Cambridge (the Cambridge Brotherhood), under the inspiration of Bishop Westcott, went out to India to start a higher education programme in1887. What started as a small endeavour has grown into a large social organsation. All the Brothers take a vow to remain single and to devote their whole lives to serving the poor and needy. The part that we have contact with in Llanfaelog is the Street and Working Children Project. Ian, a pilot in our congregation, asked if we could find a contact to which he could take children's clothes etc when he flies to India, and could be sure they would actually go to children and not onto the black market. The Delhi diocese supplied details of the Brotherhood, and Ian has visited them regularly for a few years now. I have been in email contact, and was really looking forward to visiting! Ah well! Anyway, we now know a lot more about them and their work, which is tremendous and have obtained pictures.
As well as the street children project run by Brother Daniel Monodeep, the Brotherhood runs a Day Centre for the elderly, a Boys' Home, a Nght Shelter, an HIV/AIDS centre, an old people's home and a Womens' Empowerment Programme - and I don't think even that is a comprehensive list!
The Brotherhood campaigns actively for the end of child labour, and for the integration of street and working children into normal society, so that they can eventually support themselves by qualifications or a trade. This is pretty much the ethos of the Grail Trust in the south where we began our journey. and of the Delhi Cathedral project to support children of leprosy stricken families. When a young person is enabled to support themselves, then whole famlies can be transformed. Seeing the size of India and the vast numbers of people makes you realise just how big the problems are and what a huge task the government has to try to raise standards. We heard on the news that more people in India own mobile phones than have assess to a proper toilet! That gives some perspective!
We and Ian hope that, with the support of Bishop and Diocese, Virgin Airlines might take up the children's project as one of their official charities. Hopefully the other contacts we have made on our journey can be used in similar ways. Even though we can't solve all of India's social problems, at least we can help to improve a few lives!
We were very disappointed not to be able to visit the Brotherhood, due to bad timing really, it being a holiday time and Fr. Weatherall being in hospital. However, we did get lots of information and were amazed at the scope of their work.
They began when a group of priests from Cambridge (the Cambridge Brotherhood), under the inspiration of Bishop Westcott, went out to India to start a higher education programme in1887. What started as a small endeavour has grown into a large social organsation. All the Brothers take a vow to remain single and to devote their whole lives to serving the poor and needy. The part that we have contact with in Llanfaelog is the Street and Working Children Project. Ian, a pilot in our congregation, asked if we could find a contact to which he could take children's clothes etc when he flies to India, and could be sure they would actually go to children and not onto the black market. The Delhi diocese supplied details of the Brotherhood, and Ian has visited them regularly for a few years now. I have been in email contact, and was really looking forward to visiting! Ah well! Anyway, we now know a lot more about them and their work, which is tremendous and have obtained pictures.
As well as the street children project run by Brother Daniel Monodeep, the Brotherhood runs a Day Centre for the elderly, a Boys' Home, a Nght Shelter, an HIV/AIDS centre, an old people's home and a Womens' Empowerment Programme - and I don't think even that is a comprehensive list!
The Brotherhood campaigns actively for the end of child labour, and for the integration of street and working children into normal society, so that they can eventually support themselves by qualifications or a trade. This is pretty much the ethos of the Grail Trust in the south where we began our journey. and of the Delhi Cathedral project to support children of leprosy stricken families. When a young person is enabled to support themselves, then whole famlies can be transformed. Seeing the size of India and the vast numbers of people makes you realise just how big the problems are and what a huge task the government has to try to raise standards. We heard on the news that more people in India own mobile phones than have assess to a proper toilet! That gives some perspective!
We and Ian hope that, with the support of Bishop and Diocese, Virgin Airlines might take up the children's project as one of their official charities. Hopefully the other contacts we have made on our journey can be used in similar ways. Even though we can't solve all of India's social problems, at least we can help to improve a few lives!
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