Swathi's double celebration!

The Shanti Nivas Children 

 This confident and happy girl is Swathi.She is celebrating her 20th birthday and taking up the position of  Assistant House Mother to the 28 children at Thompson House.on the Shanti Nivas campus. 

The adoring smiles of the children show how much she is loved by them.

Swathi first came to Prem Nivas on the day the home for HIV positive children opened in October 2006. Swarti was our eldest girl and was the first to finish High school from where she went on to gain her 'A' levels in Physics, Maths and Biology at a college in Gajapathinagaram, the village where Prem Nivas is situated.

Since the day she joined us Swathi had wanted to be a nurse but because she is HIV positive it was not possible. One of our sponsors paid for Swathi to study secretarial subjects including English and Computer Studies at a vocational training centre in Vizianagaram.   After her course Swathi  divided her time between helping Victor in the office in DMC House and caring for the children at Prem Nivas. She was able to pass on her computer knowledge and typing skills to some of the older children. Some of our youngest children live at Prem Nivas.

We thought that Swathi might try to find employment locally but suddenly we were faced with the prospect of the Shanti Nivas Housemother leaving to study Theology.  Swathi seemed to be the  ideal replacement for Kamala. Swathi has always looked after the children younger than herself and they regard her as 'Akka',  - big sister! 

Now Swathi is very happy to be employed by Brighter Future as Assistant Housemother and she is teaching computer skills too whenever the children's  timetable allows.

When the children are at School I am sure that Swathi will find her way to visit patients in the Hospice, where we currently have 3 children and four adults. Her innate nursing skills will be appreciated.

Victor says Swathi is very Happy working for Brighter Future.  

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My daughters and I are in full swing making Christmas and general cards to sell for Brighter Future. We have two bookings at churches in Bury St Edmunds to sell the cards. We have also been making felt Poppies  to wear at any time of the year.The poppies are £2.50 each. 

We are giving 50p for each poppy bought to the British Legion and taking £2 for Brighter Future!