SATHYANIKETHAN ORPHANAGE, GUJARAT

Whenever Dr. C.V.Vadavana visited Mumbai (Bombay), he went to the slums and saw many orphaned children wandering the streets without a place to spend the night. The most pitiful sight was these children waiting near restaurants for customers to throw their waste into the trash so they could each grab a bite.  CV's heart was heavy when he discovered that these little girls would turn to prostitution and the little boys would become drug peddlers and criminals. This compelled CV to do something for them.

Sathyanikethan (Shelter of Truth) Orphanage was started on February 17, 2004. Now, 47 children live in the orphanage in Gandhidham, Gujarat.

A Mission school meets at the orphanage. These children receive their education from the Sathyam Mission School, along 500 plus students from the nearby areas.

Sathya Nikethan Kids Testimonies Mumbai

GULAB - Hello, my name is Gulab Lokhande. The name 'Gulab' means 'rose'. I am nine years old. I am from a small village in Maharashtra, India. There are six children in our family. My father and mother both work in the fields. Agricultural work is never stable because it is seasonal, so they are not able to provide us with proper food, clothing or education. This is why I have come to SathyaNikethan along with my brother Lakhan. Earlier I didn't like to be separated from my family and I cried a lot, but now I have made friends and I like to color pictures at school. I also love playing with trucks.
I remember my family when I go to church on Sunday. That makes me sad and I cry because I miss them a lot. However I get a lot of love and affection from my teachers here at SathyaNikethan. I love to be hugged and laugh a lot when I am swung in the air.

LAKHAN - Hello, my name is Lakhan Lokhande. I am seven years old. I have come to Sathyanikethan with my brother Gulab. My family used to live in a small village in Maharashtra, India where worked in the fields. I have made many friends at Sathyanikethan, and now I have proper food and clothing. I used to cry a lot because I missed my family and felt forlorn. But now, however, I receive a lot of love and care here. I ask my teachers many questions and am very curious about everything around me. Sometimes I get into trouble because of this.

VISWAS - My name is Viswas Sateesh.  I am nine years old and come from a rural village in Maharashtra. Neither of my parents were educated. My parents were not able to afford daily food or even an adequate shelter, and could not provide the basic necessities such as immunization and education. My teachers tell me that even though I am tiny I am an active child. They encourage me to eat well and give me a protein supplement along with my milk twice everyday. Initially I was slow in learning, but my teachers say there has been considerable improvement since I joined SathyaNikethan. Please pray that I will grow strong and healthy and that God will use me to bless many people around me.

BHASKAR - Hello, my name is Bhaskar Baikwad.  I am eight years old. Before coming to Sathya Nikethan I was living in the slums in Mumbai with my family.  Life in the slum was really hard. My house had no running water and no toilet.  My parents loved me very much, but did not have enough finance to take care of my needs. Now at Sathya Nikethan I receive good food and an education. Teachers tell me that I am an extremely happy, smart and loveable child. I know my alphabet and numbers well. I help other children learn the alphabets. I love hugs, kisses and being held close. I also love singing and have learned many action songs after coming to SathyaNikethan.

RUTH - Hello, my name is Ruth Sunil Magar. I am nine years old. Before coming to Sathya Nikethan I was living in the slums with my grandparents. I came to Sathya Nikethan with the hope that I will have a better future. Please pray that I will learn and grow and become all that God has intended me to be.

ENOCH - Hello, my name is Enoch Kudiyam. I am ten years old. I am from a village in Chattisgarh, India. When I was one year old, my mother passed away because my family could not afford her medical treatment. It was difficult for my father to fully care for me so I had been living in a government children's home. My father moved to Mumbai, so he decided to bring me to Sathya Niketan where I could be closer to him and where I could receive an education. My teachers tell me that I am loveable and sweet. I know how to do my own laundry. I like to do things the right way, especially when it comes to sitting correctly and silently. I especially love playing sports.

AFRIN - Hello, I am Afrin Ahmed Ali Shaikh. I am seven years old. I belong to the Sewari slum in Mumbai. My parents brought me to Sathya Nikethan because they were not able to provide my basic necessities. Everybody's presence around me makes me forget my miseries and sorrows. I am very happy now. I like to sing and watch others sing, too.

ALISHA - Hello, my name is Alisha Viresh. I am from the seware slum in Mumbai. I am seven years old. I come from a financially poor family and it is hard for my parents to find work. Even though we have a joint family, it is very hard for my parents to provide for my needs. This is why I am now at Sathya Nikethan where my parents hope I will receive good food and an education.

