Orphanage in Kashmir

The idea for Rhythms of Life International came to Andrew Faris in 2005 after he witnessed the awful aftermath of the earthquake that devastated many communities in Kashmir.

The disaster killed over 75,000 people and disrupted the lives of many more. Roads, schools and hospitals were crushed; over 18,000 children died during the aftermath of the earthquake that strucked the country. The country’s misery increased in July 2010 when massive floods displaced around 20 million people; half of them were children.

The floods has made life even more difficult for many Kashmiri children. The international charity Save the Children reported in July 2011 that the destruction of homes and livelihoods in areas affected by floods had led to an increase in child labour in Kashmir.

On one of many visits to Kashmir since 2005 Andrew realised one way to help was to provide education and accommodation for young orphans left to fend for themselves often by begging in the street. With that in mind he bought some land in Kashmir to build an orphanage. However, due to the expansion of a multinational corporation's development in the area, the plot is in the process of being exchanged for one in Tandapani (literally 'cold water'), a town 20km from Islamabad.

Following this initial complication, the building work is now underway, with completion expected in 2013. The finished complex will house a boarding school for orphans with accommodation and classrooms. It will also include a community centre where locals can congregate and get involved with the orphanage.

ROLI hopes the orphanage will become a safe haven for children forced to work at a young age, broadening their chances through education and equipping them with skills to help build their own communities.

Know more about the earthquake: click here

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