Why are we active in India?
India is today known as a country with high economic growth rates with a young population and a bright future. Indeed, India is today with a population of about 1.1 billion people the largest democracy in the world. The political stability is rather high and several of the wealthiest individuals and corporations in the world are Indian.
India is nevertheless a country of controversies. Next to an incredible wealth concentrated on few families, 800 million Indians are considered poor. More than 400 million Indians (source: Unicef) do not earn more than 1 USD per day; c275 million people are undernourished (about 45% of all children in India). The illiteracy rate is about 35% of the population (in the HLWM area about 70%).
Most importantly, however, is that the founders and directors of HLWM know and fully trust the Indian directors Joseph and Geetha Komanapalli with its staff. The following achievements of the organisation operating within restrictive budgets speak for themselves.
Achievements thus far…
• Two children's homes for 160 children with an elementary school and a community hall
• Adult education for illiterate men and women
• Elementary and High school catering to about 390 students
• Day-care centres for over about 110 children
• Vocational training for tailoring, ICT and nursing
• Medical work including the training of midwives
• Bible school for more than 20 students
• Drinking water supply during dry season
• Help and care for senior peopel
• Help to HIV/Aids patients
• Microcredits and support to widows and others.
All the local work is done by Indians, under the inspiring leadership of Rev. Joseph and Geetha Komanapalli. They know the culture - they speak the language.
