This Old age home is home to more than a 100 senior citizens in the age group of 60-90 years. Every senior citizen here has reached here with a sad tale of abandonment and loneliness. Yet, they chose to give back to society in a unique way. This is the story of the elderly at this old age home, who, although having originated from impoverished origins, believe in sharing their knowledge, ability, and effort with those who need it most.
Anandam is not a paid home and does not have branches. The inmates of Anandam Old Age Home in Chennai may not have much for themselves, but that hasn’t stopped them from giving back to society in any way they can. The students are poor, deserving children from the vicinity, who require extra coaching, and the venue is the free Education Centre run by the trust.
“Anandam is a free home for senior citizens which was started in 2003, accommodating three elders who met our criteria of having no living children or any source of income” said the founder Bhageerathy Ramamoorthy
The founder and the elderly residents observed that the environment in which a child grows has a significant impact on a child’s destiny. Many children in low-income neighbourhoods are born into single-parent families or live in an abusive environment with alcoholic fathers. They are also, in the majority of cases, first-generation students.
On the one hand, parents with little or no formal education are unable to provide academic assistance to their children. Poor economic situations, on the other hand, operate as a deterrent for deserving students who wish to pursue higher education. Both of these issues are addressed through their Education Assistance Program.
They launched an evening tuition centre with 7 kids in 2010 to give free after-school coaching, and now have more than 800 students from grades 3 through 12. To find deserving pupils, they closely collaborate with government/municipal school teacher
In many ways, the Anandam Old Age Home is unusual. In April 2005, 60 women volunteers created a stunning Kolam (rangoli) modelled after a Kancheepuram silk saree, covering an area of 9320 sq.ft. The Rangoli was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records, garnering much-needed recognition for the trust’s efforts.
Anandam’s seniors are those who have no one to call their own, but many of them believe in assisting others whenever possible.
Eighty-two year-old Shanthi Amma describes the children she educates as ‘like the grandchildren we don’t have’. Before becoming a resident of Anandam, she worked as a teacher. “The sense of love, pleasure, and achievement that we get when a child who used to score about 30% now achieves around 70% to 90% cannot be articulated in words.” she said proudly.
“These children are not only making tremendous growth, but they are also forming a grandparent-grandchild link with their teachers,” says Bhageerathy Ramamurthy, Anandam’s Founder Trustee.
“Our resident, Mrs. V.Parvati, affectionately known as Aachi amma, came up with the idea for this Education Center after she expressed a desire to coach young children as a way of giving back to society.”
“From seven students, the number has already climbed to 150!” exclaims Parvati or Aachi amma, a trained former teacher, on the direction the Education Centre has taken.
The Education Centre’s elementary school students are guided by ten Anandam elderly who have either been trained as teachers or simply enjoy teaching. For the secondary school students, the Trust hires outside teachers. Students who aspire to pursue higher education are given financial help. They’re also given nutritional snacks and drinks so that they don’t have to go to class hungry.
The elderly residents cook tasty homely refreshments to all the students prior to their classes. With the additional tutoring at the centre, students have shown tremendous improvement in their academic performance. Now the elderly here have graduated further to also coach students for competitive exams like NEET.
When areas of Chennai were hit by terrible floods in 2015, residents sought to help the stranded people in any way they could. Every day for 12 days, they cooked, packed, and distributed 1500 food packages to flood-affected communities. Adding Smiles Media Ltd presented the older people with the Real Heroes 2016 Award in recognition of their flood relief efforts.
The trustees of Anandam have ensured that the facility is designed to meet the needs of senior citizens.
“Everyone who comes here has an unfulfilled yearning or an untapped talent, which they reveal when they apply.” We’re attempting to satisfy all of their long-held wishes, and we’ve organised music, stitching, and yoga workshops, as well as building a garden on our own grounds,” adds Bhageerathy, who was selected the Best Social Worker in Tamil Nadu by the Department of Social Service and Noon Meals Scheme in 2012.
Bhageerathy says, “Our citizens are our strength.” “They’re past their prime.” They don’t have somebody they can call their own. They do, however, live together as a large joint family. Everyone who comes to our house may see and feel their love and affection.”
Anandam’s seniors are those who have no one to call their own, but many of them believe in assisting others whenever possible and building a safer world for themselves and those around them.
(Geetha is the founder of Powerful Teachers, an organisation that works for the empowerment of the elderly)
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