Laura Dodson is our grantwriter and all around jane-of-all-trades in the Christel House International office in Indianapolis. She recently returned from her first visit to Christel House India. She shared the following observations on Facebook and with us

Wednesday, February 1

Humbling....it's the best word to describe my overwhelming emotion so far. Our team visited Christel House India on Tuesday. The children were absolutely precious, most welcoming and full of love and joy. Their smiles are etched in my memory.

 Later that day, we visited "neighborhoods" where the safety and nurturing environment of Christel House was juxtaposed against the cruel reality of our children's lives away from the learning center. One or two-room cinder block dwellings with one light, if any. No running water, except the trickle found at public spigots. Public toilet facilities housed in shacks. Stray dogs on every street, trash piles everywhere and the smell of wood smoke as most of the cooking takes place over small fires right outside their front doors.

One neighborhood is located just feet from a railroad track, where, we were told children have been struck. Another was located near a larger trash pile, frequented by stray cows and dogs.

  

Many parents spoke, through a translator, of how grateful they are that their children are learning English and having the opportunity for a better life.

Friday, February 10

I'm home! 

What an amazingly rich and humbling time in India. I've begun the work of processing the many sights, smells, sounds and overwhelming emotions I experienced. All of these are becoming a beautiful tapestry that I'm looking forward to sharing just as soon as the jetlag wears off and I've gone through the hundreds of photos I took. 

 Memories of our children's precious faces, their sweet and innocent hugs and kisses have found a special place in my heart, and have renewed my passion and determination to make my work matter.....for their benefit. 

I'm grateful and humbled to have had the opportunity to see one example of Christel House's efforts on the international scope, knowing that we're providing the same life-changing programs and services to children in Mexico and South Africa, and supplying work-study support to students in Venezuela. 

In my own city, Christel House Academy is improving the futures of nearly 600 at-risk students in grades K-10 (adding grades in 11 and 12 in 2012 and 2013, respectively) with the same fervor. We are now poised to impact even more young people this August when we launch DORS (Dropout Recovery School) for those who, for whatever reason, had to abandon their high school educations and now wish to obtain their high school diploma, pursue dual college credit or certification to make their lives better.

No matter how you slice it, no matter where you are in the world, poverty is a thief, robbing children and families of their potential. It's an honor to work for an organization committed to stopping poverty in its tracks by providing education, nutrition,comprehensive health care services, parent and community outreach and career counseling, college preparation, internship/apprenticeship assistance to open the doors to a promising future.