SAVITHRI - Hello,  my name is Savithri Kudiyam and I am nine years old. I am from a village in Chattisgarh and I have four sisters. Though I belong to a big agrarian family, our income is too low to satisfy the basic needs of all the children. Our diet was very basic and there were no adequate resources for health and education. Now I am enjoying life more at Sathya Nikethan. Please pray for me to adjust to my new life outside the village.

PREETHAM - Hello, I am Preetham Suresh and I am seven years old. I am at Sathya Nikethan because my mother is sick and  could not find food and shelter for me. Please pray that I may find Jesus as my Savior.

RAKESH - Hello, I am Rakesh Kumar. I am from the state of Chattisgarh. It is in the northern part of India. I am ten years old and I belong to a poor family. My parents are labourers in the landlord's land. They earn a very low income, and it is not sufficient for our family's livelihood. Coming to Sathya Nikethan, I found a new world with friends and good  people around me. Please pray that I grow up to know the Lord.

RAHUL - Hello, I am Rahul Ramlu and I am eight years old. I am from Mumbai where my father died in a work accident. I have one elder sister. My mother is working as a maid in our neighbor's house. The money she earns is not sufficient for our livelihood. Most of the days we go to bed hungry. Now I am well fed and cared for at Sathya Nikethan. I hope to find Jesus on this path. Please pray for me.

SUSHIL - Hello, I am Sushil Kumar Kudiyam from Chattisgarh. I am five years old, and I came to SathyaNikethan along with my sister Savithri. My parents worked in the fields for a very small income. It was not sufficient for our education. After coming to SathyaNikethan I have better food, clothes, education and care. Please pray for me that I will learn and grow in Lord.

SUSHANTH - Hello, my name is Sushanth Rao. I am five years old and I came here at Sathya Niketan with my brother. I am from a slum in Mumbai. Life in a slum is very hard. Waiting in a big queue on a sunny day to collect fresh water has always made me weak. There were a lot of violent conflicts happening in my village, and our father is a toper. He always beat my mother. Now we are happy to live in a lovely place with a lot of good and kind hearted people around us. Please pray for us that we study well and make ourselves worthy to the Lord as well as his people.

JACOB - Hello my name is Jacob Kudiyam. I am seven years old. My brother is Joseph Kudiyam. My parents work as agricultural labourers. Since they are not financially sound enough to support our basic needs,  they have sent us to Sathyanikethan. We are very happy here. I am a shy and reserved boy. I love painting and coloring.

YASHWANT - Hello my name is Yashwant Rao. I am six years old. My brother stays with me here in Sathyanikethan. His name is Sushanth Rao. My father is a construction worker. Since my parents are poor we were sent to the orphanage. I am very silent in nature. I love to be cared for by others.

POONAM - Hello my name is Poonam Dinesh. I am 9 years old. I was brought to Sathyanikethan as my parents were unable to support my basic needs. I perform all my duties well and I love doing all my tasks in time, which is greatly appreciated by my teachers. I also like to help and serve others who are in need.

SADHANA - Hello my name is Sadhana Suresh. I am eight years old. My sobriquet is Priya which means 'loved one.' I have three siblings. I have been separated from them since my parents were too poor to bring us up together in a sound and healthy manner. I am very happy here in Sathya Nikethan. I am a very loving person. I care for others and, console and comfort them when they are sad.

SUNIL - Hello my name is Sunil Raman. I am eight years old. My parents are labourers and are very poor. Since my parents could not look after me properly, they sent me to Sathya Nikethan. Though I was an introvert and did not mingle much with the others, now, I have made many friends here. I feel sad most of the time, but I love reading.

MAHIMA - Hello my name is Mahima Raju and I am 5 years old. My parents are labourers and are too poor to look after me. I have no brothers or sisters, so after coming to Sathyanikethan I am very happy because I have found many friends to play with. I love to sing action songs and listen to stories.

JOSEPH - Hello my name is Joseph Kudiam. I am 9 years old. My parents are agricultural labourers and cannot afford to look after me and my brother Jacob. They have sent us both to Sathya Nikethan. We are very happy here because we have a lot of friends to play with. I like to play ball and other outdoor activities.

JOEL - Hello my name is Joel Suresh Padvi and I am 5 years old. My parents are labourers. They cannot take care of me and my brother, Preetom, so they have sent us to Sathyanikethan. At first, I was very homesick and cried a lot. But now I have moulded myself into this friendly and healthy ambience. I am told that I am intelligent and have a very good memory.

KUNAL - Hello my name is Kunal Dinesh Manghade and I am 6 years old. I have come to Sathya Nikethan along with my sister, Punam Dinesh. My father is a cobbler and cannot provide us with a good education, so he has sent us to Sathya Nikethan. I like sports and love to play catch & run in the garden. I adjust quickly to new situations.

