History of India Direct

In 1995 Pastor Martin borrowed his air fare and flew from Chennai to England, hoping to find support for his charitable work amongst the poorest people in South India; work he believed God had given to him to do. 

Martin and his wife Annie had already started by renting a mud hut to house 7 orphans, but during the monsoon rains it flooded and was washed away. The children were often sick and one small child died from drinking contaminated water. Martin’s vision was to build them a proper home, to give them love, care, education and skills to help themselves out of poverty but he had no money and no government help.

During his stay in the UK he made friends in Macclesfield, who caught his vision and began supporting his work to build a children’s home called Bethel for 20 children which included a community meeting area and accommodation for Annie and Martin. Also, work began to find each child a sponsor to cover their expenses. Pastor Martin had been given a small plot of land and as initial donations came in from the UK, a boundary fence was built, a borehole was dug to access clean water and the foundations for a children’s home were laid. The children moved in as soon as the ground floor was completed. It took 2 years to complete the project but no one complained, their patience was incredible and the children began to thrive.

When the number of children reached 30, the home was very overcrowded and funds to build a second, larger Bethel Children’s Home were raised. The first home now serves as accommodation for older children who have left the children’s home or are in need and is the head office for the Love and Care Charitable Trust. The community room is used regularly by the local community.

The current Bethel Children’s Home is home to 53 happy, healthy children who are receiving a good education. In addition to the home, we began a Widows’ Care Program which offers basic financial support to 30 widows and their children in the local community, allowing them to send their children to school and keep a roof over their heads.

HOW INDIA DIRECT GREW

TSUNAMI 26th DECEMBER 2004

On Boxing Day 2004 the Tsunami stuck the South East Coast of India, just 15 miles away from Bethel Children’s Home in Chennai. India Direct Trustees were visiting at that time and witnessed the aftermath of the disaster; seeing first hand the devastating effect it had on people’s lives, especially further south along the coast in the hardest hit fishing villages.

After answering a call for help, our work unexpectedly and urgently expanded. We realised that we had the skills to help when we encountered newly orphaned and homeless children. With the full support of local people, we gave emergency shelter, food, clothing and medical care to more than 100 vulnerable children in a small rented house in Poraiyar fishing village, then set about raising funds to pay for the rent, housekeeping costs and later for schooling.

It soon became apparent that most of the children would need long term care because parents and relatives who survived had no means to care for them and so we began raising funds to build a second children’s home named ‘Joy’ by the villagers. The home was located in Poraiyar village so family bonds could remain strong and locals reassured that their children were properly cared for.

After 3 long years of fundraising and building work the children moved from the overcrowded house into a spacious new home. Today we have a community of wonderful lively children whose lives have been transformed and who dare to dream about a better future. This has been made possible through the love and care of our Indian partners, the staff in the homes, and with the financial aid, gifts and prayers of our amazing supporters and child sponsors.

Our Widows’ Care Program expanded as we assisted other families who lost everything in the waves, and Joy Tailoring School was established to retrain young women who lost their livelihoods as fish vendors.

It has been a privilege to get involved in this work and to see first hand the amazing difference our contributions can make. Today, many people still care about injustice and suffering, and want to find a charity they can trust with their money to make a difference in the lives of the poor. India Direct, in association with the Love and Care Charitable Trust, does just that.