RESTORING HOPE

Catalyst For New Life

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I

think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the

person who has nothing to eat”.

Blessed Mother Teresa

A Letter from Father Raj

Dear and Respected Friend,

Greetings and prayerful best wishes.

I am Rev. Rakshaganathan Selvaraj, serving my priestly ministry at Saint

Jerome Catholic Church Waco, Texas. I was ordained May 20, 1994. Since that time I have worked in two parishes as an assistant pastor and two parishes as

pastor, all within India. I came to the United States in 2002 and worked in several parishes in eastern Texas before moving to my present location within

the Austin diocese.

It is of little surprise that the elderly are the fastest growing population segment world wide. Due to the advancements of science, medicine and technology, the

demographics of our society are shifting as men and women live longer and

longer lives.

While medicine and technology have provided the opportunity for people to live longer, in many parts of the world the availability of medical resources and the

living assistance needed to facilitate proper care of the elderly remains limited or completely non-existent. As a result, the ability for families, support agencies

and government services to provide assistance and medical care for the elderly continues to diminish as more and more demand is placed on providers. The final

result? The elderly have become one of the most vulnerable and dependent groups worldwide.

Perhaps nowhere on earth are the challenges

facing the elderly more visibly demonstrated than in my native India. Here, an increasing number of

elderly suffer the effects of both poverty and

neglect.

Indian society is driven by a long standing socio-economic system called the Caste System.

Within most villages or towns, everyone knows the relative rankings of each locally represented caste,

and people's behavior toward one another is constantly shaped by this knowledge.

Certain castes, such as the Vannier and Dalit make up the ranks of India’s poor

and typically cannot support both themselves and an elderly family member. Uncared for by family, abandoned by society and the government, unable to

provide for themselves, the elderly in these Castes truly are the poorest of the poor.

With this information in mind, I am excited to tell you about a project I am

starting in India. I call this project Restoring Hope for Senior Citizens.

Restoring Hope for Senior Citizens will focus on caring for the abandoned elderly in the village of VakkamPatty, in Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India. My plan is to

construct a care facility called the Restoring Hope Home, that offers the living assistance these people so desperately need. My goal is that the home will also

provide a family atmosphere full of love that restores peace in the hearts and lives of those we will care for.

This booklet contains more information and details about the Restoring Hope for Senior Citizens Project for your review. As you can imagine, in order for the

home to become a reality it’s going to take the generous support of individuals such as yourself. My prayers are that as you learn more about this project, you

too will feel the “call to action” that I do and will support this project with a

generous heart.

Thanking You with Prayerful Best Wishes,

Rev.Rakshaganathan Selvaraj

All these withering leaves, once tender need to be cared, since all of us have realized the problems of

getting old. Hence by way of helping them I request you to extend your support with a generous

heart.

Contact Information

Restoring Hope for the Senior Citizens 19/9/1 Lakshmi Sundram Colony

Balakrishnapuram Post, Dindigul, 642005 Tamilnadu, India

Restoring.hope.home@gmail.com Telephone Number: +91-9360880522 Mobile +91-9894081976

Program Director:

Mr. Joseph Soosai

Board of Directors:

Reverend Rakshaganathan Selvaraj Arun Jesudass— Asst. Director

Rajesh Joseph— Communications Jenitha Arun Jesudass— Nurse

Attorney:

Mr. Irudhya Raj

Architect & Building Contractor: Mr. David Ameritharat

Donations & Additional Information: Saint Jerome Catholic Church Social Awareness Programs 9820 Chapel Road Waco, Texas 76712 (254) 666-7722

Location

Restoring Hope for the Senior Citizens will be

located in Vakkampatty, a village located in

Dindigul District, in the state of Tamilnadu,

India.

Dindigul, the closest city, is approximately 7

miles away.

• The nearest railway station is also located

at Dindigul.

• Nearest airport is located in Madurai, 50

miles from Vakkampatty.

Understanding India’s Caste System

Within Indian culture, whether

in the north or the south, Hindu Muslim, or Christian, urban or village, virtually all things, people, and groups of people are ranked according to various essential qualities. If one is attuned to the theme of

hierarchy in India, one can discern it everywhere. Although India is a political democracy, in daily life there is

little advocacy of or adherence to notions of equality.

Within most villages or towns, everyone knows the relative rankings of each locally represented caste, and people's behavior toward one another is constantly shaped by this knowledge. Between the extremes of the very high and very low castes, however,

there is sometimes disagreement on the exact relative ranking of castes

clustered in the middle.

Even after becoming a Christian or other religion, the caste system re-mains. Among the caste ladder, the Vannier caste and Dalit caste remain at the lowest level. These two groups typically live in extreme poverty, are uneducated and socially and economically abandoned by society and the government. It is not unusual for senior citizens of these communities not to have one good meal a day. Unable to support themselves, the elderly depend

on families for support. Unable to bear the burden of parents and children, it is sad to say that some times the elderly are thrown out on the street. Equally sad is the lack of government support. The government of India did not care about these people. Left on their own, their survival itself is at stake.

