Happy Valley has a new home

Happy Valley is our second special needs centre in India, meeting the needs of 40 to 50 children and young people with a variety of disabilities – physical, mental or even both. For the last five years it has been based at Kalathara, a small Indian village near Nedumangad, Kerala. But the lease expired and the owner wanted the house back. Other house owners were unwilling to allow their homes to be used for the centre for various reasons. It looked like Happy Valley would be homeless.

But the director and long time partner, Philip Mathew, is nothing if not resourceful. At the last minute he found someone – a priest with the CSI (Church of South India) with a house that he was prepared to provide. The only drawback was that he required a large deposit – about £9,000. Happy Valley had £3,000 in hand from the deposit on the previous building, but where was the other £6,000 going to come from? Answer – from an incredibly generous supporter in Australia who sent us the money, along with the costs of fees and moving. Contracts have been signed, the money has been paid, and the centre will be moving in shortly.

The house is in the same area, close to the Aruvikka dam. And, even better, there is no rent to pay!