Old age home for 350 abandoned elderly women

Dear friends,

It gives us immense pleasure to inform you that the construction of Maitri Ghar and Old Age Home is almost nearing completion.

Since June 2014, work as progressed immensely with an aim of completing the construction at our earliest so that we can soon shelter 100 abandoned widow mothers. Currently the tiling wok of the second floor is in progress while the painting of the inner walls is taking shape beautifully.  Furthermore the construction of the front porch and installation of water tanks and electric wiring is complete. Under progress is the sanitary work and plumbing related work along with the mosquito and fly proofing for all windows and doors.

Maitri would like to thank you for your relentless support in helping us come this far to realize a vision born out a burden for the plight of abandoned and destitute widows in Vrindavan. Without your contribution this dream would not soon become a reality.

As we move towards accomplishing our target in proving a permanent shelter for 100 such widow mothers may we invite you to support us on Global Giving’s Bonus day to have your donations matched by 50% starting 16^th Jul y 2014 at 9am EDT to 11:59pm EST. Your support on GlobalGiving’s Bonus day would help us procure the remaining essentials  needed to make Maitri Ghar a Home so that we can move in 100 widow mothers next month.  Find inspiration to bring change to their lives in this literary piece put together on behalf of the Widows of Vrindavan.

“We are the Widows of Vrindavan.  Born into poor circumstances, we were married at very young ages.  Oftentimes our parents did not have the financial means to care for us.  Some of us had good marriages of mutual respect and love; many have faced physical and emotional abuse, loveless relationships, and the effects of substance abuse.  We have had to work hard throughout our lives to care for our children, our husbands, our homes, and even our parents.  Many times these efforts went unnoticed and we received very little in return. 

Our husbands, in various circumstances, have passed on and we have been alone for many decades, attempting to provide for our families and arrange our children’s marriages.  We are left at the mercy of our children and community.  We have encountered illness, tragedy, conflict, and death and we would like to spend our remaining days with our families and loved ones.  Sometimes this is not possible and our children do not have the means to provide for us in our old age.  Sometimes our children do not want us; they have abused us, withheld food from us, threatened our lives, and forced us to leave our homes in search of shelter, food, and security.  Society looks down upon us and denies us the respect that we should be afforded after a lifetime of sweat and tears. 

We have come to Vrindavan to find respite and an opportunity to live the remainder of our lives in religious devotion and peace.  The way has not been easy.  As frail, older women, we have had to beg on the streets for food, even when it is difficult for us to walk.  For Bhajans, we are given a single meal and a few rupees.  What little money we are able to secure is never enough to meet even our basic needs.  We ask for very little and we are grateful for any assistance in the way of food and shelter.  It is our greatest wish to complete our lives with dignity and hope.  We are the Widows of Vrindavan. “