A portrait of Prema Kundargi, head and funder of INJ orphanage

An orphan herself, Prema grew up in an orphanage in South Karnataka; she is very grateful about the care and love she received there, as well as the things she learnt. Prema had three children, two daughters and a son; her elder daughter, Steffi, got married last year with a German man and now lives in Germany; Shiny, the youngest child, lives in Siruguppa at the moment but normally studies in Bangalore to become a nurse. Kevin, her son, died a few years ago from leukemia. Prema’s husband was the eldest of three children and thus he and Prema act as “seniors” towards this large family (brothers and daughters-in-law, nieces and nephews…).

Prema had been thinking about opening a home for orphan children for twenty years before she carried out her project. Her moto while setting INJ orphanage was to give the girls as much love as she received as a child and to make them grow up and flourish in a supportive and stimulating environment. And when one take a look at the girls’ changes since they joined the orphanage, it’s a great pride for Prema: the house is now filled with laughter whereas the girls barely smiled before.

Prema and the girls

While ruling the orphanage, Prema also tried to remember the things she suffered from and tries to avoid them. For instance, she used to be left behind during holidays: many children were sent to stay with their extended families, while she stayed with a few other children at the orphanage. Today, she organizes many holidays activities (summer camps...) for the children who stay at the orphanage so that they don’t feel left behind and sad. She is also careful to give the children an open approach to other religions, as she was raised in a Christian orphanage and regretted later not to know more the other religions; she thus sends invitation to all religious leaders when she organizes an event at the orphanage. Prema is attentive to let the children’s talents grow and she encourages them to express their own personality, especially as she regrets not to have benefitted from such a chance. She watches the girls’ moves, plays and interest so as to offer them an opportunity to develop their skills and prepare for their future.  

 

Discussing with volunteers

Prema is a well-known and charismatic personality in Siruguppa and people come to the orphanage on a regular basis to ask for her advices. She is very concerned about youths and she set up actions with young men such a street theatre play as a sensitization tool about HIV-AIDS. She is also engaged into politics in a local political party and hopes to seat at the local council one day. As many Indians, she is active in the religious sphere: she is protestant and belong to the Church of South India. A senior member, she contributes to decision making in her church and acts as a mediator in family and interpersonal conflicts.