This project has been set up by HIM because of the longing to create a bigger and safe place where street children can live in a family-unit structure.

HIM has the vision to build a shelter for the primarily care of 120 street children (ages 0 to 18) who have been left to fend on the streets for themselves and have none to little future. The vision of HIM is to together with the children from the shelter work on new future where safety and identity are important keywords. These Children will be living here and will be going to school in the nearby village. They will also actively be a part of the programme of the shelter.

Who?:

There are 3 main groups we will focus upon with Project Indian Star;
Firstly: The children (age 5 to 18) from the streets and the slums of Chennai who have no parents or who have parents who are not able to or no longer want to take care of them.
Secondly: The youngest ones (age 0 to 4) born out of illegitimate relationships who, by a hindoe-society, are not accepted and who have a very thin chance of survival.
Thirdly: The adults (age 18+) who we would like to offer a place where they can learn about certain social issues and can also teach them a certain trade, like carpentering, working with motorbikes, sewing, metalwork’s, Hairdresser, Computer IT etc.
The shelter will facilitate a broad vision, so there are a number of different things HIM would like to see realized.

Process of building:

Fase I:

Construction of a central building, in which the kitchen, dining room, single staff accommodation, offices and multi usable rooms will be build.
The build of five family-unit homes, housing each 10 children, a married couple and 2 single staff members who will take care of these children. ( total of 50 children can be looked after)
The construction of the first babies home which has already been giving the name; “Little Stars”.
Designating space to a (vegetable) garden, a park, a playground and maybe some animals.

Fase II:

The construction of guest quarters where volunteers can stay and construction of the remaining 5 family-unit homes and the second babies home. (total of 120 children can be looked after)

Fase III:

The building of workshops, and mini enterprises to facilitate the vision of regeneration of funds into the Shelter. How exactly still remains to be seen, this will be continually evaluated along with the development of the local area and needs it may display.

Fase III will only be started when fase I and II are accomplished. This may take some years. Project Indian Star is a long term project with whom HIM will stay connected with.At the moment HIM is currently working with an architect who will be taking a full year to draw up the plans after which the Indian planning office will have to agree on them.

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