OPENING OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL
FOR THE SPEECH & HEARING IMPAIRED AT KOLLEGAL

by Winnie and Bobby Kurian, Asian Aid workers, India. (edited)

The long-awaited day had finally arrived—August 20, 2002. There was excitement in the air, as this was the day that everyone had earnestly prayed for. It was the day when the new school for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was to open. Everyone pitched in to make the day a successful event.

The children were awakened at 5 am and all of them were lined up for haircuts. Then there was a scramble for all of them to complete their baths before 6 am since there would be no electrical power from 6 am to 12 noon, and therefore no water.

Painters were doing their last bit of touching up and everyone was busy trying to get each room organized for inspection. Teachers were drawing welcome signs on the boards; the older boys and girls were busy decorating with colored paper streamers, and stringing leaves outside for the welcome of the chief guests and others.

At 3 pm the news was spread that the chief guest had arrived. Children stood on either side of the school's main road and waved flags and threw flowers as the chief guest got out of his car and walked down the avenue to the school building. We were privileged to have as our chief guest, the Honorable Minister for food and civil supplies, Mr. Srinivas Prasad. We also had Mrs. Dorothy Watts from the Division office at Hosur, Tamil Nadu; Pastor G. J. Christo, the Asian Aid chairman in India; Pastor D. Padmaraj, President of the Goa-Karnataka attached field. Other local government ministers were Mr. Raju Gowda, the state agriculture minister, and Mr. Irshad Pasha, President of the local Zilla Panchayat.

Pastor G. J. Christo, offered prayer and then the children from the school honored the guests by presenting a welcome performance and throwing flowers. The Principal of the school, Mr. Srivel Panicker, welcomed the guests and the school girls presented the guests with flower and sandlewood garlands.

Pastor D. Padmaraj gave a brief history of the school, and then the Honorable Minister Prasad spoke. He said that he was very impressed with the building, furniture and other facilities provided for the children, and that he had not expected to see the building done so well. He praised the Christian missionaries for what they had done in India to help the poor. In his closing remarks he promised to help the children by issuing ration cards to them so that they could get rice, sugar and wheat at a subsidised rate.

Mr. Raju Gowda the state agriculture minister, spoke and commended the Adventists for helping the town of Kollegal, which so badly needed a school for the deaf, he promised to help the school by giving some coconut seedlings and some teak trees.

The Zilla Panchayat, President, Mr. Irshad Pasha also congratulated the Adventists for their good work and promised to dig a bore well for the school.

Mrs. Dorothy Watts then unveiled the plaque, which read: "Opened to the Glory of God."

Mr. Kurian, Director of Asian Aid in India, gave a report on the future plans for the school. He indicated, that provision had been made for a second storey to be added to the building, which would cost about US$70,000. This anticipated addition would accommodate the boys dormitory, more classrooms, a worship hall, the Principal's house and also vocational training rooms, where tailoring, electronics, computers, candle making, welding and other cottage industries could be taught. He challenged the audience stating, "It is our duty to teach these unfortunate children a trade so that they will be able to live normal lives and earn an income that will make them respectable citizens."

Following the ceremony, the Ministers and Mrs. Watts planted fruit trees for the children.

One-and-a-half acres of land will have a boundary wall, and the balance of the two acres will have fencing around it to protect from cows and goats that wander around.

We want to thank God for making all this possible so that we could help these poor, unfortunate children in the areas around Kollegal. We appeal for funds so that the building could be completed and we could start our vocation classes for our children as soon as possible.

We have the faith that this project will be completed with God's help and "All to the Glory of God."