“Familia India” has been a friend of “Pradip – Partner One World” since 1996. The organisation has a very special concept that is unique in West Bengal. In four houses, around ten orphaned children live with a couple who act as their parents. This arrangement ensures that all children have a family and maintain close contact with their “siblings” and “parents”, even into adulthood. The home is supported by a small farm with cows, pigs, goats, a vegetable garden, rice fields, and a poultry and fish farm. Additionally, there is a senior home, a nursery, a school, a training centre, and a health centre. “Familia” also supports vulnerable children in the surrounding villages and conducts awareness campaigns.(https://www.familiaindia.org/ )

Familia School

About 17 years ago, KC Thomas, the now 85-year-old head of “Familia India,” had the idea of founding an English-speaking school. On the one hand, he wanted to finance the running costs of the home in the long term to achieve independence from foreign donations. On the other hand, he wanted to give children and young people in rural areas the chance of a good English-language education. The school is permanently registered with the central school authority (ICSE), and students can sit their Higher Secondary Examination there. (https://www.familiaschoolkpa.org/)

Greeting-Words:

KC Thomas: „It has been many years since “Pradip Partner Eine Welt” and “Familia” started our partnership. The important point to remember is that Familia did not approach Pradip Partner Eine Welt but the latter sought out Familia in this comparatively unknown and remote location and offered to support a project almost every year. Today we wonder how Famila would have fared if “Pradip Partner Eine Welt” had not discovered us so many years ago.

Anja Finckh, now Fischer, the Founder, visited Familia many times in the past and has been supporting Familia’s projects ever since 1996. Some major projects supported were: 5 biogas plants, two new class rooms in Familia School, One 15KVA Generator set for Familia School, all the Furnitures for the office rooms, new Class rooms, library and the three laboratories as well as laboratory equipments. 

In short, „Pradip Partner Eine Welt“ has been one of the biggest support groups for Familia and, up to this day, the biggest supporter of Familia School. It may be mentioned that Familia School tries to bring quality English medium schooling to the rural children of the area. In future the school will be able to produce some sure income to support the various charitable projects of Familia. Ours was not like any other Partnership between two organizations. We were always treated as part of a family. 

Long live Pradip Partner Eine Welt!

K.C.Thomas