Opening doors for the ordinary

To kick open the door only once — and it stays open. That’s what our Mercy Centre and Human Development Foundation does.

We kick open the door for ordinary slum kids who do not have the slightest chance at scholarships or being placed in “good schools”. Scholarships don’t typically go to the ordinary poor. And that’s what almost all of our kids are — poor and slum-born to parents who are often absent or not worth mentioning. Their only saving grace are their grannies, wizened old souls who have often been beaten, bruised, mocked, you name it. But our slum grannies are survivors who have matured into wise leaders. Yes, lots still chew betel nut, but that’s okay. It helps them with the scarring.

Because of the grannies, a few mums become stalwart, sturdy and strong too. One day they will be the matured grannies of…