ICMC (Indian Christian Mission Centre)

Описание: The Indian Christian Mission Centre (ICMC) is a charitable organisation located in southern India in the state of Tamil Nadu near the city of Salem. At its core ICMC is an orphanage and place of safety for children and other vulnerable people however has grown to accommodate a school and college providing a brighter future and far better opportunities for those in the care of the organisation and the wider community. ICMC runs two sites, a smaller hostel within the city of Salem and a larger site around 40 minutes outside the city known as the Promised Land.



My former school, Kings School Bruton, has had a relationship with ICMC and Shining Faces India, a UK based charity providing regular aid to ICMC, for several years and each year a team of former students, if not two teams, travel to the Promised Land site for two months to teach English as well as help with the day to day running of the site and caring for the children. In order to embark on the trip former students must raise a considerable amount of money and I am proud to say that since the beginning of the program former students have raised between £115,000-£120,000, with this figure ever increasing.



This a completely unique opportunity and is only possible because of the dedication of the King's School Reverend, who runs the program, and the generosity of the ICMC staff. This said the program is far from a school trip and certainly not "orphanage tourism", something that is common within India. Teams work extremely hard to raise the funds and work equally hard whilst at the site. On their own accord, many team members return in the years following their visit and the friendships forged during their time at ICMC will stand the test of time.



I can say from my own personal experience that ICMC is a place of true hope, happiness, love and faith and this is radiated by everyone I had the pleasure to meet there. It is a moving tribute to the power of good will and love, in a country and world full of darkness. I was honoured to spend time at this wonderful place and met the people fighting to make a difference along with children who have received such little love, care and attention but will give you so much. There really is no where like ICMC.



The video above is a small insight into our time at ICMC between November and December 2015. it is a clear display of the happiness of the children branded as "untouchable" by the society they live in and a tribute to the care and compassion they share with each other and towards us. Remarkably the video is almost entirely shot by the children themselves.



If you would like to know more about the work of ICMC and Shinning Faces India you can find links to their websites below

ICMC: http://www.icmcorphanages.org/

Shining Faces India: http://www.shiningfaces.org/