Making a Difference

The Mercy Home has been serving mentally and physically disabled women and girls for 25 years. Which, when you consider that most of its funding comes from outside donations, is quite a feat. Although the families of these girls are unable to provide a safe home, others from the local community have joined the sisters' efforts to take care of the girls. While these contributions have been keeping the facility afloat for a quarter of a century, there is still much to be done in order to give the girls a secure and healthy environment.

The conditions at the Mercy Home are dismal, at best. The two main buildings, which are used for schooling, eating and sleeping, are dimly lit and poorly ventilated. The kitchen is connected to the main sleeping area and fills the rooms with a smokey haze but the girls, amazingly, remain unaffected - I could barely last 15 minutes. School supplies consist of perhaps 20 small slates and a bag of chalk; and beds are nothing more than a straw mat on the hard tile - no mattresses, blankets, pillows, or screens to keep the flies away. The bathrooms outside resemble a series of port-a-potties and the shower is a large, square well of water shared by the girls who use small buckets to rinse themselves. While the facility is an enclosed space, it is still possible for the girls to get out and wander away. Four years ago, this exact thing happened. One of the girls was gone for weeks until the police found her dead in a village 25km away; because of her mental condition she was unable to ask for food or shelter and, most likely, died from the cold and hunger.

While circumstances seem bleak, it is not all sadness and misery at the Mercy Home. This place is filled with laughter, happiness and love. The girls at higher functioning levels are given responsibilities around the complex - taking care of the animals, brushing another girl's hair, or helping with the laundry. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride to be able to help.
They also take care of each other; whether it be carrying another that cannot walk or breaking up a fight, they treat each other like family. Anyone who has a chance to spend some time with these girls will realize that they have the incredible ability to look past their surroundings and live each day with a zeal unknown to most of us. Some extraordinarily compassionate people have been affected by these girls and things here at the Mercy Home are starting to change.

Five years ago, after returning from a seven year stay in New Jersey, Father Francis became the priest of the parish that houses the Mercy Home here in India. Although he was not responsible for the home, his personal convictions led to his involvement and subsequent transformation of the shelter. His guidance has improved practically every aspect of the girls' lives. He is working to improve the self-sufficiency of the girls by sending the sisters to get specialized training (i.e. speech therapy and special education). By involving community leaders with the everyday happenings of the home he has brought local attention and support to the challenges facing the home. The sisters are not versed in the way of advocacy or lobbying, so he has brought in a specialist to apply for government funding and benefits that the girls are entitled to receive.

The efforts of Father Francis have not gone unnoticed. Having met and become close with the Father in New Jersey, Mark and Lauren Finelli decided to take a trip to India. They came to see the Mercy Home and, upon meeting the girls and the sisters, knew that they could do something to help. What the girls really need is a new home, a new facility that will not only keep them safe but give them the basic standard of living that they deserve. With a background in construction, Mark was the perfect man for the job. Upon returning to America, Mark started a fundraising campaign to help the Mercy Home. Amazingly, over $100,000 has been raised and the building is expected to be completed in May.

The new building will radically improve the living conditions at the Mercy Home. It will be able to house 100 girls and their teachers with four dormitory rooms. There will be a new kitchen, a dispensary, an auditorium, classrooms, sanitary bathrooms and an atrium within the building for fresh air. Most importantly, it will be a completely safe, enclosed space. Father Francis is also planning on imposing new rules for the families that bring their children. They must spend a minimum of 10 days/year with their child, either coming to the Mercy Home or taking the child home - this doesn't seem like a big commitment but in my short time here I have only seen one family visitor. They also need to make a minimum annual contribution for the expenses of the girl. As of this moment, the Mercy Home provides everything - food, clothing, school supplies and medication (including very expensive anti-psychotic meds). By getting the family more involved he is ensuring that instead of being merely dropped off and forgotten, the girls - at least those who have families - will still be connected with them.

But it doesn't stop there. So much is still needed in order to help these girls reach their full potential: a doctor to diagnose each girl and give the teachers the information they need to meet their educational needs, additional training for the teachers and sisters, and new beds with sheets and pillows...these are just a few. With ongoing support from the community at home and abroad, the women of the Mercy Home will have a modern and safe facility to learn, love and flourish.

It is incredible to think of how the efforts of a few have greatly affected the lives of many. If you would like to read more about the Mercy Home or contribute to the good work that is being done, please click here. I know it sounds cheesy, but it is true - the smallest amount with make a huge difference. So instead of buying that tall-nonfat-super-duper-frappucino give $5 to the Mercy Home Foundation and help them make a difference in the lives of these amazing women.