A noble endeavour

It is to support and educate deprived Anglo-Indian children that the Bharat Batemans Trust, a charity home, was started in Chennai. The institution educates children up to Plus 2, and later, if the need arises, till the age of 22.

Together with its sister concern, the Batemans Trust in the UK, the trust looks after about 140 children from the St George's School and Orphanage on Poonamallee High Road. The orphanage had its origins in the St Mary's Charity School, which was set up by the British in Fort St. George in 1715 for destitute Anglo-Indian children.

The trust provides boarding accommodation with food, uniforms and extra tuition and sometimes even financial support.

It offers apprenticeship courses or other appropriate training in various fields such as stitching, catering and hospitality and even software, in an effort to make the students self-sufficient. In fact one of the boys is awaiting results after applying to the Navy.

The more needy senior girls, once they finish school, are given shelter in the boarding house. Financial support comes from sponsorship and donations from the UK and India. In fact, Clarks International is sponsoring an entire programme of structural work to guarantee clean water supply to the school.

The Bharat Batemans Trust is planning a sponsored run in January, to raise funds for children's education and training programmes after they complete school.

About 150 children will run a distance of 50 km from Mahabalipuram to Fort St George, the original site of the orphanage and boarding home..

Alex Thompson, an Englishwoman, runs the charity home. She has been involved with the home for the past eight years. She also teaches, besides supervising the running of the Batemans guest house. The trust is in fact in need of a project supervisor. Those interested may contact the Bharat Batemans Trust at batemans@vsnl.net or call 6631700.

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