Eighty-seven-year-old Anthonitha, who walked into St Vincent Home, Kozhikode, at a tender age has memories galore to share on her life at the home, which completed 90 years of service this month.
In her words, the members of the home cared for her beyond measure and cherished her in their heart. She firmly believes that if she had not reached the home, she would have been a victim of the ill-struck society. For abandoned children and distressed girls, St Vincent Home is a safe haven which brings them back to normal life.
Says Theraseena, another elderly inmate of St Vincent Home, “The facilities were limited when I came here with my mother. We, the inmates, lived along with the sisters in coconut leaf-thatched buildings, daring the rain and sun. Now everything has changed, excluding the love of the sisters here,” she smiles.
Another inmate, Josephine, seems silent compared to the rest. Though her eyesight has faded, she still remembers the earlier days at the home with her companions.
“I was in charge of the laundry then,” she goes down the memory lane as a wide grin lights up her face. In the past 90 years, as many as 5,000 babies and girls have got back to life through the home.
With a goal to ‘promote and protect life, St Vincent Home came into existence in the heart of Kozhikode city on October 5, 1923, in response to the long-standing demand for a home for abandoned and distressed children.
Within a short span of time, St Vincent Home became a home for the homeless,unwed pregnant ladies, abandoned newborn babies,unwanted infants and girls seeking financial and moral safety.
“When I look back, I am amazed at all that we have accomplished,” says mother superior of St Vincent Home, Sr Vimala.
“We have given no room for mental agony to our inmates. The tailoring and embroidery unit, soap-making unit and the counselling centre here are more than enough to keep them in touch with the world outside,” says Sr Vimala.
“Here we have people with bad memories in their life. To divert their attention from their unhappy life, we entrust them with tasks. Compared to earlier days, St Vincent Home, adoption centre and counselling centre get the support from the Social Security Mission, Childline, Corporation, police stations and hospitals.
At present around 100 inmates, including 15 old age people and 18 infants, are part of the home.
Three units, including St Joseph’s Foundling Home for Abandoned Babies, St Vincent’s Girls Home for Distressed Girls and St Bernadette Home for Women to take care of sick women from broken families are functioning under the banner of St Vincent Home.
In 1934, a tailoring and embroidery unit was started within the home as an income generator for the inmates. An elementary school was also started for children a few kilometres away from the home.
According to the sisters who have extended their service to fight against the social evils prevailing in society, there has been no decline in the number of abandoned babies coming to the home.
