Yeoman service to HIV-affected orphans

Hyderabad: Agape Homes, an abode for HIV affected children, located at Boduppal, hosted a summer camp for the inmates. District Welfare Officer at Medchal District Swarupa Rani attended as the chief guest at the valedictory of the summer camp held at Agape Homes on Sunday.

Lynne Guhman Voggu, founder and managing director at Agape India, was also present. On the occasion, Rani gave away prizes to children who excelled in various competitions at the summer camp.

Speaking on the occasion, Rani emphasised the need to ensure good education and proper health for the vulnerable children. She said Agape is looking after the children well and that they are in a homely atmosphere with all the love and warmth shared by Voggu.

She could make them overcome the trauma they endured in the past with her motherly touch. The utmost care and commitment shown towards these children by Agape is reflecting in the way the children are being brought up – hale and healthy, cheerful and active, she said.

"From the government side, we sent twelve children to the Home and all of them have grown up and blossomed into beautiful individuals," she said and raised Agape and Voggu for the excellent work they have been doing for the last 18 years, in caring for children infected and affected with HIV. She promised all support and help for the organization from the Government.

Thanking Rani for the support and for the soft corner she always had for the Home, Voggu said that the youngest inmate of Agape is a 4-month-old baby girl named Joy. Joy's HIV positive mother is not in a position to take care of her and Agape is now her adobe.

She is doing well and is everybody's little darling, she said and expressed her commitment to continue her services for the needy children. Agape is a developmental NGO society registered under the Society Registration Act and is committed to holistic care and development of HIV affected and infected children.

There are over 200 children at the home and about half of them are affected with HIV. Agape has eight children's homes, each for a specific gender, age group and HIV status. It addresses their educational needs and empowers them. It offers them free education, a residential home, medical care and an opportunity for a promising future for the children.