SOS Save Our Souls

After WWII, a humanitarian named Dr. Hermann Gmeiner launched this movement to help "children in distress." We visited Balgram Maharashtra, a SOS children's village in Pune. In Tennessee, we would compare the concept to the Baptist Children's Home. There are 20 houses in the village. Each "mother" cares for 10 children. Some go to school on the campus (special needs and gifted) and others take a bus to a local public school. There is a waiting list to get into this home for orphans, but it isn't as easy to get the "mothers". They must have at least a grade 10 education. Most don't have children of their own; if they do their biological children are not allowed to live with them in the village. Working 15 years as a "mother" ensures a pension. When the girls in the school reach 18, they advertise in the newspaper for a husband. The director said that young men are quite eager to marry someone from the village because they are very good homemakers. The guys are screened (e.g. education, medical) and then, there are organizations in the community who sponsor the wedding. We toured the classrooms and homes and got to see and talk with many of the children, who truly do seem to be happy. (pics 1 & 2) As the director told me, "It is ALMOST like having a home, except that these children get more attention from their mothers!"

Other Pune activities have included visiting a Tribal Arts Museum where we saw masks, jewelry, musical instruments, etc. and I had my first ride in an auto rickshaw. These little 3-wheeled contraptions weave in and out among the cars, motorcycles, trucks and busses at breakneck speed. I couldn't decide if I felt like I was in a video game, in a go-cart race, or in an out-of-control Tin Lizzy from the old Opryland days. My comfort was that, so far, I haven't seen anyone dead on the road.