The Christmas Party was on the 21st December this year and for the first time it was not held at DMC House but at the new site known as Shanti Nivas. As Shanti means ‘peace‘ it was an appropriate venue, however, the reason for the change was because we now have too many children to hold the party in Vizianagaram. We had to cater for 200 children and guests. Not enough space for the children to run around and not enough space for the cooks to work their miracles.
Shanti Nivas is a very rural site two kilometres from the main Vizianagaram highway to Salur, 10 km from the Rainbow Boy's Home and DMC House. 20 km from Prem Nivas and 100km from Karina Nivas. There was, therefore, the added expense of taxi’s and trains to transport the children from our other homes, but this was, at the same time, exciting and novel for the children. The children arrived in time for the speeches by guests, who included the Vizianagaram Pastor, the Director of the Leprosy MissionVocational Training Centre and the government District HIV/Aids officer.
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| Listening to opening speeches |
Five and six year olds hung the gold decorations on the Christmas tree while the other children assembled under a large colourful open tent ‘shamiana’ for the opening proceedings..
Lunch for the little ones was in the dining room but the older children ate al fresco under the mango and cashew nut trees. The afternoon was taken up with giving out presents and new clothes to all the children, as well as a informal dancing to very loud speakers, playing on the swings, slides and playing games.
