ABDF

This project came to the attention of ABDF.org as it involves a small family living not ¼ mile away from our office.

Selwenthiran and his wife, Janthi.

Selwenthiran (pronounced Sell-ven-tee-ran) married Janthi (Jan-tee) some years ago, and has one daughter, Panvithra (Pan-vitra), who is three years old. Selwenthiran is an Upcountry Tamil from Nuwara Eliya and works as a day laborer, which is the hardest, lowest paying, and financially unstable work a man can do in Sri Lanka. His wife, Janthi, suffers from severe mental disease; she regularly has fainting fits, and even more regularly grand-mal types of seizures. She has never been diagnosed. For days after her seizures, Janthi wanders about with a vacant, haunted stare on her face. (The Program Director can attest to this himself; he has seen her walking the neighborhood.) As a result, she can not work. To be honest, she looks very sick and one has to wonder how much longer she’ll be around.

The family lives in a wood and tin shack behind a corrugated metal fence next to a mechanic shop; you would never even know there was a house there at all.

The family lives in this tin shack.

The shack itself is one large room partially divided, and a dirt-floor annex to one side. The parcel of land they managed to acquire is probably 20 by 40 feet square, the size of some living rooms in America. The shack – house is too generous a word – takes up most of the property.

There is no source of water on the property. The surrounding neighbors have decided that Janthi is possessed by demons, and consequently won’t allow her or her husband to use their wells on their properties. Unfortunately one still encounters this attitude here, made worse by Selwenthiran’s low-caste and Upcountry status.

ABDF.org couldn’t allow this situation to continue, and has installed a house well on the property. As of now, Selwenthiran’s family has clean clear water, and neither Janthi nor her husband need abase themselves by begging for something as basic as water any more.

Digging for water.

Clean water: The family celebrates. Panvithra stands in front of her dad, two cousins came by to see the new well.

True, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of similar needs around Batticaloa District, but this one particularly touched the heart of the ABDF.org Program Director, as he is their neighbor. He also hopes that by example he will remind the OTHER neighbors that compassion is universal, whatever one’s position in society, or whichever one’s religion; Hindu, Christian, or otherwise.

Update: One of our donors was so moved by Selwenthiran's story that he donated $100 specifically to help this family. ABDF.org is using the money to send Panvithra to preschool for a year, and buy medicine for Janthi.

Project Update - April 29, 2009

ABDF.org has some good news! Originally this project was simply to dig a well for clean drinking water for the Selwenthiran Family. Since then, ABDF.org has been paying little Panvirta’s monthly preschool fees, and for a nutrition supplement for Janthi, the very sick mother. ABDF.org is pleased to announce that we have agreed to continue this support. More pictures coming soon!

According to Project Director, Bennett Hinkley:

"Janthi, the sick wife, has been to hospital and is getting treatment for her epilepsy. The supply of high-nutrition tonic we have been providing has had an excellent effect on her health; she no longer looks gaunt and scary. True, she is still far from pleasantly plump, but now she doesn’t look like a concentration camp survivor. Little Panvitra has been attending preschool, which we pay for. When I first met her, she was a shy little thing. Now she’s smiling and outgoing and VERY sociable. OK so I’m not those most paternal of guys, but it is so sweet to see how much she’s blossomed. Makes me a touch verklempt."

"On my first visit to their house I was greeted joyfully. I mean, usually when you finish a project, the recipients are obviously happy and thankful, although public displays are generally frowned upon. I’ve never had anyone run up to me, plant a big kiss on my cheek, hug me, and practically brim over with tears as Janthi did when I stopped by. I wish each and every one of you could have been there to see it. You couldn’t have helped but been moved."

Project Update - May 6, 2009

Program Director Bennett Hinkley and Janthi. Janthi's smile now lights up her face!

ABDF.org's Project Director, Bennett Hinkley, had this new photo of Janthi taken so we can all see how much better she is doing and how much happier she looks! Bennett promises more pictures to come!

Project Update - May 12, 2011

Well, it’s 2011 and little Panvitra is now in the First Grade! She has left the YMCA preschool/kindergarten and is now at St. Vincents’ School, a convent-turned-school located close to her home. We continue to support Panvitras’ education; this year we purchased her books, uniform and associated clothing, and paid her school fees.

Good luck in the First Grade, Panvitra!