Preparing a foundation in India

The first pilot village in India is underway! The Sarampet village, just outside of Hyderabad, is slated for 32 children in need of residential care, 8 elderly people in need of residential care, and an after school program for 100 additional children on the brink.

Roughly 2km from the site, GO India is working with the local church on a regional farm that will, over time, help sustain the costs of child care at Sarampet. It will also serve as an agricultural training center for people in the community and older children approaching independent adulthood. The farm will consist of planting and harvesting rice and vegetables, and a significant portion will be devoted to animal husbandry: 8 Holstein cows, 100 goats, 400 hens (layers).

The first steps in developing this farm were to purchase the property such that title is clean, clear the land, prepare it for planting, and build the water and housing infrastructure for operation. The purchase, clearing, and preparation are complete. You’re looking at pictures (below) of the clearing, which involved a substantial amount of work from the local church members in Sarampet.

Significantly, this farm will be well down the road towards production before the local church brings children into care. This is significant, because it has the local owners of care thinking about and making progress towards local sustainability from Day 1. This makes something that would otherwise seem impossible (sustainable orphan care) not only possible, but achievable and full of promise.

This entire farm has been funded by a family in Austin, Texas, who is thoroughly enjoying the progress.