BY UMADEVI BUX
When the mother of 17-year-old Alex Vimal Kahdhai decided to place him and his siblings in an orphanage because she could no longer take care of them, he had little hope of becoming someone with a bright future.
But he challenged his circumstances amid children like himself at the Prabhu Sharan Orphanage located at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and defied all the odds to secure 15 subjects at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
A student of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) School, the aspiring civil engineer said hard work and sleepless nights paid off as he secured 12 grade ones, including three distinctions and three grade two passes at the recent examinations.
Happy and overwhelmed, Alex told Guyana Times International that he could not believe that he did so well, recalling that preparations for the examination was challenging.
However, he was positive that “anything can be possible as long as you believe you can succeed and it really doesn’t matter where you come from and how hard your life is… It was lots of work. I had to study until about 03: 00h or 04: 00h in the morning and without the help of my teachers, and without the orphanage, I don’t know how I would have done it.”
Parents separated
He noted that after his parents separated, he grew up for a while in a single parent home. But then soon his mother could no longer take care of him and his siblings and took them to the orphanage in 2008, where subsequently, he was enrolled into the SVN at the Grade Eight level.
“I feel as if my life here in the orphanage is better than what I had at home… I didn’t have any difficulty in support of where my school is concern… I was given every support… I have been living in the orphanage for about six years now,” said Alex. He continued: “It was very hard at first, but without the support of the orphanage and teachers… it would not have been possible.”
Be focused
Alex emphasised that just as how he has achieved a foundation for better education despite the circumstances of his life, so too can others in his situation. “I encourage anyone… no matter who you are, or where you’re from, anything can be possible and you can be successful as long as you work hard… be focus and know your goals and believe in yourself.”
Alex also participated in extracurricular activities such as cricket, playing the drums and going to the Corneila Ida Mandir.
Presently, he is a first-year student at the University of Guyana, reading for a diploma in civil engineering. His studies were sponsored through the orphanage and donors, both locally and overseas.
He had also received a part scholarship from the SVN during the period of attendance.
Meanwhile, Avinand Rampersuad, a volunteer teacher attached to the orphanage told Guyana Times International that other teachers from the SVN would come by and help Alex and the other students.
He noted that since its establishment in 2005, the orphanage has provided safe housing for children from troubled homes, allowing them an opportunity to become rounded adults in society.
“We have volunteers coming to help the students through collaboration with other non-governmental organisations, like the Nirvana Humanitarian Group, the Bahai Centre and private citizens and youths around the neighbourhood, among others,” said Rampersaud. He noted that most of the funding for the orphanage comes from private citizens.
Success stories
The orphanage cares for children ranging from ages two to 17 years old, and in the past, has had other success stories.
Former orphans
Priya Mahase, who attained eight subjects at CSEC is a trained medex; Rajendra Singh, who secured four subjects is now a customs clerk; and Sandra Bissoon, who obtained 13 subjects is now an employee at a prominent bank as a teller.
The orphanage’s administrator Indira Deodat stated that the institution also works closely with the Human Services Ministry to provide counseling for the children and other support programmes.
According to Deodat, the goal is to assist orphans and underprivileged children to achieve their optimum potential through education and training.
“We pattern the educational programme along the lines of the ancient Gurukul system that provides total development of both the head and the heart through academic and technical education… and allow the kids to grow to their full potential,” said Deodat.