KARISHMA - Hello my name is Karishma Suresh Phanibare. I am 6 years old. My sister Sadhana also stays with me here in Sathya Nikethan. My father is a laborer. Since he could not look after us properly, he sent us here. I am quiet by nature.

CHANDRA - Hello my name is Chandra Ramsingh. I am 9 years old. My father is a securityman. Since we are very poor and cannot afford a good life, my parents have sent me to Sathya Nikethan. I was very reserved in nature and like to spend time alone during the first few months.But soon after I discovered new friends around me, I changed my attitude and started mingling and interacting with others. Now I have more friends than I could have ever imagined.

PARUL - Hello my name is Parul Ramsingh and I am 7 years old. I joined Sathya Nikethan because my parents are very poor and unable to look after me. My brother Chandra Ramsingh is also here with me. We are very happy as we have made many good friends and are getting education, clothes and food.

RAJIMOL - Hello my name is Rajimol Shaji. I am 8 years old. My father is sick and unable to provide for us the basic necessities. My mother is a sales woman. The little money that she earns is not sufficient to provide for us, so I have been sent to Sathya Nikethan. I am very loquacious in nature.

KARAN - Hello my name is Karan Ramsingh. I am 6 years old. My parents are too poor to look after me and so I have been sent here to Sathya Nikethan. I am very happy and content with the amount of love and care being given to me.

STUTHI - Hello my name is Sthuthi Sunil Magar. My name means "praise". I am 6 years old. I have no father and my mother has gone to study the Bible. My sister Ruth and I are residents of Sathya Nikethan. We receive good clothing, food, and an education here. We are very happy.

BALU - Hello my name is Balu Ramachandra Salve. I am 6 years old. My father is a labourer. He is not able to take care of us, so my sister and I have been sent to Sathya Nikethan. I am an extrovert and I make friends quickly. I am very happy here.

PYARO - Hello my name is Pyaro, which means "loving one". I am 7 years old. My father is a labourer and my brother Balu and I have been sent to Sathya Nikethan. At times I feel homesick and want to go home. I am a very anxious child. I am very keen on everything and anything that is interesting to me. 

ASHISH - My name is Ashish Viresh.  I come from the slums of Mumbai. I have come here with my sister Alisha.

YASMIN - My name is Yasmin Ahmed.

ROHIT - My name is Rohit Patika. I come from Rayagada district in Orissa.

SIDHARTH - My name is Sidharth Nishal.  I come from the Vijaygada district in Orissa.

ISRAEL - My name is Israel Kausalya. I have come here with my two sisters. I come from the Rayagala district in Orissa.

DIPSIKHA - My name is Dipsikha Mandal.

RAJMANI - My name is Rajmani Nandhini. I come from the Sewari slums in Mumbai.

KRUPA - My name is Krupa Baikwad.  I am from Mumbai.

ROHIT - My name is Rohit Rajesh. I come from a slum area in Mumbai.

SUBOCHANI - My name is Subochani Kausalya. I have come here with my sister and brother. I come from the Rayagala district in Orissa.

MARY - My name is Mary Kumari Kausalya. I come from the Rayagala district in Orissa.  My sister and brother have also come here with me.

SAMUEL - My name is Samuel David. I come from Mumbai.

SHEEBA - Hello my name is Sheeba Rajkumar Telange. I am 5 years old. My father died and my mother has left me and married someone else. I used to stay with my grandmother who is blind. As she is old and not working, she is not able to afford good food, clothing and education for me and so I have been sent here to Sathyanikethan. I like to help and care for other children.

SILAS - Hello my name is Silas Gabriel. I am 7 years old. My parents are labourers. I have five siblings. Due to extreme poverty my parents are not able to take proper care of us and so they have put me in Sathyanikethan where I get good care. I love to study and get very good marks. I am silent by nature.

MAHEND - Hello my name is Mahend Ravut. I am seven years old. My father and mother work in the fields. I have three siblings but they are away from me. My parents are too poor to give all of us proper food, clothing, shelter and education and so they have brought me to Sathyanikethan. I am a very silent boy. I like to participate in singing and painting.

WILKINSON - Hello, my name is Wilkinson Kayam. I am nine years old. My family is very poor. My father is a labourer. Our church members suggested my father to send me to Sathyanikethan seeing our poor financial condition. We hail from a small village in Gujarat. My teachers tell me that I am a silent and reserved child. However, when it comes to matters of excitement like cheering someone or flying a paper plane or singing my favourite song or saying my ABC, I become loud. Though I am smart, I don't always speak up. I like to day dream. I love a good hug and a goodnight kiss. I don't like to fuss around and I try to internalize my pain or sadness or sickness unlike others who cry out aloud and let others know it. I feel bad when I do something wrong.