The Mission of The Restoring Hope Home

“Catalyst for New Life” is the Mission Statement of the Restoring Hope for

Senior Citizens Project. We will restore the lives of 20-30 senior citizens in Vakkampatty with hope, respect, love and concern.

Residents of the Restoring Hope Home will be provided with comfortable shel-

ter, decent food and standard medical facilities. Above all, the home will offer the elderly human dignity and respect. Senior citizens can reside there either

on a temporary or permanent basis.

I am going to choose only the abandoned people in the society for this program. Since there is such a facilities

available for these abandoned or hopeless people in the area, will help many to have a blessed and decent life.

Goals of Restoring Hope

1. To treat the elderly with respect and with human dignity.

2. To restore hope in the minds of the abandoned who have lost their hope due to many issues.

3. To provide comfortable shelter, food and standard medical facilities.

4. To promote love, care and concern through divine providence.

5. To provide peace and rest to the souls of the senior citizens in their wither-ing age.

6. To create a family atmosphere of brotherliness and a support between residents of the home.

7. To provide a place for prayer and spiritual growth.

What is The Catalyst For New Life? The Elderly of Vakkampatty

Your Hands of Support

The Love of Jesus Christ

Construction & Operating Costs

Three acres of land have already been purchased as the building site of the

Restoring Hope Home. This site is very near the village of Vakkampatty and is within easy walking distance. Additionally, a bore hole has been drilled on

the site to provide well water.

Construction and basic infrastructure costs of the home is estimated at 3,500,000 Rupees

($75,000 USD).

Once we completed the construction, the home will open with an initial group of 20

residents. The annual on-going operating costs of the home including food, clothing,

medical and maintenance etc. estimated

budget is 500,000 Rupees ($10,500 USD). Operating Costs (Rupees)

1. Salary of Director (12 x 5000)-----60,000.00

2. Head Cook (12 x 4000) —--------- 48,000.00

3. Assistance (12 x 2000) ----------- 24,000.00

4. Cleaning Person (12 x 3000)----—-36,000.00

5. Supplies (12 x 20,000)—------——250,000.00

6. Delivery Charge--—-----————---17,000.00

7. Telephone (12 x 1000) ------———12,000.00

8. Health Insurance-------------------22,000.00

9. Utilities (12 x 2000) ---------------25,000.00

10. Postal and Correspondence-------—6,000.00

Total………………………………….500,000 ($10,500 USD)

Construction Costs

SL.No Descrition Quantity Per Rate Amount

1 Excavation of all Ground Soils

and Cross walk 7500 CFT 10 CFT 10.00 75000.00

2 C.C.1;5;10 Mix For Bed Concrete

use 40 MM stone cravel 400 CFT 85 34,000.00

3

R.C.C.1;2;4 Mix for footing erec-tion with mat concrete use 20

MM stone Gravel and Plinth beam tie all the pillars 480 M 3 850 4,08,000.00

4 Bricks work and C.M.I Mix use

well burn bricks 745 SQMT 1500 11,17,500.00

5

R.C.C.1;2;4 Mix for Lintel con-crete with Loft and sum shade

provision 360 M 3 850 3,06,000.00

6

C.C.1;5;10 Mix for Floring top finished with cement floring

1;3Mix 3950 SQMT 130 5,13,500.00

7

Parapet wall com weathering course use brick bats with lime-

stone powder and top finished with presed Tiles lining 4200 SQMT 85 3,57,000.00

8 Wood Required for doors and

windows cum panels 510 CFT 930 4,74,300.00

9 Electrical provision for all rooms with E.B Service including fittings LS LS LS 1,95,000.00

10

While wash for inside and out side for two coats use cem pow-

der LS LS LS 17,700.00

11 Unforseen contigenious items 2000

Total 3,500,000.00

Total in American dollars USD $ 75,000

Restoring Hope Home

Each room of the Restoring Hope Home is designed

to house two people and includes a toilet and bath-room. The home will also feature a central hall for

prayer and meditation, dining, and other gatherings. The homes location also allows easy access to

Vakkampatty’s community and medical resources.

Your Help is Needed

What Your Support Will Provide

• India faces an epidemic of the elderly being

abandoned by the family. • Your support provides dignity and a decent

standard of living for the abandoned elderly of Vakkampatty.

• Through the Restoring Hope Home, your support helps to eradicate the Caste System, discrimination, poverty and dehumanizing

attitudes. This is one of our responsibilities as Christians. • Your support gives the senior citizens a second chance, restoring their self-

confidence. • Your support enables the elderly to live as a

human being. • Your support provides the opportunity for the

elderly to come closer to God and love of neighbor.

• Your support restores hope. Once the senior citizens felt that they have no one on earth. Now,

they have somebody to take care of them. • 7. Your support provides the elderly with Morning

and Evening Prayers, and Mass, the chance to grow stronger in spirituality and to forgive the injustices

done by family and society.

Your generous support can be remitted to Restoring Hope for Senior Citizens through St. Jerome Catholic

Church’s Social Awareness Program. Saint Jerome Catholic Church

Social Awareness Programs

9820 Chapel Road Waco, Texas 76712

(254) 666-7722

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord,

my confidence since my youth.

Psalms 71:5