Valparai

last updated on: 9th May 2010

The Valparai Girl’s Hostel is set in the heart of the tea plantations in the Diocese of Trichy in South India. It is home to 57 girls between the ages of 10 and 18. They are there because their parents are tea pickers living 30 or more kilometres away in one room primitive accommodation provided by the tea estate owners. They are working long hours for low wages and in extremely poor housing conditions. Some girls are from one parent families or have been orphaned due mainly to HIV/Aids.

Valparai is a remote place set on a mountain side. The drive up the mountain is treacherous yet stunning with breathtaking views. Monkeys are everywhere and there are lots of exotic birds and other animals living in the lush green forests. Almost everything the Valparai community requires has to travel for four hours along this heavily used winding road. It rains for most of the year and has a high level of humidity.

The hostel is owned and managed by the Diocese of Trichy and offers education and a glimmer of a better life to the girls from the poorest of the very poor tea pickers families. The building itself is sound but through lack of resources has been badly neglected. All available money has been spent on food. To make this a habitable environment for girls to live and thrive the following needs to be done urgently.

1. Weather proof the building
2. Provide adequate water (bore well and pump)
3. Provide additional toilets and washing facilities
4. Provide hot water to wash in
5. Improve and make safe the electrical wiring
6. Provide each girl with their own locker
7. Supply mattresses, pillows, quilts
8. Supply books, play material, TV and computer

In order to carry out this work we need the following skilled and experienced trades people.

2 Electricians
2 Painters and Decorators
1 Plumber
1 Carpenter

The proposal is to take six skilled people at the end of January for 2 weeks to work with local people to carry out the schedule of work which will cost approximately £15,000 plus a cost per person of £700 for flights and accommodation .

One of the skilled people would need to be able to project manage the schedule of work. The two weeks would comprise of 2 days travelling each way and 10 days on site.
Accommodation and food will be in the diocesan guest house, with 2 people sharing each room.

For further details please contact:
Wendi Stevens on 07771520501 or Wstevenstt@aol.com.

Donations to:
The Bishops Discretionary Fund
Bishops Lodge,
10 Springfield Road,
Leicester
LE2 3BD.