| | Vuyiroli - Lighting up lives of the destitute

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The Beginning of Vuyiroli

The plan to start an organization called Vuyiroli, began when Rajkumar met an old paralyzed man. He was lying under the Pallavan Salai Bridge near the Chennai Central Railway Station, he was probably over 70 years old and was totally paralyzed.

Rajkumar recounts: “He couldn’t speak or move and seemed to have been lying there for a long time in dirty clothes that hardly covered him. He was unable to stand even the breeze, due to a high fever. I brought him some food and tea and rushed to call a doctor-friend of mine. However, by the time I returned, the old man had passed away”. He did not even know what the name of the old man was, but it was after using some local help to cremate the body of the old man that Rajkumar began working seriously on his plans towards starting a home for the “dying, disabled and the elderly.”

The principles of Vuyiroli are based on the United Nations Principles for older persons;
“That all persons have the right to independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.”

It is a registered Christian organization, and as such administers the principles advocated by the Lord Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle John wrote in the Bible:

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

(1 John 3 v 16-18)

Vision Statement of Vuyiroli

“Bringing back dignity and hope in the lives of the dying and destitute poor.”

Mission Statement

“ Vuyiroli is a Christian organization committed to promote human worth and dignity for the uncared, sick, disabled, destitute and elderly persons found on the streets, by meeting their physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs”.

Aims and objectives

To cater for the need of aged and invalid destitute people found in the streets – (the needs include physical, mental, socio-emotional and spiritual).
To restore human worth and dignity of the dying and destitute.
To be an advocate on behalf of the destitute and to help create a society that cares for them.
To rescue and rehabilitate the disabled or dying destitute in whatever condition he/she is in, by giving medical aid, food, clothing and shelter while being with him/her in the distress and discomfort felt.

Objectives

To rescue and rehabilitate the dying destitute on the streets in whatever condition he or she is in.
To provide them with care and a family in the rehabilitation home and stand by them in the time of distress and discomfort.
To provide the rehabilitated person with medical care and nutritious food.
To provide them psychiatric care to raise their emotional and psychological standards hence addressing their psychological problems.
To create awareness to the society about the “care to the elderly”, “responsibility towards HIV infected” and “concern towards mentally ill” through awareness programs.

In India

Yesterday’s India always boasted of a joint family where children vied in their responsibility to look after old parents or grandparents. Again, the younger generation was always encouraged to fit into their father’s shoes for their livelihood. Rapid urbanization and the struggle for survival have weakened the joint family system. The increasing break-up and dispersal of the nuclear family has, in many cases, pushed the elderly to the streets, leaving them alone, neglected and vulnerable. The destitute take refuge under bridges, on streets, pavements, under shop entrances, railway stations, outside hospitals etc in Chennai city.

In 2001 in India, there were 77million elderly people,
90% of them have no social security at the age of 60.
30% of them live below the poverty line and another 33% just marginally over it.
55% of them are widows, many of them with no support whatsoever.

A Short Term Plan

We hope to increase the capacity and facilities of the new home to reflect the needs we see around us. We are planning to admit: HIV/AIDS affected, mentally ill and people with other serious diseases. We will be building different blocks to accommodate our parents according to their category of diseases.

New Facilities

We would like to accommodate 150 residents.
A 24 hour clinic with full medical attention.
Medical equipment.
Ambulance & Mobile Medical Unit.
A vegetable garden and keeping poultry.
A small manufacturing unit (eg candle making) this will help to keep the residents occupied and to provide some income or provisions for the home.

We look forward for your generous help towards the development of VUYIROLI to serve more needy people.