A Gas vendor near Mogappair, refused to take his tips while delivering gas at one of the mentally challenged home. He said “Let this be my small contribution for the noble deed you do“.

Iyappan - A SPECIAL MOTHER


I met Iyappan when I had gone for a volunteers meet at a visually challenged home. He was introduced to me by my friend Gopi. Gopi mentioned that Iyappan was going to start an institution for mentally challenged kids. I was amazed, he was young. I had a warm handshake with him, still surprised to see the commitment by this young person. He started explaining me his background, the urge he wanted to do something for the society and he felt Sri Arounodayam would be his contribution.

It takes more than just normal care for these children. At this young age, Iyappan is a special mother to around 40 mentally challenged children who have no home.

A dedicated pleasant mannered person with a degree in psychology and has already worked with mentally challenged children. Besides going through a three year course to qualify himself in this service, his dedication is astonishing. Though he has an income to support himself, looking after about 40 children with ten assistants is a fighting target to any young man. House rent, rice, cooking oil, gas, pulses, milk, fish, fruits, vegetables, dress, soaps and purchasing medcines that are costly, all add up to his challenge. Maintaining a well-equipped office and a Home in a clean atmosphere is indeed expensive.

DThere are about forty children aged between four to fifteen. A few of them are lying down unable to move. Round the clock attention is bestowed on them. Most of the children cannot walk without assistance. Their teeth are brushed by the assistants despite their protests. They keep moving their heads from side to side. Except for a few of them,the others have to be carried to the lavatory.They are in the habit of defecating in sleeping, sitting or standing posture. Making them to learn to look after themselves, or even calling for assistance is so difficult. Giving them a bath is a duty performed with great dedication. They are so helpless that they cannot use their hands properly to take their food to their mouths. Several of them have to be spoon-fed. It takes more than a mother's love to care for them. These are the children who reside as inmates in Sri Arunodayam



Iyappan can be reached at : Sri Arunodayam, Pl No 35, Sivananda Nagar, Kolathur, Chennai-99. Ph : 26511450

Food for Thought...

It's good to have money and the things money can buy,
but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make
sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy.
                                                    - George Horace Lorimer