Child Haven International

WHO WE ARE

Inspired by the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Child Haven International is a registered charity founded in 1985. We assist children and women in developing countries, who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing, emotional and moral support.

"Let me light my lamp, says the star, and never debate if it will dispel the dark" Rabindranath Tagore

OUR STORY

Child Haven has five homes in India, one in Nepal, one in Tibet in China and one in Bangladesh. Our homes accept children who are disabled, parentless, or from socially disadvantaged situations - and who are destitute, i.e. do not receive even one good meal a day.

Girls and boys are treated equally, and without regard to race, caste, colour, religion or culture. Living is simple and meals are vegetarian. We try not to Westernize the children, but rather attempt to raise them according to the highest ideals of their own cultures. We respect the heritage of each child, whether Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, secular or other.

CREATING SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Destitute children from birth to six years of age are referred to us by local social welfare agencies. Child Haven Homes provide full care through high school (Tenth Standard), and then provide vocational training so that each child can enter the local society as a self-sufficient adult.

WOMEN'S PROGRAMS

Another aspect of Child Haven's Gandhian philosophy is our commitment to improving the condition of women through direct employment, education, medical aid, legal aid, and training opportunities.

Child Haven is also involved in environmentally friendly projects, family planning, literacy and soya milk production as a cottage industry for groups of women.

CHILD HAVEN THROUGH THE YEARS

1985

• Child Haven incorporated in Canada as registered charitable organization
• First six volunteers to India
• Official opening of first Home in Dhanera, Gujarat

1986

• Child Haven receives All-India Registration
• Hyderabad home opens in balcony of former theatre provided rent free by State Red Cross
• Formation of Ottawa and Cornwall Support Groups

1987

• Child Haven granted state license for Gujarat
• Hyderabad Home moved to rented house
• Ottawa Support Group holds first Fundraising Dinner for benefit of eighteen month old Pinky, in need of open heart surgery

1988

• Kaliyampoondi Home opens
• Formation of Glengarry County Support Group
• Formation of SoyaCow Support Group, Ottawa
• Cornwall Support Group holds First Annual Dinner

1989

• Dhanera Home moved to Changa, Gujarat
• First local adoption in Gujarat
• CBC sends Man Alive producer Robin Taylor and Host Peter Downie to India to film a half hour program on Child Haven

1990

• Formation of Toronto Support Group
• Toronto Group holds first Annual Dinner
• CHATELAINE magazine publishes feature article on Child Haven

1991

• Child Haven receives first grant from CIDA for Soya Milk Project

1992

• Hyderabad Home moves to larger quarters
• Child Haven purchases six SoyaCow systems for Soya Milk Cottage Industry, India
• Formation of Ottawa Unitarian Support Group
• Child Haven provides start-up funds for Changa Kindergarten for Child Haven and Changa village children
• Child Haven receives third grant from CIDA for Soya Milk Project

1993

• Kathmandu Home officially opened in Nepal
• Opening of Child Haven English Medium School in Kaliyampoondi
• Formation of Vancouver Support Group
• Artist Pieter Doef completes over 100 oil paintings of India and Nepal. 2/3 of selling price is donated to Child Haven
• First Vancouver Support Group
• Dinner Opening of SoyaCow Centre in Ghaziabad Death of Mr. A. K. Ramakrishna Reddiar, Gandhian mentor and village elder of Kaliyampoondi

1994

• First London, Ontario Support Group Dinner
• Child Haven registered as official NGO with Nepal Social Welfare Council
• Start up grant for Women's Weaving Cottage Industry, Kathmandu

2002

• Home in Chittagong Bangladesh opened.

2009

• V. Kalyanam, who acted as the personal secreatry for Gandhi from 1944 until his death in 1948, agreed to serve as Patron of Child Haven International and board member of Child Haven International/India

2011

• Hyderabad – Completed new building, with boys Dorm, office space, Assembly/Dining Hall.

2012

• Hyderabad – First bio-gas system installed
• Hyderabad – New open air Study Hall, 34’x 20’ between old and new building
• Ankur Trust Educational Home – Soya Cow system up and running
• Tibet in China – New dried yak and wood dung stove installed
• Savarsai – New boys dormitory is constructed
• Ghaziabadi – Installed the first sanitary napkin-making system. Inventor and Child Haven patron A. Muruganathan

2013

• Diamond Jubilee Endowment Fund launch